Page 44 of My Promise To Keep

‘What?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Fiona, your incessant rambling finally got me talking — don’t clam up on me now.’

She takes a deep breath and turns to me as Gus’s first appointment of the day arrives, so Fi lowers her voice.

‘Assuming we are talking about a certain sexy as all hell, tattooed half-pint who runs her own bar and happens to be yourbest friend’s sister.’ My small nod confirms her suspicions, and her shoulders drop a little. ‘Leo, you and Zoe are perfect for each other in so many ways from what I know of her — granted, that’s not a lot,’

‘Why does it feel like there’s a but?’

‘Because there is.’ The hand comes to my arm once more. ‘You live here, your business is here, and she lives and owns her own business over an hour away. You may be serious about her, but I just don’t know how you’ll show her you can make it work with the distance long term.’

‘It’s an hour, Fi.’

‘I know, honey. I do, but you both work long hours, and you would then need to travel the distance to be together. I’m just saying if you want this with her, you need to show her that your life in the city isn’t going to get in the way of your relationship any more than her life in the sticks will. I know you hardly ever go home, and this shop is your baby. I hope you find a way, sweetie. I just… it feels like one of you will have to give up something you love.’

She turns back to her work, and I want to comment on her sketch, compliment her improvement, and offer some feedback like I committed to do when I took her on, but her words render me speechless.

All I had considered were my feelings for Zoe. The logistics, long-term, had never entered my mind, but now they have, I can’t stop considering them. I have to get her on board. Once I do that, we can figure the rest out. As long as the thing I’m giving up isn’t her, I’ll make it work.

‘I don’t want to piss on your fire, boss,’ Fi adds softly. ‘Maybe the first thing you need to do is just take her on a date, and the rest will figure itself out.’

Take her on a date.

Take Zoe out on a real date. That’s step one — the rest will fall into place. I just have to get her to agree. After all, I have a promise to keep.

‘I’m going need your help.’

Fi smiles and nudges my shoulder with hers.

‘We’ve got the shop, boss man. You go, get the girl.’

This Is Happening

Zoe

The knock at thedoor startles me. I was enjoying the peace and quiet of my lunch break. I’m not at work, but I’ve been cleaning all morning and just stopped. I usually like to get outside and breathe in the fresh air when I eat lunch at home, but it is pouring with rain today. I love the sound of the rain, so even though I’m inside, the windows are open, and I’m happy.

I head for the door, expecting Bree or maybe Cara, but when I pull it open, my heart stops for a moment. Leo. Soaking wet, drop-dead fucking gorgeous, Leo.

‘Hi.’ He smiles his beautiful smile, and I gaze up at him, surprised to see him. ‘Can I come in?’

Right, let him in, Zo. I step back, and he walks inside. It’s not that I’m not pleased to see him, it’s just come without warning, and for some reason, that has me on edge. I miss him. I miss our friendship, our random texts and movie nights, and more than that, I miss the thoughts I once let myself think, the idea of us being more.

‘This place is great.’

I watch as he looks around the house. He’s only seen it once on account of us not really talking, and that was when I first bought it, and it needed a lot of love.

‘Yeah, Doug helped with a few repairs and stuff.’

‘It’s what he does best.’ I nod. My brother is a genius with a tool belt.

‘Oh, let me get you a towel. You’re soaked.’ I turn, rush to the basket of laundry on my kitchen table, and find him a soft, freshly washed and dried towel, then hand it to him as he looks down at the floor.

‘I’m sorry, Zo. I made a mess.’ The wet boot prints on my hardwood floor hold his attention, and I see he looks worried.’

‘It’s fine. The floors are next on my list.’ He raises his gaze to meet mine, and I direct a hand down my body to show him that I’m in flip-flops, shorts, and an old college t-shirt I stole from my brother. ‘It’s my cleaning day.’

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