Page 4 of This I Promise

He cuts me off with a sinister laugh that makes my stomach drop. “Love? I don’t love you,” he sneers, and I no longer recognize the man standing in my apartment.

“But you said?—”

“I would’ve said anything to keep getting my dick wet.”

I rear back as if I’ve been slapped. He’s never spoken to me this way. How could he be so cruel?

“I don’t understand. Why are you acting this way?” I can’t hold back the tears and they spill down my hot cheeks.

“Love isn’t real, Abby. If it were, I probably wouldn’t screw around on my wife.”

This is a nightmare.

“Wife? You have a wife? You’re married?” I shriek as panic surges through me.

“You can’t be that dumb.”

I jab my index finger into his chest. “I amnotdumb. You lied to me. You lied this whole time. I never would’ve gotten involved with you if I had known.”

“You didn’t think it was strange that I never let you call me? That I don’t stay the night and I never take you out?”

Oh, God. Iamdumb.

“I can’t believe this,” I mumble under my breath as I turn away, disgusted at the sight of him. “I’m a home-wrecker. I’m sure my mom is gonna be real proud.” Then a sudden thought occurs to me. “The necklace. The one you bought when we met. Was that really for your sister?” I already know what he’s going to say and it makes me sick.

“I’m an only child.” Davis smirks, and I’ve never wanted to kick someone in the balls more than I do right now.

“You’re disgusting.” Of all the men in the world, this one is the father of my child.

He steps in my direction with a sleazy look in his eyes. “We could still have a few more months of fun. Before your body goes to shit and you get all fat.”

As if it has a mind of its own, my palm whips across his smug face. “Get. Out.”

His skin turns red as he rubs away the sting. Then he scowls at me and marches out of my living room, slamming the door behind him. I’m too stunned to move and stand in place for a long time, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. Despair washes over me when I plop onto the couch.

How could I have been so blind? Was I that desperate for attention that I missed all the red flags? How could he do this?

I always thought I’d find the perfect man someday. Settle down, get married, and have a few kids. I never wanted to raise my child alone because I know what it’s like. My own mother is a single mom, and while she did the best she could for me, we could barely make ends meet even though she worked two—sometimes three—jobs. I don’t want that for my baby.

I swipe at my tear-stained cheeks with the back of my hand and curl into a ball on the sofa. This is going to be hard, but I’m strong. I can do this. No matter what I have to do, I’ll find a way to make this work.

What choice do I have?

3

EVAN

Something’s going on with her, and I’m gonna find out what it is.

It’s been two weeks since I’ve spent any quality time with Abby, and it’s driving me crazy. We’ve texted a lot, as usual, but she’s been hard to pin down. The last time I saw her in person was when she had that flat tire and I gave her a ride to work. I’m assuming she’s just spending more time with that smarmy asshole she’s been dating, and I can’t pretend I don’t like it.

I’ve never approved of any of the guys she’s dated. None of them were good enough for her. And after a quick man-to-man conversation, they realized it too… and never came back. Bunch of fucking pussies, all of them.

But this guy… What kind of name isDavisanyway? There’s something about him that I can’t put my finger on, but he’s rubbed me the wrong way since the day I met his arrogant ass. With his expensive clothes, cherry-red sports car, and professionally whitened teeth.Why the fuck are his teeth so freakishly white?

Regardless of how I feel about the guy, Abby loves him. Although I have no idea why. She seems happy, and I’d never stand in the way of that. So whenever he’s around, I bite my tongue and shove down the urge to punch him in his pretty face.

I press the “popcorn” button on the microwave, then watch the plate spin around as the bag fills with the buttery snack. Abby is finally coming over for a movie night, and I have all her favorites: popcorn, nachos, and a shit-ton of candy. There’s nothing better than scary movies with my best friend and a coffee table covered in junk food.

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