Page 81 of Promises We Meant to Keep

“You’re still planning on coming?”

Elia stood up and started toward the door. She hadn’t really thought there was another option in that sense. She’d agreed to go with Kamryn, and she enjoyed spending time together. What harm would it do at this point, honestly?

“Sure. Besides, then you’ll be absolutely certain that I’m not doing anything inappropriate with a student.”Ah…so that’s where this is coming from.Elia bit the inside of her cheek. “That was—”

“Anger,” Kamryn finished for her. “Resentment, perhaps.”

“Yeah,” Elia agreed. “And I took it out on you.” She really was going to need to find a way to navigate this, and the intricacies that they’d created and put into place that were causing so many complications and unintended hurts.

“That’s fair,” Kamryn responded. “I didn’t exactly tell you before now what we’d decided on at the last meeting.”

Elia pressed her lips together tightly, clenching her molars together. “You didn’t. So, for tonight, I’ll relieve you of your duties for a bit.”

“Don’t leave like this, Elia.” Kamryn stood up and followed her. “Don’t leave hurting.”

“There’s no way to resolve this hurt tonight.” Elia touched Kamryn’s cheek lightly, but she didn’t pull her in for a kiss, the war inside her too strong for that to be a possibility right now. “Good night, Kam.”

twenty-nine

“Andra!” Kamryn ran into the bar and wrapped her arms around one of her best friends. She’d needed this, probably more than Andra did. With the wedding tomorrow, and with all of the drama at the school picking up, Kamryn just needed a night where she didn’t have to think about it.

“Hey there,” Andra answered, squeezing her tightly. “And good to see you again.” Andra moved away from Kamryn and extended her hand to Elia.

Except that.

With Elia here, Kamryn wasn’t going to be able to avoid everything. And their conversation the night before had set her on edge far more than she’d anticipated it would. Stepping back, Kamryn slid her hand into Elia’s, but she didn’t squeeze.

“And you,” Elia said, shaking Andra’s hand. “It’s good to see everyone again and relax a bit, don’t you think?” Elia rocked her shoulder into Kamryn’s slightly, which caused Kamryn to frown.

What was Elia playing at? She seemed so much more relaxed now than she did at the school. But was it only that? A change in environment? Surely not. Elia wasn’tthatgood an actor.

“I see you have survived the relationship so far.”

Kamryn tensed at Rosie’s voice. Why did she let this woman bother her so much? She really needed to figure that out already. Elia’s hand tightened in hers before she swung her arm around Kamryn’s back and pulled her in tightly to her side.

“We are.” Elia said nothing else as she turned Kamryn away from Rosie and Lauren and moved toward another small group of friends nearby.

Kamryn wasn’t even sure that she could get it together enough to say thank you for that maneuver. Elia stayed right next to her as a waitress came by to take their drink orders. Kamryn debated whether or not to get something strong, but when Elia leaned into her side and whispered, “Get whatever you want. I’ll drive home.” Kamryn didn’t hesitate and ordered herself a double shot of whiskey.

“Thanks,” Kamryn murmured, lowering her voice so no one but Elia could hear her. This shouldn’t feel awkward, should it? They hadn’t spent much time together, alone, since Kamryn had finally been brought in on what was going on, and she was placing a whole lot of trust in Elia, that she was the one telling the truth.

“Any time.” Elia ran her hand up and down Kamryn’s back. “Do you mind if we…ignore all the other drama in our lives tonight?”

Kamryn frowned, staring down into Elia’s blue eyes, which seemed almost black in the dim light of the bar. “You want to ignore what exactly?”

“The inquisition.” Elia stepped in closer, pressing her lips to Kamryn’s ear. “Tonight I just want to be free. I don’t want to be weighed down by past mistakes or hurts or questions about what my future is going to look like.”

“I won’t let them fire you.”

“Youcan’t control them. Just like I can’t.” Elia nibbled on the lobe of Kamryn’s ear. “I don’t want to think about it tonight. I just want to be me.”

“And who are you?” Kamryn asked, that question resonating deeply in her chest and soul. Because up until this moment, she’d thought she’d gotten the true Elia Sharpe, the woman who was tightly wound with secrets but had such a caring heart that it caused her even more strife.

“Elia,” she replied, kissing the corner of Kamryn’s mouth. “Yours.”

Kamryn moved in, pressing their lips together. She closed her eyes, feeling everything that she could and ignoring the people surrounding them. Elia was warm, comforting. Her scent was an embrace that Kamryn longed for every moment that she woke up in her own bed. Elia was brilliant, careful, concentrated. She was passionate in a way that Kamryn hadn’t ever expected to experience after so many years teaching.

Their tongues touched.

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