The Promise

by S. L. Jayne

  The last words I heard before falling asleep will play over in my mind forever. “More amazing than I could have ever imagined. I love you, baby. You’re not just my life, you’re my breath too, I can’t breathe without you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Rylee, please calm down. I know he’s pissed you off but slamming things down on your desk isn’t going to solve anything. Take a deep breath and tell me exactly what happened before I text him myself,” I said as I sat in the chair on the opposite side of her desk.

  She closed her eyes breathed in through her nose quickly releasing it out of her mouth.

  “Are you kidding me, Ava? Don’t tell me to calm down when Matt fucking Morgan knows exactly how to wind me up! You know I hate feeling like I am a game!” She shouted.

  Rylee doesn’t normally get this riled up, whatever Matt has said to her must have pushed all the wrong buttons.

  I nodded my head quickly. “Okay I get it, you’re pissed. Scream, shout, slam, do whatever you need to do but for God sake, Rylee, tell me what he has done. Why do you feel like a game?” I said holding my hands out waiting for her to give me something, anything to go on.

  She stands up and starts walking up and down pacing the floor behind her desk.

  “I told him I had to take the call from Connor when we were at the gym last night and then this morning I get a call up from reception that he is downstairs and wants to talk, I go down there and he tells me he wanted to apologize for his shitty remark. He didn’t know who Connor was and felt bad for calling him my ‘bit on the side’ as a joke that I clearly didn’t find funny,” she stopped to take another deep breath before continuing.

  “But then just as he was leaving, Mr Ashby went past and had called me sweetheart, which I think Matt took the wrong way because he raised his eyebrow turned around smiled and then winked at Morgan in the lobby, and now I’m pissed with myself for even feeling a bit jealous because he isn’t even mine!” She said with a pissed off what the fuck look on her face.

  Three weeks ago they were fine, I came home from my date at Ocean Beach with Ryan and they were cosy watching a movie and laughing together. I think Rylee is getting closer to Matt than she ever expected or had wanted to allow herself, so here come her steel walls to shut him out.

  “Okay. You took a call from Conner? Is he okay?” I asked with a worried tone because she hadn’t wanted to take his calls before.

  “No, Ava, he isn’t okay! He text me telling me it was urgent so I answered his call and I’m glad I did because even with all these miles between us Nate still manages to fuck with me, just because I’m not there to take his bullshit head games he’s trying it on Connor, telling him that I moved away because I didn’t care about him and that mom can’t wait until he moves out! Who does that to their own flesh and blood, Ava? He’s a sick bastard and I need to tell my mom about all of this shit, but I need her here alone, without Nate. I can’t see him,” she said as her voice broke and she started breathing fast and hard.

  I rushed over to her placing my hand on her back gently rubbing up and down to try and calm her down.

  “Breathe, Rylee, please. It’ll be okay we will get your mom and Conner here and I promise Nate won’t get near you or them again, Ryan and Matt will kill him before he gets within ten feet of you,” I said in a soft tone trying to comfort her until her breathing evened out.

  Rylee took in a deep breath before turning to face me. I know she’s close to her breaking point but I’ll be damned if I let Nate knock her down again.

  “I know, Ava, but I’m just scared for them, I don’t want Connor to end up head fucked or worse- violent because he’s angry or scared, I don’t want that for my brother. Then there is the whole Matt thing swimming around in my head too, my head is spinning, Ava,” she shook her head as if she was shaking the thoughts out.

  “Okay I’m going to tell you what I think but please don’t throw anything at me. I’m just giving you my opinion,” I said as I gave her a pleading look hoping it will make her see I’m being serious.

  She nodded and put her hands in her lap, obviously not trusting herself with coffee cups and staplers nearby.

  “So firstly we are going to get your mom and Conner here, that’s a given. Secondly, Matt doesn’t know who Connor is all he knows is that he is from Boston, a place you won’t talk about. I get that it would piss you off, Ry, but try and lighten up a little on that until you’re ready to explain who he is,” I stopped to give her a moment to think.

  Rylee nodded and I knew she had taken in what I had said, I took a deep breath and continued.

  “Okay, don’t freak out or start defending yourself until I’ve finished. I think you like Matt more than you’re willing to admit to anyone, even yourself, you wouldn’t get jealous otherwise. I understand you keeping your feelings to yourself for the sake of your friendship but I also think he likes you too and you’re both using that as your shields. You said that you think Matt has his own past issues and you do too, so clearly you both are cautious about getting hurt, but think about it, Ry, don’t you think Matt would be an amazing man to have, not just as a friend but to love you and be there for you like you deserve, to hold you when you’re freaking out and to kick any guys ass for looking at his prized possession the wrong way?” I raised my eye brows in question waiting for her response.

  Rylee’s eyes dropped to her lap and I knew she was fiddling with her fingers and could tell that at any moment now she would start playing with her necklace.

  She brought her eyes back to mine and sighed.

  “I can’t, Ava, he’s an amazing man we know that, but like you said he will look at me like a possession and I can’t do that, I can’t feel owned- I’ll freak out and push him away and that will hurt him. Nate was probably right, I’ll never be any good to anyone,” she said as she swallowed hard, taking down his words. Again.

  “Stop. Rylee, don’t say that, you know you’re worth more than he ever made you believe. I know you’re scared and I know the last thing you want to do is hurt Matt, you’d never hurt anyone intentionally, we all know that and that’s why we love you for you, Ry,” I said with a small smile.

  She gave me a small smile back. “I know and I do keep reminding myself I’m nothing like he made me believe but honestly, Ava, I would rather have him hit me and have a bruise that fades, than have his words in my head that can’t be forgotten,” she said as she shook her head slightly and sighed.

  I stood up and walked around her desk, I lean down and wrap my arms around her.

  “I know, sweetie. I wish I could take all of that away from you and make you forget, but I can’t. All I can do is remind you of your own worth and hope that one day you really do believe it,” I stroked her hair to make her feel better, I’m not sure why but it always works.

  Rylee broke the hug and looked up at me. “Thank you, Ava. I will get there eventually, when I’m with Matt I do forget, maybe not all of it but he makes me feel like I am worth it- not that you don’t it’s just different with Matt, he’s a guy and I never thought being friends with one was possible.”

  Rylee may seem okay on the outside to everyone but it’s the small things she says that make you realize she really is fragile on the inside. She has just gotten good at putting on a front, but those that take the time to listen will pick up on it. Matt for instance, he can turn out to be the best thing to happen to her or the worst. On one hand he brings out the good in her, the smiles the laughter and even the confidence to open up a little – on the other hand, I’m scared he has the ability to crush her, I know she is afraid to admit that she likes him, I know she is getting attached to their friendship. I also know they both have different reasons for why they are the way that they are. I have my fingers crossed it’s the former.

  ***

  I heard Ryan come into the kitchen as I stood chopping the peppers to go with our dinner. After Rylee and I talked at work today she told me she needed a night out to forget about everything; the pen
ding discussion with her mom, the phone call with Connor and her mixed feelings over Matt.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind me going out with Matt instead?” Ryan said as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind bending his head down to nuzzle my hair.

  I felt the tingles run down my spine from his touch, I can’t let him use his effect on me to change my mind about tonight. I shook my head again for fifth time, who has to tell their boyfriend five times that he can go and hang with the guys instead of chaperoning his girlfriend and friends to a club? Me, that’s who. He had wanted to come with us but I know Rylee needed a break from Matt which was why we chose Club V and not Morgan’s. I want her to forget all about her problems tonight and have fun, we’ll deal with everything tomorrow.

  I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

  “I’m positive, babe. We are only going to Club V, Rylee needs to let her hair down for a bit and then we’ll be home. Go have fun with Matt and Walker and whoever else you guys decide to drag along,” I said, leaning up on my toes to plant a light kiss on his lips.

  I felt one of his hands slowly move down to my ass, I shook my head and smirked at him as I grabbed his hand and moved it back to rest on my hip.

  “Don’t try it, Sanders. You won’t like me brushing you off, it’ll bruise your ego,” I laughed.

  He pulled me in closer and moved my hair away from my ear. “Don’t you want me, baby?” He whispered in a low voice that made my whole body shudder.

  He knows well and good that I want him, I always want him but tonight Rylee could do with a breather and having Matt around her will only distract her.

  “I always want you, you know that but the next few hours are about Rylee. I’m worried about her, babe, I don’t want her to have a complete meltdown before her mom even gets here. She text Connor after work telling him she needed to see them both, Connor had said that he needed to see her too and he would find a way to get their mom here without Nate,” I said lowering my voice so Rylee didn’t hear from the living room.

  Ryan wrapped his arms tighter around me pulling me in closer, his hard chest flush against my body made me want to throw all plans out of the window and just lay in his arms pressed up against his bare skin- but I can’t, I need to focus on my best friend and getting her through the next week.

  Chapter Twenty

  We weaved our way through the crowd to the bar for more shots, apparently we needed them because Rylee could still feel her lips so she wasn’t nearly as drunk as she wanted to be. Aimee and Kaitlyn had arrived at our apartment at eight o’clock sharp looking dressed to kill. Rylee and I both wore dresses tonight; mine being a simple LBD and hers being a deep red, figure hugging one shoulder number. She really was going all out tonight and I wasn’t about to stop her.

  “Twelve jelly bean shots please,” Aimee shouted across the bar.

  I have a feeling these shots are not going to taste anything like jelly beans.

  “Twelve?! Aimee, we do want to be able to walk out of here you know,” Kaitlyn shrieked making us laugh at her.

  “Kaitlyn, it’s only three each,” I said laughing, I don’t think she worked out the math.

  She gave me a quizzed look and then realisation flashed across her face as it dawned on her that three shots wasn’t all that much.

  The bartender lined our shots up and Rylee counted as we raised our glasses to our lips.

  “One… Two…GO!”

  Throwing my head back I tipped the drink into my mouth and swallowed quickly before slamming the glass back down on the bar. It took a couple seconds for the taste to hit and when it did I was so sure it was going to come back up, it was the worst thing I have ever tasted!

  My hand flew over my mouth and I looked at Aimee with wide eyes. “What the hell is in that?”

  Rylee and Kaitlyn seemed to have liked it and already had their next one in their hands ready to go.

  “It’s blackberry brandy, Sambuca and Southern Comfort,” Aimee said, with a huge smile.

  “It tastes like liquorice mixed with gasoline. It’s God awful,” I said, screwing my face up.

  Rylee laughed and handed me her shot glass. “Suck it up, Ava, it’s not the worst thing you’ve ever had in your mouth,” she smirked.

  Shaking my head laughing at her smutty comment I looked down at the glass and back up at Rylee. I don’t think I can do it.

  “Very funny, Ry. I don’t think I can. I’ll throw up, I know I will,” I swallowed hard again, trying to get rid of the taste in my mouth.

  Walking over to me Rylee lifted my hand to my mouth and raised her eyebrows.

  “Drink or I hold your nose and make you drink. Your choice, bestie!” She said laughing.

  I would say she wouldn’t dare but I know she would, maybe not to anyone else but to me she wouldn’t think twice.

  I shot her an evil look and took a deep breath.

  “You’re having lemon drops next, wench!” I laughed seeing her face screw up.

  I refused to have the last shot, I wasn’t going to do it. Period. I felt sick from the first two so Rylee had it instead. We got more drinks and made our way over to one of the seating booths so we could sit for a while after Aimee informed us that she thought her feet were going to drop off and her five inch strappy sandals were going in the trash when she got home.

  My phone has vibrated a couple times in my purse, but I have ignored it. I answered the first four texts I had gotten from Ryan earlier asking if we were all okay and telling me he missed me, I had replied telling him we were having great fun and I missed him too. I wasn’t going to spend my last hour in the club texting him, he can wait until I’m home as he said he will be there waiting for me anyway.

  Aimee’s laughter pulled me from my thoughts of Ryan and back to the present moment, I had missed what they were laughing at and staring at them dumbstruck only made Aimee laugh harder.

  “What? I was thinking about Ryan, sorry,” I said shrugging my shoulders.

  “We were telling Kaitlyn that we need to find her a man, they tried the speech on me to start with but I turned it around,” Rylee laughed and gave Kaitlyn a smug smile.

  “I think we need to hear more about Ryan, I bet he’s amazing in bed,” Aimee shouted across the table, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

  I laughed at her and winked.

  “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

  Rylee’s high pitched laughter that was almost a shriek made our ears ring.

  “Oh my fucking God, a lady? Girls, don’t believe her! She looks all innocent but the things I could tell you! The last time we were here… Oh hell, you have to meet Adam, he’ll have some stories too!” Rylee’s words were slurred, maybe the lemon drops had tipped her over the edge.

  “RYLEE!” I shouted.

  She turned her head to look at me. “What?! I didn’t say too much, did I?” Her eyes went wide like a rabbit in the headlights.

  “No, but brain to mouth filter, sweetie- the club doesn’t need to know what I’ve done,” I said, laughing with a smile.

  I didn’t want her to think I was mad at her. I know she doesn’t mean anything bad by what she’s saying and I know if I didn’t stop her she’d feel awful in the morning if she had blurted out anything about our last visit here and my lust fuelled encounter with Ryder Phoenix.

  “Okay Aimee, what first attracted you to Walker?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “His hair. I could just imagine running my hands through it, or grabbing at it, whichever,” she said with a slight shrug and a smirk on her face.

  We all laughed at her meaning. I thought she would have said his sparkling blue eyes or his surfer boy image, but I was wrong.

  “What is it with the Sanders boys and their hair?” Kaitlyn laughed shaking her head, I guess hair isn’t her thing.

  Rylee turned to Kaitlyn. “I have no idea either, Kaitlyn. Ava’s been obsessed with Ryan’s hair since she was six years old!” Rylee rolled her eyes and nudged me playfully.

&
nbsp; “That’s because she has always had impeccable taste, isn’t that right, baby?” Ryan’s voice brought our laughter to a halt making us all turn in his direction.

  “Ryan! What are you doing here?” I asked as I stood up and rushed over to him throwing my arms around his neck.

  “You weren’t texting back and I missed my girl. I made the guys come here so I could see you, Walker moaned until I informed him that Aimee would be drunk and all touchy feely by now, that changed his mind,” he said before moving in to kiss me.

  I melted into him at the feel of his tongue seeking mine. I don’t know about Aimee being touchy feely but Ryan definitely was, his hands were roaming all over every inch of my body within his reach. I couldn’t stop myself instinctively dancing, moving against Ryan as Feel This Moment filled the club.

  “I want to talk about tie ups and feel the moment with you, baby,” his low voice and warm breath close to my ear sent tingles rushing through me.

  “You want to read the books babe?” I turned my head and laughed smirking at him.

  He raised one eyebrow. “Like fuck I do, I’ve heard the women at work gushing all over what’s his face… Mr?”

  “Grey, babe, it’s Grey.”

  “Well whoever he is, he doesn’t have anything on me,” he winked.

  I pursed my lips and held in the laugh that was desperate to erupt.

  “Of course he doesn’t-”

  The sound of Rylee shouting stopped me in my tracks and I swung around to see what the hell was going on.

  “Fuck you, Matt!” Rylee spat as she pushed past Matt to make her way over to me.

  Matt grabbed her arm to stop her getting away from him and she turned back around to face him. Ryan took a step forward ready to step in, I’m not sure which one he was going to need to pull away first.