Page 35 of My Promise To Keep

Zoe’s lips pressed together, and silence fell between us. She held my gaze, and so much went unsaid between us, so much we’d avoided for so long.

‘Zo.’

The sound of the street filtered into the restaurant and we both turned, snatched away from the line yet again — pulled back before we crossed it.

‘Zoe?’

A man approached, and I noticed her shoulders lift, tension radiating from her as she forced a smile.

‘Caleb.’ She held out her hand, and he took it but leaned in to kiss her cheek before turning to look up at me. He took in my appearance. I saw his eyes cataloging the tattoos that were visible on my arms and peeking out of the collar of my shirt.

‘Um, this is Leo. He’s an old friend.’

Old friend? I smirked a little as I found her gaze once more, and she pleaded silently for me to play nice.

‘Yeah, the oldest.’ The door opened again, and I met the smiling eyes of my date, Trina. ‘Y’all have a good night.’ I heldZoe’s attention for just a moment more before reaching up to squeeze her arm lightly and walking away.

We want different things, Leo. You want hookups. I want something real.

Zoe’s words ran through my mind, and I hung my head.

I let her leave. I didn’t argue. I didn’t tell her I was in love with her.

She walked out of my apartment and into the waiting arms of the stream of idiots she dates on her search for something lasting, and I let her because I knew she was right. I wanted her, and I just wasn’t ready for serious. Butthatwaswhat she wanted?Thatfucking guy? Prick looked like he worked in a library… not that there was anything wrong with working in a library, except if you werethatguy. That fuckin’ guy.

‘Leo, you might want to ease up, honey,’ Trina said softly as I signaled to the server for another drink. I’d never been a huge drinker, and when I did drink, it was usually beer, but the burn of the bourbon was the perfect fuel for the fire smoldering in me.

‘I’m a grown man,’ I snapped, and she slumped back in her seat.

If I could have focused on her eyes, I was pretty sure I knew what I would have seen in them. She was torn somewhere between the hope that she’d still get what she wanted out of this date and wanting to leave this drunk asshole alone in the restaurant to simmer. Thing was, I knew I was drunk, and I knew I should leave. I knew I should show Trina a lot more respect. My dad would have kicked my ass if he saw me and the way I was acting. I just couldn’t. I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t stop staring. I couldn’t ignore the way Zoe was laughing or the way she seemed to have completely forgotten I was even there because ofhim. That guy, who looked like he didn’t go down on women because it wasunhygienic.

I mean, the fuckin’ glasses. I bet he didn’t even need glasses but wore them because he thought they made him look cooler and more intellectual.

‘Sweetie, let’s get you home.’

Trina’s hand on my arm shocked me, and I snatched mine back as if she’d burned me, glaring at her.

‘I thought this was supposed to be a date,’ I sneered. Who the fuck was I? I had never talked to anyone this way, especially not a woman. Not someone I actually liked.

‘It was supposed to be a date, Leo, but you’re not exactly great company.’

I laughed, then pointed. ‘Not like that guy. He’s great company, apparently.’

I heard the slurred whining but couldn’t seem to stop it. I, at least, had the wherewithal to groan, embarrassed, right before whining some more.

‘You want to fuck him, Trina? What does he have that I don’t, huh?’

‘I don’t know that guy, Leo, but being sober seems a big selling point right now.’ Trina stood and grabbed her coat.

‘Where are you going?’Oh, that came out way louder than I intended it to, and I felt the eyes of the restaurant come to land on me; all of them, including the caramel ones I saw in my dreams.

Zoe stared. Her concerned expression pissed me off, and I reached out for Trina.

‘Hey. I’m sorry, stay, please.’

Snatching her arm back, Trina smiled.

‘Sweetie, you don’t want to be here, and you made that very clear.’

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