Page 52 of My Promise To Keep

‘We get it. You’re sleeping like a baby these days.’ I laugh, and she blushes further. ‘To answer your question, yes, I’ve tried everything,’ I admit before taking a huge gulp of wine. ‘Nothing is working.’

‘We should go to a spa. Maybe a massage and a day relaxing are what you need,’ Missy suggests, and I smile. That does sound nice.

‘Yes, let’s do that.’ Cara agrees and pulls out her phone.

‘You girls start looking.’ Bree stands. ‘Twinnie, can you give me a hand in the kitchen?’

I take a breath, knowing damn well she doesn’t need my help, and follow her out.

‘What is going on with you?’ she whispers when we’re alone.

‘Nothin’.’ I shrug, and she folds her arms across her chest. ‘Jesus, fine. I can’t stop thinking about,’ I look behind me to check we’re still alone, ‘him,and it’s driving me crazy.’

‘Thinking about him how?’

‘He asked me out and then disappeared. I said no, and now he’s not getting in touch, and I think I’ve pushed him too far, but he said he was going to prove we should do this, and I don’t know what I want, Bree, but then seeing him this weekend and him looking so…’

‘Oh, sweetie, breathe.’ My sister pulls me into a tight hug, and I relax against her. ‘Call him.’

‘I can’t, twinnie. I don’t know if I can do this with him, but I can’t get him out of my head. It’s not fair to call him unless I’m sure.’

‘Youcando this with him, and youshould, and if I were you, I would take control of this situation and tell him you want to, but I know you. I know you’re going to go back and forth on this until your head is spinning, and you can’t see which way is up because I know what worries you about this, but trust me when I tell you it’ll be okay. They will all be okay with this.’

‘We got it.’ Missy calls out from the living room, and Bree squeezes my shoulders.

‘Maybe a day at the spa will give you some clarity.’

The spa that Missyand Cara found was incredible.

We’ve had an amazing day, and I feel so relaxed for the first time in so long. Now, some time and some tea with Mama to round up my day: perfect.

As I walk up the porch steps, I hear Mama’s laugh, loud and clear, and hope I’m not about to walk in on her and Merv in a compromising position —again.

‘Knock, knock,’ I call out as I open the door and walk in with my hand over my eyes. ‘Merv, pull your pants back up.’

‘Oh, Zoe,’ Mama shrieks, then giggles, and there’s another laugh, but it’s not Merv’s, and I know it well.

Dropping my hand, I widen my eyes, and they land on the mischievous green ones I’ve been unable to stop thinking about.

‘Hey, munch,’ he smiles. ‘Do I need to pull my pants up too?’

I swallow hard and glance between him and Mama.

‘Leo, what’s… what are you doing here?’

‘What, I can’t visit with my favorite Campbell?’

Mama swats at him playfully, and he grins, wide and genuine. He loves Lynnie. I know that for sure.

‘You can, it’s just, I didn’t um—’ I’m flustered, Jesus. Get it together, Zoe. ‘I didn’t know you were still in town.’

‘Sit down, Zoe. I’ll get you some tea.’

As I move toward the table, Leo stands to pull out my chair. Goddammit, he’s making it all worse. The scent of him fills my nostrils, and the spa day may as well have not happened — I’m not sleeping tonight.

‘Thank you,’ I say softly, not trusting my own voice not to betray me.

‘Leo is still in town because Buck and Lucy finally set a date for the wedding.’ Mama places down my tea, and joy fills me up.

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