Page 22 of The Promise
“It looks too delicious not to,” I say, and it makes Sineadbeam.
It’s a lovely afternoon. We’re sat under a tree and the sun peeks through the leaves, warming my skin as I lie out on the blanket after stuffing myface.
“I’m going to feed the ducks with the leftover bread,” Sineadsays.
“Okay, we’ll behere.”
We both watch her walk off happily for a few seconds before I feel his gaze turn to me. “Thank you for coming. She’s really missed you. I didn’t realise before how much she needed a female in her life other than hergrandmothers.”
“Don’t,” I warn. I don’t need him using Sinead to win me backaround.
“I don’t mean it like that. I was just stating a fact. That night you did her makeup and helped her choose her outfit made it so obvious what she’s been missing outon.”
“You’ve done an amazing job, Blake. She has everything she needs. Don’t put yourselfdown.”
“I know, she’s incredible,” he says, as his eyes search her out over by the pond. “I’m not saying any of this to rush you. I know I fucked up, Adds, and I know I need to prove myself to you. I just miss what wehad.”
“Me too,” Imutter.
His eyes glisten as they stare into mine. “Thank you for giving me a second chance. I promise I won’t let youdown.”
“You’d better not, because if you hadn’t noticed, it’s not just me this affects. Look how happy she is right now,” I say, nodding my head to a smiling Sinead as she walks back ourway.
“Iknow.”
“They just ignored it. I guess I’m not the first to try to feed them today,” Sinead says with a laugh. “They do all look at littlefat.”
She just gets sat down when I feel someone approach us behindme.
“Blake, how are you doing?” A female voice purrs, and I turn around to see who it belongsto.
The second I lock my eyes on her face, I know exactly who it is, and I feel my anger begin to bubble up. She must be heading towards forty but she has an incredible figure accentuated by the dress she’s wearing. Her blonde hair is perfect—if not a little too big for my liking—and her makeup flawless. She screams money, and that’s without looking at her Gucci bag and JimmyChoos.
I hateher.
“Hi, Shauna. I’m good, how areyou?”
“So so,” she says with a wave of her hand. “It’s not the same, you know?” Her hand comes up to her neck and she slowly lowers it, trying to show off hercleavage.
I clench my fists at her attempted seduction and the mention of spending time with Blake. I glance over at Sinead but she’s grabbed another muffin and is mostly ignoring what’s goingon.
“It was time to move on.” Is all Blakesays.
“Looks like you’re having fun.” She takes her eyes off him for the first time and looks down to the blanket to find me staring daggers at her. “Is this your…sister?” she asks, looking me up anddown.
“No,” Blake snaps. “She’s my…” I see him glance over to Sinead. I’ve no doubt if she wasn’t here his answer would be very different, but he has to hold his tongue for her benefit. “Friend.”
I know why he says it but the second the word falls from his mouth it’s like someone’s slapped me around the face. Shauna’s eyes sparkle and her lips quirk up indelight.
“Okay, well, nice to meet you,” she says before turning back to Blake and practically shoving her tits in his face. “You have my number. I’m free anytime, just give me a call.” As she says it, she bends down and places her hand on hisforearm.
I’m all but ready to get up and drag her the fuck away from him by her hair if she doesn’t stop touching him and fuck off. A quick flick of her eyes over to me shows me she knows exactly what she’s doing. Fuckinghussy.
“I’ll bear that in mind,” Blake says politely, his voice giving nothing away. I realise he’s pulled some kind of mask on; he’s in escort mode. I stare at his expressionless face as he politely speaks to Shauna and removes her hand from him. As I watch, I realise just how much I hate what he’s been doing. It’s not just that he was spending time with different women while with me, it’s the fact that he clearly doesn’t enjoy it. The effort he’s putting in is obvious, and he did all that forSinead.
Eventually, Blake manages to get rid of Shauna. He pulls his wallet out of his back pocket and thrusts a ten-pound note towards Sinead as he instructs her to go and get us icecreams.
“Don’t be angry,” he says, turning his gaze tome.
