Page 10 of A Promise For Tomorrow

My emotions climb higher as I clamber out of the SUV.

This is all too much.

Just before closing the door, Diego adds in his final two cents. “Tell the surgeon I said hi.” He shoots me an antagonizing wink. The desire to smack that look off his face has my hands trembling.

Opting for a less violent approach, I slam the door in his face and flip him off for good measure. Liam rolls his window down, biting back a cackle. Luckily, the car and fully tinted windows shield my sister’s view of us.

“Hey, do ya have a place to stay after? I’m sure your family got a hotel room. But if they don’t, call me, I’ll come grab ya. Youcan stay with us if you want… no pressure or anything. I know you weren’t planning on coming back.” He smiles sweetly at me but his eyes hold a touch of sadness.

Maybe even regret.

“Thank you. I’m sure that won’t be necessary… I’ve got to go. Thanks again!” I wave before walking to the open trunk to collect my bag.

Mikayla spots me and starts walking my way. I scramble to shut the trunk and meet her halfway, pulling her into a tight hug.

“I’ve missed you,” she sighs, rocking me back and forth.

“I’ve missed you, Mik. Jeez, it’s been too long.”

Diego saidto be at the private airfield at 7:00 PM. I stare at the dashboard clock: 6:30 PM. I couldn’t risk being late. Madison needs to get to her father. That’s the only reason she’s here. Although, part of me is curious if she would have come back tonight had this not happened. For the engagement celebration that is…

Conor and Lexi arrived at the 5th Ave penthouse an hour before I left. I didn’t have long to catch up with him. Between the designers and staff prepping for the gala and traffic all over New York City tonight, I didn’t have time to chat. Which leaves me wondering where Madison will be staying tonight.

Shit.What a fucking turn of events.

I realized when Conor asked me to be his Best Man this morning that meant Madison would be Lexi’s Maid of Honor. Hope fluttered in my chest at the idea of seeing her again. But then I remembered my promise to her and the situation I put myself in.

Lainey and I remained friendly as we always have right after Madison left. That all changed these last couple of months leading up to Christmas…when she and I got drunk together.

It was after the Halloween party Selena hosted at thepenthouse. Lainey had been cooking all day and I had been mingling with some of our friends and a few suppliers Killian had invited. By the end of the night, I was in bits. Lainey approached me with a bottle of tequila and a mischievous smile.

Entertaining the idea of swimming drunk with her could lead to crossing the line, but I did it anyway. I hadn’t slept with anyone the entire time leading up to this night with hopes I’d have heard from Madison. After not even a whisper, I knew it was time to get back into the dating world.

But saying and doing are two very different things.

Lainey always showed interest, increasingly so since Madison left. It was refreshing and something I had seriously started to consider.

But I never caved.

Stupidly, I held on to that sliver of hope that Madison would reach out.

From what Conor had told me, it seemed she was doing okay out west. Of course, I knew where she was. I knew the day Conor went to visit Lexi for the first time after Madison left. Yet, I refused to check up on her. She asked me not to. Which meant I had to respect it. Conor did share information here and there, but I never questioned him further. I took what he was willing to offer, knowing his friendship with Maddy was just as important.

So… back to Halloween…

After a few too many tequila shots turned into body shots, we both jumped into the pool on the upper level. Steam swirled around us on that crisp autumn night. Lainey was feeling bold and frisky and removed her bikini top, flinging it in my face.

So. Fucking. Cheeky.“You’re fucking plastered,” I laugh, tossing her top onto the pavers and spreading my arms along the edge of the pool to hold myself afloat.

She swims around me for a while, tits out on display to the starry sky above before diving under the water and breaching the surface right in front of me. Her hands grip my forearms, usingthem as leverage to pull herself flush against me and my growing erection.

“I want you, Liam. Not want you for just a heated, drunken moment… but want you want you. I always have since we were young. I was just too afraid to tell you. You were always so closed off to everyone around you. So… soo…grumpy,” she whispers as her lips brush against mine.

My arm slinks around her, craving physical touch more than anything in this moment. Her lips part invitingly as my tongue darts out to taste her. Her breasts press firmly against my chest, rubbing against my nipple rings. Lainey wraps her legs around mine, gyrating her hips over my now very hard and throbbing cock. Meanwhile, my other fucking head keeps shouting at me to get out of this fucking pool. The memories of having Madison in here are starting to tarnish this moment.

If I am to commit to this idea of me and Lainey, I need to take her out of this pool.

So, I do.

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