Page 40 of Everything I Promise

“I’m sorry. I had to tell Mom, but I knew it would invite questions. I just wanted to get that over with before I call the lawyer,” she says into my chest.

“Will you please stop apologizing? I’m here for you and whatever you need. If you need to sit here in silence, I’m here for it. You need me to clean so you can make a plan, I’m here for it. You need me to kiss you so deeply you forget about all your problems, I’m definitely here for it.”

She starts laughing.Success!

“I think I definitely want option 3,” she says as she looks up at me.

I wrap my hand around the back of her head, tugging on her bun lightly, and bring our lips together. My other hand roams around to cup her ass. I love how she feels in my arms, sleeping or otherwise. I don’t think I will ever be able to get enough of this woman.

Her phone going off breaks the kiss and I feel her absence in my arms instantly. I look at her and pout, but I can see on her face that the message is from Michael. I don’t even need to ask who it is before she is placing the phone in my hand.

Michael:You have three days left, Lacey. Time to stop ignoring me or you won’t like what happens.

I am getting really pissed. Who the hell does this guy think he is? Threatening her when he made the choice to give up his family after treating them like shit for years.

“Sweetheart, look at me.” She sits on the desk and looks at me as I asked, I place my hands on her thighs and kiss her forehead. “We will get this straightened out. I promise. Your lawyer’s office should be open by now. Let’s give him a call.”

The lawyer explains that what he is doing isn’t technically illegal until he acts on those threats, but for now we just need to keep documenting everything for the divorce hearing in January. We ask if it would be a good idea to let the police know. We told him that in such a small town like ours we are good friends with most of the police department and he said it wasn’t necessary but we could if we want to. Lacey of course doesn’t want to bother anyone. And this is the one time I will not listen to her wishes, I need to make sure she and Oliver are safe.

After we talk to the lawyer, I help Lacey hang up some artwork in the salon but then I have to get ready to go. I have a lunch meeting with one of my top clients.

He has decided to follow my lead and build a home up here in the mountains. I want to stop by the salon and say goodbye to Lacey before I leave. As soon as I enter the salon, I see her first client, Mrs. Smith. And I know my decision to come by for a kiss goodbye is going to now be public knowledge.

“Hey sweetheart, I’m headed out to meet my client for lunch. I just wanted to come by and let you know. If you need me, call me so I know to answer if I’m in my meeting.”

“Okay, I will. We should be okay though. Good luck at your meeting,” she answers doing something with tin foil on Mrs. Smith's head.

I lean down and give her a quick kiss on her cheek. I chuckle to myself when I see how big Mrs. Smith’s eyes get. This will be feeding her gossip mill at the general store for at least a couple days.

In the car, I regret that I didn’t think to start my car before I got in. I was too distracted by Lacey. Now I’m freezing, waiting for my heated seats to get warm. The sound of my phone ringing through the truck’s speakers makes me jump. When I see the name I wonder if it was due to the sound, or the impending doom of the actual phone call.

“Hello, Father,” I answer, smashing the button on my steering wheel.

“Colton, it’s good to hear your voice.”What?Good to hear my voice? Is this my father calling me? I look over at the radio to see if I got it wrong, but sure enough, there is his name being displayed.

“Uh, yeah, sure. What can I do for you?”

“Eleanor and I are wondering if we can meet for dinner with you and your brother sometime soon.” He clears his throat, like this is killing him to ask that. There is the man I know.

“What for? You’ve made your feelings very clear on my life decisions.” I roll my eyes.

“Well, I’ve recently had some health issues. We need to discuss some things. I think it’s time that you and your brother make things right with Eleanor and I. At our age, time is not on our side.” He would never have to make things right on his end though.

“Right," I scoff. "We have to make things right with you guys. How about when you’re ready to make things right with me, you can call me. Until you're ready to take my side in the divorce and defend me instead of defending Elizabeth just to keep the money flowing from her parents, I think I will just stay over here and mind my own business.” With that I hang up and immediately call Preston.

“Hey, Colton. What’s up?” he answers on the first ring.

“Dad,” I spit out.

“Oh shit. What did he want?”

“Apparently he’s had some health concerns and thinks we need to make things right with him before he dies.” I chuckle at the audacity of that man.

“Oh, ok. Well, I hope you told him to screw off.”

“I told him until he took my side I wasn’t doing anything and then I hung up on him. I don’t need him. Or his money like he thinks.” This is not what I needed before a meeting. I should have let the call go to voicemail.

“I’ve got your back brother. I’ll continue to ignore his calls until you tell me otherwise.” Preston always has my back when it comes to our father. Or anything in life really, he even tried to warn me off Elizabeth, I was just too stubborn to listen.

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