Page 21 of Pretty Broken Promises

I squeezemy phone tight in my hand and consider chucking it across the room. Sin takes it from my hand before I manage to destroy it.

“Whatever is bothering you, I doubt it will be made better by crushing your phone.” He sets it down on the counter in my kitchen.

I lean back and turn my head to the side. It's odd for him to show up at my place. I don't exactly live in the fancy part of town. Not that he is used to fancy. Learning that he comes from money hasn't made him comfortable with having money. The only time he ever spends it is when he's doing something for Raven.

“What brings you to this side of town?” I ask.

“I could feed you a line of bullshit. Do some song and dance about how I should be able to just drop in on my friends, but let's just cut all that out and get straight to why I'm here. Are you good with that?”

I nod. “I prefer it actually. I don't have a lot of patience today.” I gesture to my phone, which, despite his rescue efforts, does have a couple of minor cracks in it.

“Raven overheard Tessa talking to Bennett this morning. She said you guys were going to Seattle this weekend? Are you sure that's a good idea? That's his turf,” he argues.

“Let me ask you a question,” I begin. “If Raven told you that she needed you to do something for her in order to move forward with your relationship and feel comfortable being with you, would you do it?”

“Without question. I have killed to keep her safe. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her,” he answers.

“Then there’s your answer. Tessa says that if I am going to know who she is right now, then I have to go with her to Seattle. This isn't home to her anymore, and she wants to show me who she is and why Seattle is a part of it. I think I'm going to have to learn to accept Bennett.”

He has a smug look on his face. “Kind of feels like karma. I had to put up with you, and now I kinda like you. Maybe he won't be that bad.”

“You mean, except for the fact that he proposed to her. I never gave Raven a giant rock,” I point out.

“No, apparently just your giant cock,” Sin grumbles under his breath.

“At least you didn't have to watch. I'll have that image burned in my mind forever. I'd actually welcome Alzheimer's just to forget that moment,” I retort.

“See we're getting along just fine. We've only hit each other a few times. Everything will probably be okay,” Sin tries to reassure me.

“You're actually getting better at this empathizing thing. You're still not great at it, but you're better than you were.” I exhale, and stare at the offending device. “Not that it matters anyway. I checked my bank account, and right now it's looking more like an online piggy bank. I can't afford the gas to drive there, let alone fly us there.”

Sin winces. “Raven also said that they were talking about him buying you guys tickets.” I can hear the sympathy in his voice.

“Fuck that. Maybe the guy is more of a shady asshole than I gave him credit for. He gets to come out looking like the hero, and I'll be the dick who turned down free tickets. But if I take them, then I'm the asshole who lets her ex-fiancé fly his ass up there just to rub their relationship in his face. No matter what I do, I’m royally fucked.”

I really want to break something. I go to reach for the nearest thing, and Sin takes it from me.

“I really don't think breaking Jen’s decorations is going to fix anything. It will, however, make her mad, and she knows a lot about human anatomy. Probably not the smartest person to piss off. Also, I have a solution,” he says.

“Really? Because I have tens of dollars in my account, and the guy willing to throw money at my almost girlfriend is ready to show her what a piece of shit I am. I'd love to hear your solution for that,” I snap.

His eyes harden, and he stands straighter, a little more menacing. “You're starting to piss me off, and I am a bit worse than Jen. But you're freaking out so I'm going to let it slide. I am not hitting you off the table completely though, just keep that in mind.”

“Noted.” Even I can hear the attitude in my voice, and honestly, I would hit me. “I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a dick. I really do want to hear what you came up with because I've got nothing.”

He nods his head. “It's simple. I buy your plane tickets.”

I start immediately shaking my head. “I don't want to take your money.”

He put his hands on my shoulders and holds me still. His onyx-black eyes stare into mine. “It's my money or his. If she is as determined to go as you say she is, she's going to take his offer unless you take mine first. I don't know what strings are attached to his, but I can tell you there are no strings attached to mine.”

“None at all?” I narrow my eyes. It isn't that I don't trust him, but nobody is that magnanimous.

Sin shrugs. “I really don't give a shit about money. Raven likes Tessa and she wants her to be happy.”

“Are you sure it's not because I am her best friend?” I love any reason to remind him of the fact that Raven declared me her best friend that horrible weekend at the cabin, and it's been true ever since then.

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, I guess. And I think I can speak for Shane when I say we would both really like for you to not be single anymore, especially around our women.”

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