Page 19 of This I Promise

“I want to start over. No wife, no baby, nothing to come between us. We can be together, just the two of us.”

What a load of bullshit.

Abby notices me approaching and her eyes go wide with shock. She knows what I’m about to do, but nothing will stop me from giving this asshole what he deserves.

Clamping a hand down onto Davis’s shoulder, I spin him around and smash my fist into his face. There’s a satisfying crunch before blood spews from his broken nose. He screams in pain and slumps against the display counter, clutching his swelling face.

“Fuck, that felt good,” I admit before tugging Abby behind me.

“I’m calling the police! This is assault!”

He’s lucky I only hit him once.

Jill and Cici are rushing out of the back to see what the commotion is about when the doorbell chimes, signaling a new customer. Guilt courses through me for having caused such a scene.

“What’s going on out here?” Jill asks, her gaze darting back and forth between a wounded Davis, and me and Abby.

“I’m sorry. I—” I’m cut off by a feminine voice coming from the door.

“It’s not his fault. That’s my husband. The one with the broken nose.” This must be the infamous Lucy Abby was telling me about.

Davis’s eyes widen in horror as he watches his wife approach him. “W-wh-what are you doing here?”

She slips her hands into the pockets of her designer wide-leg slacks. “I’m taking you home…dear. Seems you’ve caused quite enough trouble for one day.”

He straightens to his full height and attempts to regain some of his composure. “I-I-I can explain. It’s not what it looks like. I swear.” Beads of sweat form on his brow as he stumbles for words.

“Oh, it’sexactlywhat it looks like, and I know all about it.” She shakes her head with a satisfied smile on her face. “Why don’t you tell me some more lies on the way home? Before I call my attorney and tell hereverythingyou’ve been up to.”

Davis’s face loses all color when his wife hooks her arm into the crook of his elbow. She appears calm, but when her gaze meets mine over his shoulder, I see the storm swirling in her eyes.

“You’ve been a very bad boy, Davis. Let’s go.” She drags him out of the store as he wears an expression of disbelief, and I have a feeling I won’t see him again anytime soon.

Jill comes over with a nervous smile on her face, filling me with relief that she’s not too upset with me. “You certainly bring the excitement whenever you stop by. How about you take our girl home and let her start her leave now?”

I laugh, knowing she’s ready to not see my face around here for a while. “You heard the lady.” I turn to Abby with a mischievous grin. “Time to get you home and in bed.”

She narrows her gaze at me. “She said take me home. She didn’t say anything about being in bed.”

“Eh, it’s where we always seem to end up anyway.” I chuckle before sweeping Abby into my arms, relishing how good it feels to hold her.

I don’t want to do it now, because she’ll question my motives. But someday soon, I’m going to ask this girl to marry me.

EPILOGUE

EVAN

My hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles white with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as I drive through town. I’m barely going the speed limit, but I couldn’t care less when I have such precious cargo onboard.

“Come on, Evan,” Abby teases, her voice cutting through the silence. “My grandma drives faster than this.”

I chuckle, knowing she’s right but unable to help myself. “Can’t be too careful, Sunshine,” I say, glancing into the rearview mirror, where I see Ava Rose sleeping soundly in her car seat.

It feels surreal, this moment of bringing our daughter home for the first time. My heart swells with a love I never knew possible as I steal another glance at Abby. Her eyes sparkle with amusement and exhaustion, and I’m struck by a wave of gratitude for the life we’ve created together. From best friends to lovers, it’s been a journey filled with laughter and passion and some weird drama. But now, I have a perfect little family to show for it.

As we pull into the driveway, I park the SUV with deliberate care, the vehicle a tangible symbol of our new family life. Abby shakes her head in disbelief, a playful smile on her lips as shecomments on the trade of my beloved truck for something more kid-friendly. “I guess it’s better than a minivan.”

“The safety ratings are better.” I shrug.

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