Page 5 of Everything I Promise

Lacey:Good morning, hope I don’t wake you, I just wanted to say thank you for last night. I really appreciated the laughs, and Oliver woke up talking about football with you guys.

Me:No problem, Lace. I love hanging out with that little guy. I’ll happily throw the football with him whenever he wants. Never worry about waking me up, you know I’m up early just like you are.

Lacey:Maybe you shouldn’t tell him that or you’ll be stuck coming over everyday!

Little does she know I’d be happy to be stuck with Oliver, and her. He really is a good kid who got dealt a shitty hand with his father. I know something about having a shit dad.

I finish up my coffee and try to stand up, Duke still at my feet, is unmoving. “Ready to go for a run, boy? We’re getting an early start today, apparently.”

He looks at me like I have to be joking, but finally joins me inside to get his leash on.

Duke and I have been running to the pond in the center of town everyday, and he loves it. He's a good motivator to run faster, especially when he sees a squirrel.

As we approach the pond I see a long brown ponytail swinging behind the exact woman I’m trying to get out of my head.

It isn’t that I don’t want to think about Lacey, or that I don’t want to shoot my shot with her, but this just isn’t the time and I need to remember that. She has a long road ahead of her with Oliver and the divorce.

I will have to settle for being a friend, and a shoulder to cry on. Duke barks, breaking me of my thoughts and getting Lacey’s attention. She stops running and turns around to see who is coming up behind her.

“Fancy meeting you here!” She beams at me. It feels like a punch to the gut knowing I can’t have her.

“Hey, there. I didn’t know you ran at the crack of dawn, too.” I walk closer to her.

“Well, I used to run this path everyday before I moved away, it was always a good way to clear my head. Figured now was as good a time as any to start up again. Plus the crack of dawn is the only time I’m ever awake at, thanks to a certain little boy.” She smiles a loving smile at the thought of her son.

God, she is so beautiful. Without thinking, my hand reaches out to push the hair out of her face. Lingering a little too long to feel the silky smooth skin of her cheek under my calloused fingers.

She takes a deep breath and for just a moment, it looks like fear flashes across her features. I remove my hand quickly as if I’ve been burnt.

I’m not sure if Michael ever got physical with her, but I know he broke her down enough mentally that he didn’t have to be. My fists clench at my side, and the vein in my temple tics. I’m quickly reminded why pursuing something with her is a bad idea.

I recover the moment quickly, “Yeah, it is a great path. Duke and I run it every morning. Although usually not so early. Elizabeth decided to start with me at five a.m.” I roll my eyes.

“Oh, Colton, I’m so sorry. I wish she’d just leave you alone.” She reaches out to place a hand on mine, offering me comfort.

I wish that too, everyday. I need to call my lawyer today and see if we can get it so she is only allowed to email me for important things related to the divorce, and nothing else. I make a mental note to do that this morning when I get home.

Duke decides he’s done waiting around and starts to pull me down the path opposite where Lacey is running. “Well, I guess Duke wants to go this way this morning, maybe I’ll see you later?” My arm is straining to pull Duke back, but he's caught sight of a squirrel.

“Oh, uh yeah, sure. It was nice seeing you.” She looks down at the ground, and seems a little disappointed. Did she want me to go with her?

“Text me later, maybe we can run together tomorrow?” I ask.

“Yeah, of course, I’ll text you!” She hugs me and heads back on her path toward Lorelei’s house.

Trying to navigate this friendship in person, and keep myself in check, is going to be a lot harder than I thought.

Duke and I take off back to the house, cutting our path short. Running behind Lacey for two miles would be torture, watching her perfect ass bounce up and down. The thoughts afterwardwould blur the lines between friendship even more than they already are in my head. I’m kicking myself for the offer to run with her tomorrow, but she looked so sad, it just came out.

I quietly let us back in the house, and am bending over to take off my shoes when Preston scares the shit out of me. “So, you and Lacey, huh?”

“What? What are you talking about?” News must really travel fast around here.

“Colton, no one could miss the way you were looking at Lacey last night.” He gives me a look like this is going to be a lecture and not a brotherly chat.

“I am just concerned about her. She’s having a tough time lately and that court hearing yesterday took a toll on her. We’re just friends in the same boat.” I lie. Preston knows I’m lying. Hopefully he’ll give me this.

“Right. I’ll let this slide for now. Just be careful, brother.” He levels me with a stare.

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