Page 3 of Everything I Promise

Addy responds first. “Oh please. As if Mom would care about you leaving her with Oliver. She’s so over the moon to have you two with her. I think she has been getting lonely since Scarlett moved out.” Addy winks at me.

“Hey now! At least these two are here to fill my void!” Scarlett jokes. “On the extremely off chance Mom says no, he has two aunts who would be more than happy to spend some time with him while his mom goes and takes care of herself.”

Scarlett places a hand on my shoulder, reassuring me that they have my back.

We all know that Mom would be happy to have all of us girls living back under her roof with her. I don’t blame her though. She lost Dad in a car accident, when he and her were hit by a drunk driver, and two weeks later Willow moved out, making her a newly widowed empty nester.

“Well, okay, I mean if you guys are okay with it and think Mom won’t care. I’d love to take a walk and get some fresh air.” I nod at them and they all but push me to Colton.

He leads me down the driveway with his hand on the small of my back. The feeling, so familiar in my dreams, tingles its way from his touch to between my thighs.

God it has been way too long. I’m going to go insane, this man put his hand on me in a friendly way and I’m losing it.

Get it together, Lacey.

We get all the way down Mom’s street and it dawns on me that I don’t recognize the fourth truck in the driveway. “Hey, who else is here? I don't recognize the green truck.”

Colton looks at me almost like he’s not sure how I’ll feel about the answer, “Scott is here. Your Mom and Scott have been spending some more time together since Scarlett moved in with Preston.”

I know a little about Scott from my sisters. I’m happy that Mom is getting back out there after my Dad’s death, five years ago. She seems happier, but according to Scarlett and Addy she isn’t willing to admit they’re dating.

I don’t want to meet the man tonight though and now I feel guilty. As if Colton senses my frustration and guilt, he comes to my rescue.

“If you need to escape tonight we can create a secret code word and I’ll whisk you away.” He whispers in my ear, getting close even though we're alone on the street.

I chuckle at his offer, “Well that would be amazing. I feel bad, but it has been such a long day, I am not sure I’m up for all the company. I know this is what Mom wants, or thinks we need.”

Colton and I come up with a code word and set up a plan for escape. I knew he would understand most out of everyone, his father ambushed him with a 'family dinner' shortly after he and Elizabeth, his ex, separated.

When we get to the store, I decide to sit outside on the benches across the street. I don’t want to deal with the nosiness of the small town gossip tonight. It makes me feel weak, like a cowardthat I'm trying to hide instead of holding my head high, knowing I did nothing wrong.

Colton gets the milk and comes back out right before I have to make conversation with some old friends, who undoubtedly know everything about the divorce from Michael’s social media. He hasn’t been shy in spreading his version of the story. Of course it wasn’t the truth, but why would he want the world to know that story?

I grab Colton’s hand and pull him quickly in for a hug, so he hides me and I can avoid the group walking by.

“Um, you okay?” He looks at me with concern in his eyes.

“Yeah, sorry. That group is friends with meandMichael and he’s been spreading bullshit on social media so I just didn’t want to talk to them. So, I hid like a coward.” I shrug.

Colton places those gloriously rough hands on either side of my face. “You are never a coward. This is hard and you have a child in the mess. You never have to apologize to me for wanting to avoid a confrontation.”

He seriously is so perfect. Why couldn’t I have met him before Michael?

“Thanks, Colton. I’m really glad I have you - as a friend.” I pause before defining what we have. To be honest, we feel like more, but logically being friends is what is best right now.

He knows no more words are needed and simply gives my hand a quick squeeze before we start walking back to Mom's house. Things are so perfectly simple with Colton. Until I let myself think about how I actually feel about him.

That might be the only downside of me letting this friendship develop—knowing I want more while I’m pretty sure we’re both not really ready for another relationship quite yet. Besides that point, I’m probably not his type beyond a friend. I’ve seen the photos of Elizabeth from Scarlett, and I absolutely do not look like her. I am definitely not in her league, with my mombod, tired eyes, no make-up, and never ending supply of black leggings.

We continue the walk back to Mom’s and he dedicates the walk to making me laugh with the worst jokes he knows. I have to say it works and by the time we make it back to Mom’s house I am smiling big and my cheeks hurt a little from laughing so hard. I can’t remember the last time a man made me laugh.

Dinner goes by slowly, but I’m glad to have the distraction and the family around for Oliver. He looks happy to have everyone doting on him.

I have to say, even though I wasn’t feeling up to meeting Scott tonight, he took Oliver right into theboy’s clubwith Preston and Colton and entertained him so I could relax with my sisters for a bit. So that’s a point for mom’s new boyfriend.

Colton, Preston, and Scott take him outside to throw around a football after dinner. I take my glass of wine out to the deck and relax into the chairs Mom has out. Colton walks over to join me and sinks down in the seat next to me.

“So you might have a future football star on your hands.” Colton says, nodding in Oliver’s direction.

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