by Leigh, T. K.
I normally dread the breaking of dawn, knowing I have to get up for hockey. This morning, I welcome it, jumping out of bed to finish my last-minute packing before sneaking away to see Brooklyn.
As I’m getting ready, I hear a light knocking on my door. It opens slowly before I have a chance to say anything, my father standing in the hallway. There’s something in his expression that’s off. I expect him to be a bit downtrodden at the idea of his oldest child leaving for college, but this is something else.
“Drew.” His voice trembles. “Can you come into the kitchen for a minute?”
“What is it?” I ask cautiously. “Is something wrong?”
His shoulders drop and he shakes his head. “I just…” He blows out a breath. “Just come with me.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I consider what could possibly be going on. My first thought is that the college found out I landed a guy in the hospital and has rescinded my scholarship. Then my father looks at me again, his expression similar to the one he wore the night he warned me to stay away from Brooklyn. Instantly, my heart rockets into my throat, a heat washing over me. The unease filling me only heightens when I walk into the kitchen and see Brooklyn’s father, wearing his uniform, standing there, his arms crossed and stance wide.
“Mr. Tanner,” I say, looking from him to my father and back at him. “Is something wrong?”
He tilts his head. “I suppose you could say that.” The tone of his voice gives me pause. It’s not calm or irate. It’s somewhere in the middle.
“I don’t understand.” I try to play it off. We didn’t do anything wrong. We just kissed, nothing more.
“When I went out to get the newspaper early this morning, Mrs. Carhill was walking her dog. You know her. She lives across the street from me.”
I swallow hard, remaining silent.
“She told me some interesting things. How she saw a car pull up after midnight and Brooklyn stepped out, only a blanket wrapped around her. Obviously, that didn’t sound like my Brooklyn, so I decided to check for myself. You see, since I work strange hours, we have a security system that records video from exterior cameras.”
Dread boils in my stomach, my mouth becoming dry, my heart echoing in my ears. That could mean so many things, but I’m doubtful he’s here to thank me for driving his daughter home.
“I’m sorry.” I furrow my brow, confused. “I’m not sure I—”
“She’s fifteen!” His voice bellows through the room as he slams his fist on the counter, a stark contrast to the peacefulness that usually accompanies the early morning hours in this house.
“I know that. I didn’t—”
“I saw you!” His face reddens as he paces the kitchen.
This man has been a part of my life for years. I’ve always known him to be rather strict when it comes to Brooklyn. I suppose that’s what happens when you lose a wife and are solely responsible for raising your child. Once Brooklyn became a teenager and filled out, he became even more overbearing. But I’m the last person Mr. Tanner should be worried about. I care more about his daughter than I’ve ever cared about anyone else in my life.
“I don’t know what you think you saw, but—”
“You want to know what I saw?” He steps toward me and I shrink into my frame. “I saw you pull up in front of my house and walk Brooklyn up the driveway. You were carrying her clothes!” His lips curl up at the corner, his voice like a snarl as he leans into me. “She had a blanket wrapped around her and was wearing nothing but her underwear!”
My eyes widen as I struggle to find the words to explain this. The way he’s describing it certainly makes it look bad. But there’s more to the story he doesn’t know.
“Then you pushed her against the wall of the garage. You had her arms so she couldn’t…” His voice catches as he struggles to regain his composure. “You may not understand what I’m going through. I pray you never have to endure this with a daughter of your own, but that little girl means the world to me. And that’s exactly what she is. A girl.”
“She’ll be sixteen in a few days,” I reply, hating that Brooklyn’s own father doesn’t give her the credit she deserves. He’s treating her like a child incapable of making her own decisions when she’s proven to be more mature than many eighteen-year-olds I know. That’s why her decision to play Strip Uno last night took me by surprise.
“That doesn’t matter! She’s not sixteen yet. I may not be able to protect her forever, but I can protect her now. I can do everything in my power to keep bad things, bad people as far away from her as possible, and that means you.”
A lump forms in my throat. “What are you saying?”
“I’m telling you to stay away from my daughter. I like you, Drew. I really do.” He shoves his hands through his dark hair and I can tell how difficult this is for him. “But I won’t let you hurt her.”
I shake my head, my world spinning. This feels like a bad dream. A few minutes ago, I was on top of the world. Now, it’s all been tilted on its axis.
“What if I don’t want to stay away?” I ask in a moment of defiance. I care about Brooklyn. Hell, I might even love her. I can’t stomach the idea of not seeing her. “I told her I’d come over this morning before I left for the airport.”
“Not anymore.”
My hands form into fists at my side, anger bubbling in my stomach. I want to scream, yell, cry. But mostly, I just want to see Brooklyn, to bask in the warmth her body gives off when enclosed in my embrace.
“This is ridiculous. You can’t shut her away in that house and hope nothing bad ever happens to her. She needs to live, not be so sheltered because you’re still not over losing your wife.”
“Drew.” A hand lands on my arm. I glance at my father, who gives me a knowing look. “Brooklyn’s fifteen,” he reminds me in a low voice, his tone calm. “Regardless of whether anything did happen, what Mr. Tanner saw, what he has video evidence of, certainly gives off the impression something did.” He leans closer and whispers. “He’s agreed not to go to the police as long as you keep your distance. No contact at all…at least while we figure this out.”
“No contact? The police?” I whip my eyes toward Mr. Tanner, bile rising in my throat. His hardened expression cracks momentarily. I’d like to think he wouldn’t do that, but I know better. Brooklyn’s his entire world. He’ll do whatever necessary to protect her. Just like I would.
“I know it sounds unfair and can see how much she means to you, how you’d never do anything to hurt her.” Dad shoots Mr. Tanner an annoyed look, but he holds his head high, remaining firm. My dad and Mr. Tanner used to be close. I have a feeling that all may end today. “Regardless, this can still make a lot of trouble for you, even if you didn’t do anything wrong. Just the suspicion could cost you your scholarship, your place in the World Junior Championship team. Don’t you see the huge opportunity you have? Your name’s being tossed around for the Games next year. Professional teams will be knocking down your door. You’ll be throwing all that away.”
I shake my head, having difficulty processing all this. I tug at my hair, feeling like a hammer has shattered my heart into thousands of pieces. Tears welling in my eyes, I look at Mr. Tanner, pleading with him to reconsider. It was just a few innocent, soul-fulfilling kisses. We could have done a lot more, but I stopped it, not wanting to take advantage of Brooklyn. And this is the thanks I get for doing what I thought was right?
My father taught me to respect the adults in my life, and I always have. But I can’t just walk away without getting in the final word. Regardless of whether Brooklyn finds out about this or not, I’ll know I did everything in my power.
“You say you’re trying to protect her from getting hurt, and I can appreciate that. But this decision is going to hurt her far more than you ever imagined. It’s not me you should be worried about. If I didn’t show up to that party when I did and hauled her out of there, there’s no telling what would have happened to her. I’m not the bad guy here.”
My anger
boiling over, I punch a hole into the wall of the kitchen as I storm into my room. I flop onto the bed, spying the time.
7:01.
I’m sorry, Brooklyn.
Chapter 11
Brooklyn
The instant I hear my father leave the house and his truck rumble down the street, I jump out of bed and rush into the shower. Butterflies flit in my stomach as I think about what this morning will bring. I take care to shave with more precision than I normally do, even shaving places I usually don’t. The magazines Molly brings over say that men like women who are well-groomed…down there. I do my best to do just that.
With a towel wrapped around my body and my hair, I walk out of the bathroom and back into my room, surveying my closet. Not one article of clothing I possess screams sexy. And today, I want sexy. I want Drew to look at me and not see his little sister’s best friend. I want him to see a woman he can’t go another minute without kissing, touching, loving.
Finally, I decide on a breezy sundress. It has a sweetheart neckline that accentuates my chest. It’s fitted through the waist, then flares out. On most girls, it would hit a few inches above the knee, but due to my height, it ends at mid-thigh. I’m not sure it qualifies as “sexy”, but it’ll have to do.
After drying my hair, I sit in front of my vanity and apply makeup, something I never do. But this isn’t a typical morning. This is a special morning, one I’ll forever remember as the one when I finally became a woman.
As I finish sliding some gloss over my lips, a chime sounds. I fling my eyes to my alarm clock. 7:00. I hurry to finish, then run down the hall, nervous energy filling me as I sit in front of the window, peering outside.
After five minutes, I figure Drew’s just running a little late, as he’s prone to do.
After ten minutes, I figure he just wants to make sure the coast is clear before coming.
After twenty minutes, I figure he’s packing up a few last-minute things.
After thirty minutes, I figure he’s having difficultly sneaking out of his house, although that’s never been a problem before.
After an hour, I figure he’s gotten waylaid by Aunt Gigi, who probably insisted on dragging him to church one last time before he left for college.
By noon, I realize what I fool I’ve been. Drew’s not coming. Everything he said last night was a lie, but I was so desperate to be noticed by someone, I believed it. Drew knew this and took advantage of the situation…took advantage of me.
An ache in my chest, I trudge outside and sit on the swing. I do everything to fight back my tears. Drew doesn’t deserve them. He doesn’t deserve to know I fell for his charms. I want to believe there’s a good reason he’s not here, that everything he said last night had meaning, but this all serves as a painful reminder that we live in two different worlds.
After all, he’s Andrew Brinks. Funny. Handsome. Soon-to-be star collegiate hockey player.
I’m just his sister’s best friend.
I’ve been fooling myself to think he’d ever see me as anything else.
* * *
Thank you for reading PROMISE! As I mentioned in the note at the beginning of this novella, this is just the start. Find out what the future holds for Drew and Brooklyn in COMMITMENT.
* * *
She’s my sister’s best friend.
She thinks I’ve never noticed her.
She couldn’t be more wrong.
Now I just need to prove it to her…before she walks down the aisle.
Brooklyn Tanner and Andrew Brinks have a long history…one she wants nothing more than to forget. Considering he’s her best friend’s brother and single father to two amazing girls who mean the world to her, it’s almost impossible.
When the man she’s been dating proposes, she thinks it’s exactly what she needs to finally close this chapter of her life. After all, over sixteen years have passed since she gave Andrew Brinks her heart, only for him to destroy it. Why should that matter now?
But it matters to Drew.
When he learns of her engagement, he realizes he has a decision to make. Does he finally tell Brooklyn the truth of what happened all those years ago? Or does he watch her marry another man to protect her from enduring any more pain?
* * *
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Keep reading for an excerpt from WRITING MR. RIGHT.
Writing Mr. Right
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“You look great, Molly,” Brooklyn exclaimed when I reentered my living area.
“Not like it matters. This whole thing is a joke.”
“Molly,” she cautioned. “At least give it a chance. You never know who you’ll meet.”
I grabbed my coat out of the entryway closet and headed toward the door, my brother and Brooklyn following. “I could be wrong, but I highly doubt I’ll meet anyone at speed dating who will make my stomach flutter.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Drew added, nudging me.
I continued down the stairs of my building, exiting onto the street. He was probably just as skeptical about the whole thing as I was. Not to mention people actually knew who he was. He’d already had his heart broken by a hockey groupie. I hated the thought that he’d never meet anyone who wanted to be with him for him, hated that all anyone would see when they looked at him was the hockey celebrity.
“At least this might be some good material for your column.”
“You’re right about that. I wonder how many guys would be desperate enough to date an escaped mental patient.” I gave them a crazed look. Drew laughed. Brooklyn shot daggers at me.
“Play nice, Molly. There are still some people out there who believe in the idea of love. Maybe three minutes is all you need to know if they’re the one.”
I rolled my eyes as we trudged down the narrow streets of the North End, the smell of garlic, tomatoes, and spices filling the air. Tourists roamed the sidewalks, debating which restaurant to try for dinner. They couldn’t go wrong. No matter which spot they chose, they’d be treated to an authentic Italian meal unlike anything they’d ever had. It was a miracle I didn’t weigh three hundred pounds living in an area surrounded by all this amazing food.
“You’ve been reading too many of my books lately, Brooklyn.” I pulled my jacket closer, a subtle wind blowing between my legs, chilling me in the cool April evening. A dress probably wasn’t the best idea, but I had shaved my legs earlier this morning. I couldn’t waste the opportunity. “No one looks into someone’s eyes and knows, at that moment, they want to spend the rest of their life with them.”
“It could be real,” she offered in a quiet voice. “My dad always told me he fell in love with my mother before she even said a single word. Between classes, she worked at the library on campus. He would go there every day just to see her. It took him months to finally work up the courage to talk to her. When he finally did, well… The rest is history.” She looked down. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe love at first sight doesn’t exist.” Her eyes met mine before briefly floating over toward Drew. “But maybe people believe it does because it gives them hope they won’t be alone forever.”
“What’s so bad about being alone?” I asked when we reached the Haymarket T station. “Why does society put so much emphasis on getting married and having a family? It’s not for everyone. Some people value their independence and don’t want to give that up.”
“You don’t have to
give up your independence to be in a relationship,” she argued, parroting what Drew had told me earlier in the day.
“Relationships change people, and usually not for the better.” There was no way anyone would convince me otherwise. I’d been in my fair share of semi-relationships. There was still a little give and take involved, even in the casual arrangements I had. “I’m not willing to give up who I am just to make someone else happy.” We scanned our passes at the turnstiles and headed down the stairs, the sound of metal on metal screeching in the distance. I turned to face Drew and Brooklyn as we waited for the train.
“Listen, I know you two always bring this up because you care about me and want me to be happy. I am happy. One day, I may find someone who’s just as crazy as I am. Maybe we’ll fall madly in love and have lots of crazy sex and babies. But today’s not that day. The only reason I even agreed to this is because I have a deadline and am in desperate need of a muse. A professional young man who looks great in a suit.”
Books by T.K. Leigh
The Beautiful Mess Series
A Beautiful Mess
A Tragic Wreck
Gorgeous Chaos
The Deception Duet
Chasing The Dragon
Slaying The Dragon
The Vault
Inferno
The Redemption Series
Promise
Commitment
Redemption
Stand Alone Titles
Heart Of Light
Heart Of Marley
The Other Side Of Someday