Page 6 of Everything I Promise

“I know, Preston. I can’t hurt Scarlett’s sister. Trust me, I know.” Preston looks at me with sadness in his eyes.

“We aren’t just concerned about Lacey. We’re concerned about you, too. I heard you talking to Elizabeth this morning.” Is nothing secret in this house? I take a deep breath and close my eyes, wishing for the patience to have this conversation.

“Don’t get me started on that mess. I don’t know what to do. I’m going to call my lawyer and see what we can do about the non-stop calls and texts.” I place my shoes on the mat by the door and walk into the kitchen.

“That’s a good idea. Hopefully the lawyers can help. She needs to leave you the hell alone.” He hands me the eggs and I start making an omelet.

We spend time together making breakfast and talking about life. The two of us do a sort of dance in the kitchen to stay out ofeach other’s way. Staying out of their way is something I feel like I’m constantly doing lately.

Scarlett just moved in and I feel like I’m cramping their lives as a newly engaged couple. But, since I’m just now starting to build my house on the land I bought from Preston, it will definitely be a while, especially because the ground will freeze soon and I’ll be at a standstill. I’ll add looking for a house to rent onto my never ending list of things to do this week. It seems to be ever growing these days.

“I think I’m going to look for a place to live while I build the house.” I blurt out, not knowing how Preston feels or having a plan of my own.

“You don’t have to, Colton.” He looks at me with pity and I feel guilty.

I’m honestly not even that upset about my divorce or how it ended. I mean, yeah, my dignity took a hit for sure, but at least she doesn’t get to spin her bullshit and make me look like the bad guy.

“Yeah, I do. You and Scarlett just got engaged. You need your home to be with her and start building your lives.” I push around the food on my plate.

“Colton, you don’t have to move out on account of us being engaged. We both love you.” There is that look of pity that I can’t stand again. I’m getting a well deserved divorce, I wish everyone would stop looking at me like that. That’s one of the things Lacey and I bond over. The pity look everyone has for us and how they all seem to walk on eggshells around us now.

“Why are you moving out?” Scarlett suddenly appears from upstairs, stealing bacon off my plate before kissing Preston.

Even though she jokes I’m a ninja, I swear she is secretly a ninja. She can just appear around the house, she doesn’t make even one sound when she moves.

“So you two can have full run of the house and I don’t have to listen to it anymore.” I wink.

Scarlett blushes, her whole face turning pink. It’s so easy to make her blush, she is surprisingly shy given how much shit she can deal out to others.

“I can’t help it, look at her!” Preston exclaims and pulls her close.

I want what they have. They are so in love with each other. I don’t think Elizabeth and I were ever that in love. I was so stupid to not see it sooner. Preston did. He tried to warn me that she only wanted the West name, I just didn’t want to hear it back then. I was so desperate to get my father's approval I fell for Elizabeth's manipulation tactics. She was the perfect girlfriend, and for a minute, the perfect wife. It took about a year for her true colors to really shine through for me to see. But I lived in a miserable denial until I found her cheating.

“Yeah, see. I need to find my own place.” I jokingly make a face of disgust, but I’m really happy for Preston. He deserves to be happy and in love.

“Well, don’t feel like you have to. You’re welcome here all the time.” She hugs me around my shoulders, and steals more bacon.

Scarlett is the best, I know she means that and isn’t just forced because I’m her fiancé's brother.

We eat breakfast and they both head off to work, leaving me and Duke for an exciting day of consultations, site visits, and calling my lawyer. It is really hard to run a construction business in Massachusetts while I’m trying to start a new branch up here in New Hampshire, on my own. It’ll be better when I can hire another foreman and a crew up here. But that probably won’t happen until next year when spring rolls around.

First call I make is to my lawyer, let’s fix this Elizabeth situation.

Chapter Three

Lacey

One day. I’m giving myself one day to have a pity party for the way my life is turning out.

I just dropped Oliver off for his first day in his new school. So I have until 3:30 this afternoon to have my pity party. And it is starting with donuts, cream filled donuts and chocolate covered donuts. Who doesn’t eat their feelings? I have a lot of guilt eating to do over Oliver and how I allowed this man to be his father for so long.

Good thing I started running my old path again. Maybe the donuts won’t have a chance today at adding to the size of my ass.

Now that I know I have a chance to see Colton shirtless while running, it is definitely motivating me to get up and go in the morning. I was really disappointed he used Duke as an excuse to not run with me the other day. But, I guess I know he just wantsto be friends. It’s hard to expect more from him when I’m not sure I’m ready to give more myself.

I'm mid-bite on my first donut when Mom comes in the living room.

“Honey, are you okay?” She has been treating me as if I’m going to break and I’m sure my current plans for the day aren’t helping.

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