Page 83 of Promises We Meant to Keep

Elia’s lips parted, the tip of her tongue dashing out against them before they closed, and she swallowed. Kamryn’s gaze was locked on her mouth, and she suddenly had the most outrageous thought. At least it would have been if she’d had it first.

Smiling, Kamryn cupped Elia’s cheek and brushed her thumb across those beautiful lips. “I want to be free. Not weighed down by the past or the future, but just be me in this moment.”

Elia gasped.

“You’re right,” Kamryn continued. “Let’s not make promises that we can’t keep, that the world or other people expect us to make. Let’s just make one promise.”

“What’s that?” Elia whispered.

“Let’s promise that when we’re together we’ll be ourselves, no matter what. We’ll be free to be exactly who we are in whatever moment we’re in.” Kamryn grinned and pressed their foreheads together, her eyes closing. The world around them vanished again, and she was here to focus only on the things that felt good, right here and right now. “Promise?”

“Yeah,” Elia answered.

“Can I kiss you?”

Elia didn’t answer. Instead, she moved, tilting her chin up and capturing Kamryn’s mouth. They both sighed simultaneously, easing into the kiss together, into the hope that they were finding in this moment. Kamryn needed to commit herself to this moment fully, because if she didn’t, she’d focus too much on the what-ifs, on the fact that they shouldn’t be doing this, on the worries that wouldn’t stop plaguing her.

Maybe one day, she’d be at her own bachelorette party or planning her own wedding and her friends would be there to celebrate her. It wasn’t today. It sure as hell wasn’t going to be tomorrow, but Kamryn wanted the possibility to still be there.

She pulled away, her body relaxing and lightening as she made eye contact with Elia. “You have good ideas sometimes.”

“Just sometimes?”

“Yeah, just sometimes.” Kamryn grinned.

Lauren showed back up, a new drink in her hand, and she seemed nonplussed by the fact that Kamryn had just been making out with Elia in the middle of the bar. “So what do you think?”

“I think I’m good for now,” Kamryn answered, barely sparing a glance to Lauren. Even if she and Elia didn’t end up together—which at this rate it didn’t seem likely that they would—she didn’t want to go back to Lauren. She needed to give up those dreams and start some new ones, or at least find people who were better for her.

And Elia was definitely better than Lauren. On so many levels.

Kamryn laced her fingers with Elia’s and faced Lauren fully now. “Where’s Rosie?”

“Talking wedding details with Andra.” Lauren groaned. “She acts like we’re next in line to get married. “

“You better dodge that bullet quickly.” Kamryn let out a single chuckle. “Don’t want to be giving your girlfriend the wrong impression, do you?”

“Maybe I do.” Lauren’s gaze dropped to Elia and Kamryn’s joined hands. “Maybe that’s exactly what I want her to think.”

“You might just want to tell her that you’re determined to never get married. Don’t want to make the same mistake twice. Even if you do, the drama’s written all over Rosie. Head to toe.”

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” Lauren snorted.

“I always find the truth is the best answer,” Elia chimed in, squeezing Kamryn’s hand in the process. “Not that it’s always taken at face value, but at least I feel better about myself.”

Lauren hummed but didn’t answer. Kamryn leaned in and pressed a kiss to Elia’s cheek. “I do still believe you.” She just wanted to make sure that Elia didn’t forget that. Even if Kamryn had her doubts, she didn’t want Elia to feel them.

“And I appreciate you.” Elia gave her a sweet smile back. “But remember, we’re not focusing on that tonight.”

“No, we’re not.” Kamryn kissed her cheek again. “So for tonight we’re two broads at a bachelorette party. What do you suggest we do?”

“Get shit-faced drunk,” Lauren replied.

Oh right. Lauren’s still here.Kamryn really needed to ditch her ex-girlfriend. She wasn’t interested in showing Elia off anymore. Right now she just wanted to spend some one-on-one time with Elia and forget that the world outside of this bar existed. And that was exactly what she was going to do.

“The wedding’s tomorrow,” Kamryn whispered into Elia’s ear. “What do you say we practice our dance for the reception?”

“I’m a little scared to ask what you mean by that, but I’ll try it.” Elia hooked her arm in Kamryn’s and started to walk away from Lauren. “See you, Lauren.”

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