Page 27 of My Promise To Keep

‘Leo.’

The small voice saying my name pulled my attention up, and I saw Zoe approaching, fresh flowers in her hand, and I took a deep breath. I didn’t fucking need this.

‘Hey.’

I forced a small smile but didn’t get up.

‘What are you…’ she bit her lip. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yep, I’m good. Just catching up.’

I pushed myself up to stand, picked up the cans, empty and full, and put them back into the grocery bag.

Patting a hand on the top of the stone, I turned to walk away.

‘You don’t have to go.’ Her voice shook like she was nervous. It was a knife to the heart. Zoe and I had always been effortlessly comfortable around each other.

‘Yeah, I do. I have to get back to the city.’

‘You’ve been drinking.’

‘I’ve had two beers, Zoe. I’m fine.’

‘Can we—’ She exhaled. ‘Could we talk? I could come up to see you?’

I hung my head for a second and took a breath. We couldn’t keep doing this.

‘Zo,’ I stepped close and leaned in to kiss her head the way I had a million times. ‘We need to accept that our relationship has changed. I’m always going to be in your corner, but it can’t be the way it always was. I’m seeing somebody, and I don’t think it would be fair on her for me to spend time with you.’

It was a lie. A lie intended to create real space between us. I hadn’t expected the look of hurt in her eyes, but I couldn’t take it back now.

‘Okay.’ Fuck, her voice was small. I hated that.

‘See you later, Zo.’

I walked away. I had to walk away.

Are You Staying?

Leo

Eighteen Months Ago

This was not howI expected today to go.Ten years. I thought we’d mark the occasion together. Hell, somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind, I thought we might evenbetogether by now. Instead, I was working, and I didn’t know if I could even still consider her a friend.

We’d seen each other, of course. After all, when push came to shove, we were family. We’d had Christmas and birthdays, and we’d had Bowie. When Doug’s daughter had come along, it stunned all of us how much we loved that kid, how protective of her we all were, and you better believe it, when Miss Bowie Campbell said she wanted to see her Uncle Leo, I was in Forest Falls in a flash, so I’ve seen Zoe plenty, it just hasn’t been the same.

‘Leo, someone here to see you.’ Fi, my apprentice, poked her head around the curtain of the back room where I was currently laid out in the chair, staring up at the ceiling. ‘Is this a private area to stop customers having to expose themselves or for you to take naps?’ she sassed as I pushed myself up.

‘Nobody’s taking naps,’ I grumbled, ‘although you’re working so slowly, you might as well be.’

She laughed. ‘Don’t take your pissy mood out on me, boss man. Eat some chocolate or something.’

I was so busy glaring at her, stunned that she was talking to me like thatagain, that I didn’t notice who it was leaning against the counter until she spoke.

‘He doesn’t eat chocolate,’ Zoe said, her husky voice making my ears perk up as my eyes found hers, and she smiled. ‘You’re sweet enough, right?’

‘Zo,’ her name was a breath of relief as I stepped forward and wrapped her up in my arms.

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