Page 20 of Promise Me Nothing
“I thought he was backpacking in Europe this summer,” Lucas finally says, then tips his drink back, finishing the last little bit in one swig.
Paige shakes her head. “His dad said he wasn’t even coming home, that he’d just be leaving for London from San Francisco.”
Lucas’ brow furrows. “Why were you talking with Calvin?”
Paige shrugs. “I saw him at Penny’s gallery opening.” Then she rolls her eyes. “He was there with his child bride.”
“Don’t call her that.”
“Wyatt calls her that.”
“Wyatt does a lot of things he shouldn’t do.”
“Well she’s nineteen years old, Lucas. Mr. Calloway is forty-eight. It’s gross.”
I lean forward and lower my voice. “I didn’t even know there were real people who do that. I always thought the mid-life crisis thing was a myth.”
Lucas’ nostrils flare, but before he can say anything, Paige pipes in.
“It’s not a myth. Actually, it’s far too common around here. When you live in a beach town, you keep getting older and the sexy girls on the beach stay the same age.” Paige makes a gagging noise. “Krissa, his new wife, is younger than both of his sons.That’sthe part that grosses me out.”
The server shows up then and drops off our food. My stomach pulls at me, reminding me that it has been a long day without much to eat. The burger looks amazing, and I don’t hesitate to pick it up and chomp right in, moaning at the delicious taste.
“That is a really good burger,” I say, once I finally finish my first bite. I set it back on my plate and wipe my hands. “I haven’t had something that good in a while.”
Lucas smiles. Paige eyes my burger with envy as she cuts up her fancy salad.
“Speaking of the creepy Mr. Calloway, I can’t go with you to the Marina tomorrow night,” Paige says to Lucas. “But it probably works out, because now you can take Hannah.”
Lucas slows his chewing and glances in my direction. “Do you want to go with me to a formal dinner tomorrow night at the Marina? There’s a charity auction, too.”
I twist in my seat, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “You know, I don’t know if I’d really… fit. Fit in with everyone. You know? Besides, you saw my bag of stuff. It’s filled with jeans and shirts. I wouldn’t have anything to wear.”
“I can totally let you borrow something of mine!” Paige says, her smile stretching from ear-to-ear.
I let out an awkward laugh, not knowing how to even begin to react to the idea of that.
“I don’t… uhm…” I stammer, not sure what to say. Part of me wants to go, to spend time with my brother. And the other part of me wonders if I’m just setting myself up for a really big fall.
“It’ll be fun, Hannah. I promise.”
My stomach tightens. I hate promises. Somehow, they never live up to what you’re expecting.
But I nod anyway, my lips forming a tight smile.
Paige claps her hands together, her excitement bubbling up like a fountain. “Oh this is going to be so fun!”
I want to laugh at that, but I stay quiet instead. I can’t imagine in what world this would be fun, but as Paige goes on and on about what to expect when I go with Lucas to dinner tomorrow night, I can’t help but hope she’s right.
CHAPTER FIVE
Wyatt
The smell of home.
The girl on the pier said those words, and I bet when she said them, she thought she was saying something emotionally revealing or romantic.
She couldn’t have been more wrong.
