Page 23 of Everything I Promise

Colton

Despite the pounding headache I have, and heartburn, because, let’s face it, a night out over the age of 30 comes with both, I am considering last night a win. Lacey Harper agreed to a date with me. Kind of. She didn’t say she was fully ready, but I will make sure she is before we have our date. The last thing I want is for her to feel pushed into anything.

I promised her a place for us to be alone, and I plan to deliver on that promise. That would be why at seven o’clock in the morning after a night of drinking, I’m standing in the diner ordering my breakfast sandwich and coffee to go.

My mission for today is to get the bathroom working in the apartment, and the new tile laid out. Lacey picked a faux wood tile that will match the new finish we're going to put on the rest of the house.

Hopefully, this Advil kicks in sooner rather than later and I can get to work without my head feeling like the floor I’m about to smash up.

Darlene hands me my coffee and I walk across the street to the salon while eating my breakfast sandwich.

I open the door to the salon and a very loud alarm goes off. The loud buzzing blaring in my ears feels like it is piercing my head from one side to the other, intensifying this headache.

“Damn it!” I scream out for no one to hear but me. I run outside frantically trying to call Lacey, fumbling the phone in my hands.

“Hello?” A very sleepy Lacey answers.

“Lace. You forgot to mention the alarm! How do I shut this thing off?” I yell at her, trying to block my other ear, and gathering quite the attention from the people on the street.

“Oh shit! Colton I’m so sorry. Go in, and in the back office space there is a keypad. The code is 1234.”

I run back in trying to make it to the keypad before the police show up. Thankfully the code works and the alarm shuts off, leaving me in a blissful silence.

“Got it. When I’m over this wake up call, we are going to discuss your security system code.” I stand in the back office and run my hand through my hair.

“I’m so -” Lacey is cut off by someone entering the salon.

“Police. If you’re in here please come out now.”

Wonderful. What a way to start the day. I roll my eyes and leave the office, entering the main space.

“Hey officer, I’m coming out of the office, I was able to shut the alarm off and have the owner on the phone.”

“Colton! Hey man. What are you doing here?” Luckily, Brad is the officer to show up. I’ve met him a few times with Preston. He’s a cool guy and about our age.

“Hey Brad. I’m the contractor here, I was hired to finish the space. I have a key but the owner, Lacey Harper, forgot to tell me she installed an alarm.” I put Lacey on speaker phone.

“Hi Brad! Colton is telling the truth. He has a key and I gave him the code for the alarm system. He’s fixing up the apartment and building the salon for me. I promise he’s good to go!” She yells through the speaker.

“Alright then, Lacey. Good to have you home.” He smiles at the sound of her voice.

I turn away from Brad and take Lacey off speaker. I assure her that it's okay, but I have to go talk to Brad. I'm sure she will text me at least ten more times to apologize.

“Sorry to waste your time, Brad.” I say turning back to him.

He’s walking around checking things out as I’m sure most cops would do.

“Not a problem. So Lacey Harper is back in town, huh?” He’s got a smile on his face that I don’t know if I like. It makes me feel like I need to be a little protective of her.

“Yup. Moved back with her little boy.” I am trying to keep things short. I know he went to high school with her.

“I’ll have to give her a call to catch up.” He places his hands on his duty belt.

“Yeah, we actually have a date next weekend.”So back off, I think to myself.

“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean it like that. Lacey and Lauren were always hanging around with me, Lace is just a friend.” He holds his hands up in front of him.

I notice that he doesn’t say Lauren is just a friend. I’ll have to ask Lacey if there is something going on there.

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