Every Promise You Made

by J. E. Parker

  Every Promise You Made

  Redeeming Love, Book 3

  J.E. Parker

  Dedication

  To John.

  Apart we are broken.

  But together we are whole.

  Thank you for always loving me. Especially when I didn’t have the strength to love myself.

  You, my dear husband, are my forever.

  Love you, big guy. More than all the stars in the sky.

  To her.

  A little girl with shiny black hair, big hazel eyes, and chocolate stained lips.

  He’ll never forget you and neither will I.

  From now until forever, you’ll live in our hearts.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Hope

  2. Hope

  3. Evan

  4. Evan

  5. Hope

  6. Evan

  7. Hope

  8. Hope

  9. Evan

  10. Hope

  11. Evan

  12. Hope

  13. Hope

  14. Evan

  15. Hope

  16. Evan

  17. Hope

  18. Evan

  19. Evan

  20. Hope

  21. Evan

  22. Hope

  23. Evan

  24. Hope

  25. Hope

  26. Evan

  27. Hope

  28. Hope

  29. Evan

  30. Hope

  31. Hope

  32. Evan

  33. Hope

  34. Hope

  35. Evan

  36. Hope

  37. Evan

  38. Hope

  39. Hope

  40. Hope

  41. Evan

  42. Hope

  43. Hope

  44. Hope

  45. Hope

  46. Evan

  47. Evan

  48. Hope

  49. Hope

  50. Hope

  51. Evan

  Sneak Peak: Every Moment with You

  Sneak Peek: Every Breath You Take

  Find J.E. Online

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Evan

  Memphis, TN

  It was the first day of my senior year.

  Standing in the middle of the school cafeteria, lunch tray in hand, I headed for one of the back tables where my twin brother, Brantley, was sitting with two other guys that played on the football team. I didn’t know their names, and I didn’t care to learn them either.

  Both were lower classmen.

  Unlike my brother, I wasn’t a social person. I couldn’t care less about rubbing elbows with the other guys on the team. Most of them only cared about girls, partying, and getting drunk on the weekends, anyway. I wasn’t into any of that. Girls weren’t on my radar, partying was a waste of time, and I didn’t see the appeal in getting drunk.

  I had my brother and my best friend, Ryker.

  I needed no one else.

  Speaking of Ryker…

  “Hey, douchebag,” I said to Brantley as I dropped my tray onto the table. “Have you seen Ryker yet? He said he and Hope had C lunch.”

  Hope was Ryker’s little sister.

  And my dirty little obsession, I mentally added.

  Taking a bite of pizza, he shook his head. “Nah. Haven’t seen him.”

  One guy sitting at the table snickered. “He’s probably hanging out in the art supply closet with Christy Hayes.” He elbowed the pimple faced kid sitting beside him. “I heard she was looking for him all morning.”

  “That isn’t it,” Brantley said, tossing down his food and sitting up straight. “It’s the first day of school, man. He probably went to find Hope so she doesn’t have to walk to lunch alone.”

  The pimple faced kid’s eyes lit up at the mention of Hope’s name. My eyes narrowed in response. “Hope’s hot.” Looking at his friend, he lifted his chin in the air and smirked. “I’d walk her to lunch. Maybe if I did she’d let me—”

  I was up and out of my chair before he could say another word.

  Clenching the front of his shirt in my hand, I jerked him to his feet. His eyes bulged as he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and tried to rip my hand away. Gritting my teeth, I lowered my voice and said, “Finish that sentence and you’ll regret it.” Anger and disgust flooded my veins. I’d known Hope since she was four years old and I wasn't about to sit there and let that little creep say something dirty about her. I cared too much about her to let someone disrespect her in that way. “I don’t know you,” I continued in a lethal tone, “and I have no desire to, but I’m telling you, if you say another word about Hope Peterson, I promise I’ll snap you in half.” I paused for emphasis. “Understand?”

  The kid's eyes bulged. “Yeah, Evan.” His words were rushed, his tone panicked. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d pissed himself right then and there. It would’ve been one helluva first day impression. “I won’t say anything else about her, I swear.”

  I released his shirt, and he stumbled backward two steps. “You better not.”

  Grabbing his backpack from the table, he stared at me with wide eyes. “Is she your girlfriend or something?”

  “No.” As much as I wished she was, Hope wasn’t mine.

  Besides the fact that she was my best friend’s little sister, I was joining the Marines after graduation. Hope still had a year of high school left after that. Then she’d be leaving for college. She deserved better than to be saddled with a boyfriend that was stationed in another state, possibly another country.

  She deserves better than me. Always has. Always will.

  Still standing, I continued to stare down at the two dipshits across from me. Nodding toward the cafeteria exit, I barked, “Get the hell out of here before I make good on my promise sooner rather than later.”

  The kid—nor his friend—said a word as they turned on their heels and hustled across the cafeteria. They bolted through the exit, almost knocking over a couple of cheerleaders in their haste to get away.

  “Damn, Evan,” Brantley barked around a fit of laughter. “Why don’t you just go ahead and lay claim to Hope? If everybody knew she was yours, it would cut out a lot of bullshit.”

  Cracking my neck, I looked down at my brother. “Shut the hell up, B.” I was tired of hearing him run his mouth about Hope and me. The idiot constantly gave me crap about my infatuation with her. “She’s Ryker’s little sister. I’ve known her since she was in preschool. I care about her. That’s all.”

  It was a lie.

  Anyone with two eyes could see that I cared about Hope as more than just a friend.

  My jackass brother nodded. “Oh, I know exactly how much you care about her.” He waved his hand in the air, gesturing to the people scattered around the cafeteria. “And after the little show you just put on, everyone else in here knows it too.”

  Tapping my knuckles on the table, I scowled. “She deserves better.”

  Brantley shrugged. “That’s a shit excuse and you know it.” His knowing eyes met mine. “I don’t know what your deal is, bro, but just ask her out. It’s obvious how much you like her. Hell, I’m ninety-nine percent sure you’re in love with her.”

  I opened my mouth to respond but snapped it shut when Hope stepped inside the cafeteria.

  At the sight of her, my heart began to pound and my mouth ran dry.

  Wearing a purple backpack slung over her shoulders and clutching a sketch pad in her hands, she stopped by the door and looked around the room, scanning the tables for a familiar face.

  I held my breath as I raked my gaze over her, starting at the top of her head and finishing at the tips of her toes. Brantley must have been watching me because he asked
, “She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

  “Pretty?” I scoffed. “Are you shitting me?”

  My brother had lost his damned mind. Hope wasn’t pretty.

  She was drop-dead gorgeous.

  With shiny black hair that cascaded down her back, almond-shaped, hazel eyes, ruby red, bee-stung lips, a small, slightly upturned nose, and flawless ivory skin, Hope was the epitome of beauty.

  In my eyes, no other girl compared.

  Never had. Never would.

  “She’s beautiful, not just pretty.”

  Hope’s eyes found mine, and she smiled from ear-to-ear.

  I smiled right back and winked in her direction.

  “Uh huh,” Brantley mumbled. “Point proven.” Reaching over, I smacked him upside his head. He grunted before throwing an elbow into my side. “Fucker,” he growled.

  Ignoring the searing pain in my ribs, I moved around the table and crossed the cafeteria to where Hope stood. With every step I took, my excitement grew. Halfway there my vision honed in on her and my surroundings fell away. I no longer saw anyone but her.

  Only Hope.

  I came to a stop two feet in front of her. Her scent—a mixture of soap and something sweet that was uniquely her—met my nose. On instinct, I inhaled deeper. Unlike a lot of other girls, Hope didn’t douse herself in perfume or body spray. She just smelled clean.

  I loved it.

  Standing at only five-foot-one, she was forced to drop her head back to look up at me. At six-foot-four I towered over her. “Hey, big guy.” Like always, her voice was soft and sweet. “I started to get worried when I didn’t see you. I thought I might have to eat lunch alone.”

  Her words hit me directly in the solar plexus.

  She was worried when she didn’t see me.

  Not Ryker. Not Brantley.

  Me.

  Unable to stop myself, I slipped my fingers beneath the straps of her backpack and slid it from her shoulders. Hope was tiny and her backpack was heavy. There was no reason for her to heft it around when I was standing less than three feet away. I didn’t care how stupid I looked, I’d carry it for her. “What class do you have before this?”

  She scrunched up her nose. “Calculus.”

  I chuckled. Hope loved school, but she hated math with a passion. It was the only thing she didn’t excel at. “You in Mr. Huck’s class?” She wordlessly nodded. “Tomorrow I’ll meet you outside his class and we’ll walk here together. That way you won’t have to worry.

  “I’d like that.” Her eyes sparkled and my chest began to burn as an emotion that I’d never experienced before welled up inside of me.“I’d like that a lot.” Biting her bottom lip she shifted her weight between her feet, fidgeting in place. “Are you doing anything after the game this Friday?” I shook my head. I had plans, but I’d change them for her in a heartbeat. “Well, when the game is over do you want to—”

  Hope’s words were cut off when Ryker, cockblocker that he was, saddled up next to her and tossed his arm over her shoulder. “What’s up, little sis?” Tipping his mouth up in a lopsided smile, he pulled her against his side. “You’re not giving Evan a hard time, are you?” Running his fingers through her hair, he mussed it up, pissing her off.

  Scowling, Hope smacked his hand away. She wasn’t prissy or high maintenance by any means, but she hated it when people messed with her hair. It was the one thing that always had to be perfect. “Stop it, jackbutt.”

  Ryker snorted. “Jackbutt.” He looked at me. “She’s almost eighteen and still can’t say the word ass."

  Hope stuck her tongue out. “I don’t like cussing.”

  Ryker pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “My sweet little sister. So innocent, so well behaved.”

  I silently watched Ryker and Hope interact. I’d never seen two siblings as close as those two. I mean, I was close to Brantley—he was my twin for Christ’s sake—but even we weren’t as tight as those two. Hope and Ryker weren’t just siblings, they were best friends.

  Always had been.

  “Sooo,” Ryker said, still hugging Hope to his side. “Are we going to stand here all day or are we going to eat lunch?”

  Hope looked at me. “I vote for eating.” Placing her right hand on her belly, she continued, “Because I’m starving.” Her stomach chose that moment to growl causing unease to spread through me.

  Get her something to eat, idiot!

  Staring into her eyes, I asked, “Did you bring your lunch? Because if not, I’ll go grab you a tray.”

  Hope scrunched up her nose. “I brought food. You know I’m not eating anything”—she pointed toward the lunch line—“that they serve. But thank you.”

  Turning to the side, I nodded toward the table where Brantley still sat. “Come on, little bit.”

  Ryker scoffed and held his arms out to his sides. “What about me, dickface?” He looked offended that I hadn’t personally invited him to sit down. “I thought we were best friends.” He batted his eyelashes at me like a fool.

  Reaching over Hope’s head, I shoved his shoulder with my hand. “You can take care of yourself. Besides, we all know you aren't going to miss a meal.” It was the truth. Ryker was a bottomless pit who always had food in his hand.

  He shrugged. “That’s true.” Wrapping his fingers around Hope’s upper arm, he led her to the table. “Let’s go, baby sis. We don’t want Evan to have a stroke.”

  At the table, I sat down beside Brantley while Hope took the seat across from me. Ryker pushed her chair in and looked over at me. “I’m going to get a tray. Keep an eye on her, man.”

  Under his breath, Brantley mumbled, “Don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

  Ignoring the idiot seated beside me, I nodded once. “I’ve got her.”

  Ryker squeezed Hope’s shoulder. “Be back in a minute, shortcake.”

  Hope replied, “I’ll be here,” as she pulled her lunch bag out of her backpack that I’d set down on the table. Turning her head to look at a retreating Ryker, she called out, “Ry!” He stopped walking and spun around. “Will you get me a bottle of water, please? I’ve got gym after this.”

  “Anything for you. You know that.” Without saying another word, he turned and headed for the lunch line.

  Hope unzipped her bag. “I do know that.”

  Pulling out a sandwich—one which I knew was either made with peanut butter or hummus or since Hope was a vegetarian—she looked over at me. “Are you really going to meet me outside Mr. Huck’s class tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, I told you I would. You know I don’t say stuff I don’t mean.” Her gorgeous eyes never left mine as she took a small bite of her sandwich. Fidgeting under her unyielding gaze, I raised my chin in the air. “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

  I felt rather than saw Brantley’s gaze bouncing between Hope and me.

  Nosy bastard.

  Hope tilted her head to the side. “Want to know something?”

  “Of course I do.”

  Sinking her teeth into her bottom lip, she whispered, “I know Ryker is your best friend.” She paused and a blush spread across her cheeks. “But you’re my best friend, Evan.” Reaching across the table, she ran the tip of her finger over the back of my fisted hand. My skin twitched. “And I kind of want to keep you forever.”

  For a second, a mere moment, I forgot how to breathe.

  She wants to keep me.

  “Yeah?” My voice was gruff to my ears. “Is that a promise?” Without missing a beat, she wrapped her right pinky finger around my left one. “It’s a pinky promise, big guy.”

  Brantley made a choking sound beside me. “Christ almighty.”

  My heart raced as I squeezed her finger tight and sucked in a much-needed breath. “Want to know something?” I repeated her question from seconds earlier. She nodded. “I kind of want to keep you too.”

  A look of surprise crossed her beautiful face. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. Might as well get used to it now, Hope, because
you’re stuck with me.”

  It was at that moment that clarity struck.

  The timing may not have been right for me to claim her as my own, but one day it would be. In five years I’d likely be out of the Marines and she’d be done with college. All I had to do was bide my time. It wouldn’t be easy, but I’d wait.

  Because as far as I was concerned, Hope was it for me.

  She may not have known it yet, but from that moment on, she was mine.

  One

  Hope

  Five Years Later

  It was a Friday, half past midnight.

  Holding a pencil in one hand and a sketch pad in the other, I sat on the porch overhang next to my second-story bedroom window. The asphalt shingles beneath me were rough on my bare feet and legs, but I paid them no mind. I was too focused on trying not to puke. The mixture of trepidation and soul-rattling fear coursing through my veins was making me nauseous.

  Calm down, I told myself. Everything will be alright.

  Dropping my head back, I took a deep breath and focused on the beauty above me. The moon hanging over me was full, the stars were bright, and not a single cloud dotted the night sky. A small breeze stirred, bringing with it the sweet smell of the wild honeysuckle that bordered the tree line behind my childhood home. In the distance, the call of a whip-poor-will rang out followed by the soft tinkling sounds produced by Mama's beloved wind chimes.