Page 9 of Broken Promises

“I don’t really know. Sometimes I’m angry. Sometimes I’m fine. Today I’m good.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t called,” I say softly. We used to call each other every day. For years we spoke daily. The shirt storm I got myself into the past few months had me hiding, even from her.

“I miss you, Dec. I wish you were here,” she says, her voice sounding small.

“About that. You remember a couple of years ago when you said you’d trade a kidney to get me traded to Boston?” She doesn’t say anything for so long that I have to check to make sure the call didn’t disconnect.

“Did you sell my kidney to Boston? I’m not even sure I’m mad if you did. Are you moving here?” She sounds excited now, and I smile. Then I remember what I need her to do, and my smile drops.

“No kidneys, but I need you to do something else for me,” I say.

“Anything,” Willa says immediately.

“I need you to become Mrs. Monroe.” I hold my breath and wait for her response. The hysterical laughter that nearly blows out my eardrums isn’t what I was expecting.

“Willa,” I yell into the phone, holding it away from my ear so I can continue to hear.

“That was funny. You got me,” she says, still laughing, but at a more manageable decibel.

“Princess, I’m serious.” I explain the meeting I just had and admit to what I told Diego.

“Declan!” she says, sounding both shocked and angry. “You could’ve at least called me first!”

“I know! I’m sorry. I panicked.” I rub my hand over my face, frustrated with myself for putting her in this situation. “You know what? Never mind. I won’t do this to you. If my career ends here, it was still one hell of a career.”

“Will you hold your dang horses and give me a flipping second?” Willa says, and I laugh. “Shush. I’m trying not to swear. Cora keeps repeating everything, and I’m babysitting her right now.”

“It’s really alright, Princess.”

“It’s really not, but that’s more on the controlling angle these teams are playing with than your dumb penis and it’s even dumber choices.”

I laugh because I can’t disagree.

“I’ll do it. When will you be home?”

I smile even though she can’t see me. “I’ll move as soon as I can.” I pause, giving her time to change her mind. “Thank you, Willa. I promise I’ll be the best husband you’ve ever had.” She snorts, and I know she’s shaking her head right now.

“We’ll figure all this out when you get here.”

“See you soon, wifey.”

I hear her mutterJesus Christunder her breath before she hangs up.

“What did you do?”

I jump and turn to see Finn standing in front of the door I thought I locked. His blond hair is loose around his ears, whichwould trick anyone just meeting him into thinking he was a relaxed guy. That’s if they didn’t register how tall and wide the man is. Or how grumpy his face usually is.

“I asked my best friend to marry me,” I say, a little smugly.

“You’re an idiot.”

“Why? People do it all the time. How many weddings have we been to? They all say they’re marrying their best friend,” I point out.

Finn shakes his head and looks disappointed in me again. “They were also in love with their best friend.”

“It’ll be fine. We’ll make great roommates until I retire.” I should probably talk to Willa about the actual length she’s willing to tie herself to me before bragging about my genius plan to my back-up best friend.

Finn is just glaring at me. Sometimes it feels like those icy blue eyes are looking directly into my soul. It’s unnerving, and if I didn’t know how much of a marshmallow that stone exterior was hiding, I would probably be scared of him.

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