Page 10 of This I Promise

This girl is gonna be the fucking death of me.

When Abby called earlier today, I was in the middle of a meeting, but I stepped away to answer her. Thank God I did too, because I hate to think what would’ve happened had she not been able to reach me. I doubt my boss is thrilled with me right now, but he’ll have to get over it. Abby comes first. She’s my family, and it’s my job to take care of her. Not that I see her as an obligation or anything like that. Iwantto take care of her and the baby. They’re important to me, and I…

Wait… Was Miles right this whole time?DoI love her?

My heart stutters a few beats as I recall our conversation at lunch. He can’t be right, though. I’ve known this girl for too long. She’s my best friend. If I were in love with her, I’d have known it before now, right?

No, no way. We’re just friends, and that’s all there is to it.

“So… are we going inside?” Abby asks, and I turn to look at her sitting in the passenger seat of my truck.

We left her car parked on the side of the road, but I’ll have Miles take me to pick it up later. I give her a reassuring smile and nod.

“Evan, are you sure about all this? It’s not too late to back out if you don’t want me to move in. Having a pregnant woman living with you is not going to be fun. And I know I’m gonna cramp your style when it comes to dating.”

The truth is I haven’t dated anyone in months. I don’t really have a reason to, not when there hasn’t been anyone to catch my attention in years. I know Abby thinks I’ve got a thing for that redhead at the diner, but she’s wrong. I can’t remember the last time I felt a spark with a girl. Maybe I never have.

“You’re staying here,” I say firmly, opening the truck door and grabbing Abby’s small suitcase from the back. We stopped by her apartment so she could get what she needed for a couple of days. We’ll go back for the rest of her stuff later, but this should do for now.

I lead her into my house, and a feeling of rightness washes over me. I wasn’t aware until this moment how much I needed to have her close to me, close enough I can make sure she and the baby are safe and cared for. I don’t know why I’m so protective of her, but I am. I always have been. And that extends to her unborn child as well.

I’m not thinking like a friend anymore, and I’m not sure when that shift took place. All I know is that something is different. I’m also not sure I can ever go back.

Abby walks ahead of me, moving toward the couch. “I’ll sleep out here tonight, but can you bring me an extra pillow?”

My brow wrinkles as I frown. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She glances at the clock by the TV. “I know it’s only nine thirty, but I’m kind of tired after all the excitement today. I was thinking I’d go to sleep if it’s okay with you…” Her voice trails off as she yawns.

“You’re not sleeping on the fucking couch, Abby.” I’m horrified that she’d expect to. “There’s no bed in the spare roomsince I’ve been using it as my home office, but I’ll order some furniture for you first thing tomorrow. Until it gets here, you’ll sleep in my bed, and I’ll take the couch.”

Her gaze shifts from me to the couch and back again before she busts out in a melodious laugh. “Evan, you’re six foot three! You’re too tall to sleep on this tiny thing!”

She’s not wrong, but there’s no way in hell I’m making my pregnant best friend sleep on the sofa, just so I can be comfortable. “I’ve slept out here before. I’ll manage.”

Abby rolls her pretty eyes at me. “Nodding off for a few hours is not the same as a good night’s sleep. Besides…” She shifts her weight from one foot to the other and nibbles on her bottom lip. “I’d feel too guilty making you sleep on the couch in your own home. Maybe we could share the bed?” The girl I’ve known almost my entire life looks shy as she stares at me from beneath her long lashes.

An unexpected blast of arousal makes my mouth go dry as my cock thickens behind my zipper. It’s wrong, so wrong. And I shouldn’t be turned on at the thought of having Abby in bed with me. She’s my friend. Only a friend.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that, you idiot.

“I don’t think?—”

“I promise it won’t be weird,” she cuts me off with a plea. “It’ll be just like it was when we were kids.”

Abby would stay the night at our place whenever her mom picked up extra shifts and worked late, but we’re adults now, and this is not the same.

“This isn’t the third grade, Abby,” I remind her.

“I know that. That’s why I won’t be wearing Barbie pajamas or steal all the covers.” She giggles at the memories. “It’ll be fine. I swear. Quit being such a baby.”

“Fine,” I agree, clearing my throat and hoping she can’t hear the slight huskiness in my tone. “You can sleep with me.” As the words leave my mouth, I know I’m about to regret them.

Twenty minutes later, I find myself lying in bed on my back, next to my best friend, while she wears a thin tank top that does nothing to hide her heavy tits—which are only worsened by the tiny cotton shorts that show off her toned legs and thick thighs. I’ve never seen her like this before, and I can barely control myself.

Abby always wears something conservative to work at the jewelry store, but even when she’s in casual clothes and we’re just hanging out, she covers up with yoga pants and oversized hoodies that come down to her mid-thigh. Most of the time, they’remyhoodies and keep her body hidden from sight, making me forget how sexy she is.

Seeing her like this, though—practically naked with a cute, sleepy expression on her face and snuggled into my side—has my dick harder than steel. And I have to keep a pillow over my lap to hide it. She’d be mortified if she knew what I was thinking about her right now.

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