Promises_A friends to lovers romance.

by Michelle MacQueen

  Elijah loved summer nights because you got a reprieve from the hot stickiness of the sun. Even in that crowded part of town, everything seemed still.

  In the glow of the porch light, he could see the faces of all his friends. Looking around, he couldn’t remember a time when he was happier, and he knew the reason for that sat nearby with a sleeping Kimberly in her lap. She looked up and caught him staring at her. She smiled in question.

  Elijah got to his feet and walked the few feet to join her on the bench. She shifted the child slightly to make room for him.

  A high-pitched ringing broke the comfortable silence that had fallen over the group.

  “Shit,” Josh said, almost jumping out of his skin. The screen on his phone glowed as he slid it from his pocket. “I’ve got to take this.” He stood up and answered with a quick ‘hello’ before disappearing into the house.

  Silence stretched between them once again, and Elijah reached out to take Maggie’s hand in his. She turned her head to look at him. Without giving her a moment to think, he leaned forward and gave her soft lips a quick but deep kiss. When he leaned back, her eyes were shifting between their friends, who were trying their hardest not to watch them.

  “I’ve waited a long time to be able to kiss you, Maggie Marks.” Elijah’s voice was low, only to be heard by her. “I’m going to do it every chance I get.” He leaned back and smiled.

  “Well, okay then.” She turned her attention away from Elijah with one more glance back at him.

  “Chris,” she said. “It’s time for the story. Why are you back and for how long?”

  Chris sat up, his shadow dancing across the deck. “It’s kind of a long story, but I’ll give you the gist. Our dearest father is on the mend. He now only has a few small problems left from the car accident, and can handle a lot more at the office.”

  “That’s great,” Jason said enthusiastically, although Maggie knew he was no fan of Chris and Michaela’s dad.

  “Don’t get too excited.” Chris leaned forward in his chair. “He was more likely to approve of you when he was brain damaged.”

  Michaela reached over and slugged her brother in the arm.

  “Ow! What was that for?” He rubbed his arm and glared at her.

  “For being an ass,” she answered.

  “You ladies keep calling me an ass today when all I am is honest.” He threw up his arms in mock indignation. “Seriously, Mom and I have tried to get him to come around. I suggest you guys just stop looking for his acceptance. But I digress. I’m here because we’re finally opening the New York office of Matthews and Matthews. So many of our clients are here anyway, and I was dying to get back to the city.”

  “Tell them everything,” Michaela urged.

  “A guy can’t have his secrets?”

  “Not you,” she responded.

  “Well, I don’t want to shock any of you, but I’m gay.” Chris waved his arms out in front of him, as if this was some big reveal.

  Michaela punched him again.

  “Okay, that’s not the surprise. I’m seeing someone.”

  “Wow,” Maggie said. “That is a shocker.”

  Chris flipped her the bird, and she smirked it response.

  “His name is Tony,” Michaela said, her impatience winning out.

  “The guy who outed you to your parents?” Maggie asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

  “Water under the bridge,” Chris said, waving off any issue. “He only did it to get to my father and I can’t fault him for hating the guy.”

  “Yeah, I guess he has bigger problems if he actually likes you.” Maggie smiled sweetly at him.

  “He moved here with him,” Michaela said excitedly.

  “He obviously can’t work for my dad’s firm, but I got him in with Howarth, Bryan, and Hodges, my old firm.”

  No one had a chance to ask any more questions because Josh returned, his hand still clamped around his phone. With the glow of the light behind him, they could see that his face had gone pale and there were tears in his eyes.

  Seeing a massively tall, built, professional athlete cry is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. It breaks your heart a bit.

  Michaela rushed to him and threw her arms around him. “What happened?” she asked.

  Josh didn’t answer as his tears dripped onto Michaela’s shoulder. Chris walked over and put a hand on Josh’s back.

  After a few long moments, Josh pulled back and wiped his face.

  “I just got off the phone with a girl from the family I billeted with when I played for the Portland Winterhawks in juniors.”

  “Billeted?” Maggie asked.

  “I lived with them during the season. Sarah was four years younger, but we were still pretty close.” He paused to wipe the back of his hand across his eyes as fresh tears appeared. “The kid they were housing for the past two years died yesterday. Right on the ice during his training. He just went into cardiac arrest during skating drills.”

  “Oh, Josh,” Michaela said, guiding him to a vacant chair.

  He didn’t seem to hear her though. He sat down with a vacant look in his eyes as if forgetting anyone else was there. He didn’t make another move to staunch the flow of tears. He kept talking though. He looked like he just had to get it all out.

  “I met him,” Josh went on. “Last year, I visited Portland, and he was there when I went to see Sarah. His name was Danny. He was just drafted last month. Second round. One day he’s just preparing for the upcoming season, and the next, he’s not. I can’t believe it.”

  “Joshy,” Michaela said softly.

  He finally looked at her. “He has a girlfriend that Sarah said won’t even leave her room. How is she going to live with this? I’m sorry, I have to go. I’m going to head to Portland tomorrow so I’ll probably be gone in the morning if I can catch an early flight.”

  Without another word, Josh was gone.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Elijah asked. The guy had looked pretty wrecked.

  “Eventually,” Michaela said, leaning back in her seat.

  “Should someone go with him?” Maggie asked.

  “No.” Michaela ran a hand through her hair and then reached it out to grab Jason’s. “Josh has always been emotional and soft-hearted, but he also prefers to be alone to deal with it.”

  Elijah pulled Maggie closer, and she leaned on him for support. Things can seem so easy, he thought, until you get a reminder that nothing lasts forever. A reminder that it can all be taken away.

  “I hope Josh is okay,” Maggie said as she stepped out of her car. It was late but the surrounding street was illuminated by street lamps. She watched Elijah lean into the back seat to lift Kimberly.

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Elijah grunted as he shifted the weight in his arms.

  Everyone had dispersed soon after Josh left, but they decided it wasn’t the best idea for Kimberly to go stay the night at the apartment with him and Chris as they had planned. Not tonight. So Maggie had offered.

  The girl’s hair spilled over Elijah’s arm as her head sagged against his chest. She didn’t wake as they climbed the stairs and stepped into the living room.

  “I’m going to put her in my room,” Elijah said. “I’ll take the couch tonight.”

  “Or you could just stay with me,” Maggie stated.

  “Not with her here.” With that, he walked down the hall and pushed his door open with his foot.

  Maggie followed behind him and stood in the doorway as he laid her gently on the bed and removed her shoes. Her things were at Michaela’s place, so this would have to do. Elijah pulled the comforter up and tucked it around her shoulders. He looked back at Maggie with a faint smile and then walked back towards her, flipping off the light on the way.

  “Hey, you,” he said, bending to give her a quick kiss and then shutting the door behind him. “I’m bushed. I think I’ll hit the sack.” He walked by her.

  Maggie didn’t take her eyes off him until he stepped into the
bathroom to get ready for bed. She walked back towards the living room and grabbed a set of sheets from the closet. Knowing Elijah, he’d be happy with just a blanket, but she made up the couch, anyway.

  Elijah came back out, and she didn’t hear him come up behind her until his hands slipped around her waist and she was pulled back against his chest.

  She wiggled out of his embrace and finished tucking the blanket behind the couch cushions. Elijah didn’t make a move to pull her back as she walked into the kitchen. It was silent as Maggie took a glass down from the cabinet and filled it with water. She took a small sip and then looked up at Elijah once again. He was staring at her, a frown tilting his lips down.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” she shrugged, looking away.

  He gave her a look that said he didn’t believe her, his eyes piercing straight through her.

  “What?” she said weakly, taking another sip of water. She wasn’t thirsty, but she need something to do with her hands.

  “Maggie, come on.”

  She turned around and set the glass on the counter with a sigh before facing him slowly. Her feet carried her into the living room before she stopped and looked at him.

  “Do you want kids, Elijah?” she asked quietly.

  “Mags,” he said with that alarmed, deer-in-the-headlights look.

  “Not right now, you idiot,” she scoffed. “Things are moving fast between us, but not that fast.”

  “Oh.”

  “It’s just,” she paused, “I see how you are with Kimberly.”

  “She’s a special kid.”

  “You’ve always loved kids. You’ve always wanted them.”

  “There are other ways to have them eventually,” he said, stepping close to her.

  “Elijah.” She leveled him with a look that said she knew that wasn’t the same. If they made this relationship work, she knew what he’d be giving up.

  His eyes searched her face as he took her chin and held it in place so she couldn’t look away “It’s all going to work out.”

  “How can you be so sure?” she asked.

  “What will happen will happen.”

  A sudden laugh bubbled out of her chest. “So deep.” She smirked.

  “There she is.” He smiled. “You hadn’t been sarcastic in a few minutes. I was worried I’d lost you.” He released her chin and wrapped his arms around her.

  She breathed into his chest and squeezed her eyes shut to hold off any more tears. It was suddenly all so real to her. Elijah and all the baggage that came with the two of them together. Her best friend was in love with her. She was in love with him. Why couldn’t she just let that be enough?

  It was very new, but it didn’t feel like it. Most relationships were fragile in the beginning, but most wouldn’t break you if they fell apart, at least not so early, not like this one.

  “Okay,” Maggie said, pulling back. “I’m going to bed.”

  She stretched up on her toes to kiss him and then headed for her room.

  Her bed felt cold. She’d gotten used to Elijah being next to her the past few nights. After so long of just being friends, she didn’t understand how she felt like she was in so deep. It was too fast for her. Laying there, unable to sleep, she came to the decision that, come morning, she’d have a talk with Elijah about that. She’d ask him if they could slow down.

  After half an hour of trying to get to sleep, she powered on her Kindle, wanting to get out of her own head, wanting to escape into another world.

  There was a small knock on her door, and she glanced up at the clock. She’d been reading for almost two hours.

  “Come in,” she said.

  The door opened slowing to reveal Kimberly standing there, toying with the hem of her shirt. She reached up a small hand to rub her eyes.

  Maggie switched on the lamp next to her bed.

  “Kimberly, is everything okay?” she asked.

  “I had a nightmare,” the girl answered nervously.

  It was only then that Maggie noticed the tears glistening on her cheeks.

  “Oh, sweetie, come here.”

  As if she’d just been waiting for permission, Kimberly practically ran to the bed and climbed in as Maggie held the comforter up for her. A sob escaped the girl’s mouth and Maggie pulled her into her arms.

  “I want my grandma,” Kimberly cried quietly.

  “I know, honey.”

  “When is she coming home?”

  “Soon.” The word slipped out of Maggie’s mouth before she could stop it.

  “Do you promise?”

  Maggie didn’t answer her. She couldn’t make a promise she knew was wrong. They took Kimberly to see her grandma whenever they could, but they didn’t know if she’d ever be home. It was only because of the lawyers Michaela worked with that Kimberly was allowed to be with them at all.

  Looking down at the child, a crease appeared between Maggie’s eyebrows. She shook her head and reached back to turn off the light.

  “You’re fine right now,” she whispered. “Try to get some sleep.” She stroked Kimberly’s hair until she felt the girl relax and drift off.

  It wasn’t long before Maggie fell asleep as well.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Jason, what’s up, man?” Elijah said into the receiver as he continued beating eggs for breakfast. He hadn’t seen him since the week before when everyone came out to the house for the cookout. A week since they’d really seen anyone - Michaela, Kimberly, Chris. Elijah and Maggie had been living in their own little world, just the two of them.

  “Do you have any idea what time it is?” Jason grumbled.

  “Time to be up!”

  “Elijah, I own a bar that’s open late. It’s Sunday morning. Piss off.”

  “Someone’s grumpy today.”

  “And someone wants to get his ass beat,” Jason groused.

  “Bro, you’re the least violent person I know. Plus, you’re scrawny as shit. I don’t think I have to worry.”

  “Can I go back to sleep now, or did you want something?”

  “Right, I’m calling about the letter I asked you to hold on to. Did you read it?”

  “Nah, man. I’ve been putting it off. I didn’t know her dad well, but I knew enough. I’m a little scared of what’s in it.”

  “I was thinking maybe no one should read it. Not unless she wants us to. I think it’s time to give it to her before she finds out some other way that Jake gave it to you.”

  “You’re probably right.” Jason said. “I’m planning on coming to work on the house with you tomorrow. I’ll bring it then.”

  “Good man. Now you can go back to sleep.”

  “I’m awake now, thanks to you.” Jason hung up without a goodbye and Elijah chuckled.

  “Who was that?” Maggie’s voice came from the doorway to the kitchen.

  Elijah spun around and the hand holding the fork in the bowl stilled. He didn’t know how much she had heard.

  “Just Jason,” he said carefully.

  “Bet he was pretty mad you called so early.” She smiled.

  Elijah let out a sigh of relief. She hadn’t heard it all. He was sick from keeping something so big from her. Soon, he wouldn’t have to carry around that weight anymore.

  She pushed by him to get out a pan and turn on the stove.

  “No, you don’t,” Elijah set the bowl of eggs down and pulled her back. “I’m cooking breakfast.”

  “But I’m better at it than you are.”

  He held her against him and bent down to bite her ear. “Not true,” he whispered. “Now, get out.”

  Maggie reached out and turned the stove off. “No.” Her voice was low, and she turned to look at him in a way that made him not want to argue.

  It was still new to him to be able to just reach out and touch her. To taste her. His mouth descended on hers and a growl rumbled in his throat as she deepened the kiss.

  “Someone woke up in a good mood,” he said, smiling
against her lips.

  “Mmm hmm,” she agreed, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.

  He let his fingers trail along the soft skin up underneath the bottom of her shirt. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her into the living room and laid her on the couch. Mornings like these had him so thankful he didn’t have another place to live, at least not yet.

  Her expert fingers moved under his shirt, over his back, leaving tingles wherever they touched skin. She raised herself off the couch and let him pull her shirt off over her head. Elijah needed to feel her skin against his.

  She was pale and unmarked, save for a small scar on her right side. He lightly touched the puckered skin and the memory of the day she got it came to his mind. It involved her father and a glass beer bottle that had been thrown and shattered. She had run to his house, bleeding profusely, and his mother had taken her to the hospital.

  Elijah bent his head to kiss the mark that had become a symbol of her past. When he raised his eyes to look at her again, hers were clouded with memory.

  “Elijah, I need you,” she whispered. He knew she meant that in more than one way.

  Their lips met again in a slow, torturous kiss and then Maggie rested her head on Elijah’s chest as he held her tightly.

  He knew she needed him. She always had. As a friend. A protector. A confidant. And now a lover.

  What he didn’t say was that, over the years, he’d needed her just as much.

  “I’m hungry,” Maggie finally broke the contented silence.

  “Is that you trying to tell me to get off my ass and make you breakfast?” He grinned down at her.

  “Yes.”

  “I thought you were better at it than me?”

  “Nope,” she said. “Your eggs are soooo much better.” One side of her lips tilted up in a smirk.

  “You’re just saying that so you don’t have to get up.”

  “Mmmmm.” She paused. “True.”

  “You’re terrible,” he laughed, adjusting himself so he could get off the couch without flipped her off as well. He walked into the kitchen, knowing he’d do anything Maggie asked him to do. That had never changed.