Promise Me: Diamond In The Rough 2

by Hart, Rebel

  She cackled. “Well, glad to know my food takes like takeout. I think.”

  “Wait a second, is that really your lasagna I’ve been eating?”

  She nodded. “Oh, yeah. One of the many things my mother taught me was how to make most every traditional and popular recipe from scratch. That’s my lasagna and breadsticks you’ve been eating.”

  My jaw dropped in shock. “Holy shit. I mean—”

  She laughed. “You’re fine. It’s okay.”

  “Well, damn then. That’s some insane cooking skills you’ve got.”

  “In another lifetime, maybe I would have done it professionally. But I’ll settle for blowing you and your father’s socks off.”

  A silence fell over us and she cleared her throat. She patted my leg before getting up, then made herself scarce. I heard her humming to herself in the kitchen, piddling around in there. Probably figuring out what to make for dinner. I pulled my phone out and crafted a text to Rae. Hoping she didn’t have to work tonight.

  Me: Hey. If you want to come over tonight, you can. Stepmom’s cooking dinner, and you’re more than welcome to come eat with us.

  I stared down at the text message and paused. Had I ever invited a girl willingly over to my house before? I raised my head, staring off at the wall. Holy shit, this was a first for me. A first with a girl. Willingly inviting her into my world. I smiled as I looked back down at my phone. I sent the text message off with excitement rushing through my veins.

  And a few minutes later, my phone vibrated.

  Rae: I’d love to. Be over there after school?

  Me: Sounds like a plan. I can’t wait.

  And I meant every word of it.

  “Hey, Clint!”

  “Yeah, Cecilia?”

  “I’m about to make myself a little frozen banana milkshake. You want one?”

  “Uh, yes please. That sounds fantastic.”

  She giggled. “I thought it’d go well with a movie. There’s supposed to be an action movie marathon on this afternoon.”

  I paused. “You like action movies?”

  “Are women not supposed to like those?”

  “No, no, nothing like that. You just strike me as a—”

  The whirring of the blender cut me off and I started laughing. I craned my neck back, peeking into the kitchen as her playful glare fell onto my face. I laughed harder than I had in a while with her. I clutched my ribs, coughing and laughing through the pain as the blender turned off.

  Then, my stepmother’s voice filled the room again.

  “If you tell me I look like a romantic movie junkie, you’ll get this milkshake down your shirt.”

  I chuckled. “That might actually feel good with how hot my ribs feel.”

  “Are you okay? Is your skin red or anything? Because that’s supposed to be one of those things we look out for.”

  I lifted my shirt. “Nope. I don’t see red. They just feel internally hot.”

  “Let me get a thermometer really quickly.”

  She whirled around me, bringing me the milkshake before jamming a thermometer under my tongue. She sat there, looking like a worried mother until the damn thing beeped. The relief on her face told me I wasn’t running a fever. Which was a relief to me, too. Because after settling in on this couch, I sure as hell didn’t want to move.

  “Okay. Well, we’ll keep an eye on that.”

  I nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

  She handed me the remote. “Find that marathon and I’m going to get my milkshake.”

  “And take off those heels?”

  She paused. “I suppose I could do that.”

  “Are you not supposed to talk around without your heels on or something?”

  The mere fact that she had to think about it told me all I had to know, too.

  “Want a snack?” she asked.

  I nodded slowly. “Whatever you want is fine with me.”

  “Wonderful. Because caramel popcorn goes great with a banana shake.”

  “Am I supposed to be having all this junk?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m cooking a healthy dinner, and there’s no dessert. So we can just have dessert now.”

  I chuckled. “I don’t know if it works like that.”

  She called out from the kitchen, “Hey! It’s how I’ve kept my figure all these years. And it’s not like you haven’t been eating greasy burgers behind my back.”

  “Wait, how did you know about that?”

  “You fart in your sleep, Clint. I know all things!”

  I threw my head back in laughter as I turned on the projector television. Cecilia came in a few minutes later with a milkshake in one hand and a bowl of caramel popcorn for us to share in the other. I lifted my feet, watching her sit down before I settled my legs onto her lap. And as I flicked through the channels, trying to find this marathon, I felt at peace.

  “Thank you, Cecilia.”

  “For what?”

  “For looking out for me this past week and a half.”

  She smiled. “We look out for each other, right?”

  I nodded. “Always.”

  “Oh! There it is. Fast and Furious 4. Not my favorite. But it’s a good one.”

  As we settled into the movie, I found myself staring at her, not the television. I mindlessly sipped the most incredible milkshake I’d ever put in my face, and I gazed at the woman who’d had my back since the ambulance was called. This must be what it felt like to have a parent in my corner. An adult who looked out for me.

  It felt refreshing. Nice. Supportive. Natural.

  And I really hoped I didn’t do anything to make her hate me like my father.

  17

  Raelynn

  I rushed home after school, bursting through the front door. I ignored the car in the driveway. I ignored him calling out my name. I didn’t want a damn thing to do with D.J. while he was over at the house. The only thing I wanted to do was quickly get ready for Clint’s house and get the hell over there.

  I was eager to spend time with him.

  I closed myself off in my bedroom, blocking out the sounds of D.J. and my mother. Whether they were arguing or making out, I didn’t know. And I sure as hell didn’t care. I took my hair down from its ponytail and tried to find another way to fix it. I stripped down to nothing but my underwear, then rifled through my underwear drawer. Did I have anything else that looked even remotely nice? Something other than morphed training bras and fucking cotton panties?

  I dug to the bottom of my drawer before settling on a pair of panties that I’d technically outgrown. They were a bit tight around my hips, but showed off my ass cheeks nicely. I slipped them on, pairing them with a new bra Mom had managed to pick me up a few weeks ago. It wasn’t a nice color or anything. Just a plain tan bra. But it had pretty little flower designs over the cups of them and lifted them off my chest a bit.

  “Man, this thing is comfortable,” I murmured.

  I rifled through my drawers and pulled out my best pair of jeans. A bit tight, a bit low-riding, and exactly what I was looking for. I hopped myself into them, jumping around before I fell to my bed. I wiggled my ass into those things and sucked it in, wanting nothing more than to get them buckled.

  “Come on. You can do it. Just a little—there we go!”

  I stood up and bent down, trying to stretch them out a bit. I swiveled my hips, feeling them loosen before I looped my fingers in the belt loops. I worked them up a bit higher. Just enough to cover the top of my panty line. Then I rifled through my T-shirts until I found my favorite one.

  A bit too low cut and a bit too tight around my breasts.

  “Perfect. Ha-ha!”

  I slipped it over my head and fluffed out my hair. And I had to say, I looked great. I smiled at myself as I ran a brush through my hair, trying to figure out how to fix it. I usually wore it in a ponytail. Just a simple one. Nothing special. But, tonight? I wanted to do something special. This was the first evening I’d be spending with Clint in a while. And wit
hout him being in the hospital. I knew we had schoolwork to do. I knew we had things to catch up on.

  But part of me hoped his hands might do a little exploring, as well.

  “Rae?”

  A soft knock came at my door as my mother’s voice trailed in front of it. I debated on not opening it. Mostly because I didn’t want to chance seeing D.J. behind her. She knocked on the door again, calling out my name as I ran my fingers through my hair again.

  “D.J.’s still downstairs, honey.”

  Well, in that case…

  I opened the door and let her in, watching as she walked through the threshold. And when she turned to face me, she grinned.

  “Getting dolled up, I see.”

  I shrugged. “Maybe a bit.”

  She turned me back toward my mirror. “Know what you’re going to do with your hair?”

  “Not yet. I’m still trying to figure it out.”

  “Can I try something?”

  I nodded and she started tracing her hands through my hair. I closed my eyes, feeling the comfort of her warmth I remembered from my childhood. For years, my mother had done my hair. Brushed it out after baths and put it up into pigtails during middle school. She always talked about how envious she was of my hair. How thick and shiny and luxurious it felt. I leaned into her a bit. I settled against her, drawing in a deep breath as she worked out the last of the knots.

  “You’ve always had such gorgeous hair. I don’t know why you keep it in that ponytail.”

  I shrugged. “Easier in the mornings, I guess.”

  “You’re excited about tonight, aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “I am, yes. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen him. You know, because of work and stuff.”

  “Well, you take your time tonight, okay? No need to rush back home.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it.”

  I felt her hands pause. “He’s a good boy, right?”

  He’s better than D.J. “Yes, ma’am. He’s a good boy. The best of boys.”

  “Good. That’s very good.”

  I opened my eyes and watched her in the mirror. I saw the worry in her face, but I didn’t know what to say in order to get her to calm down. So, I didn’t say anything at all. I let her put my hair up into a half ponytail, with my hair pouring down past my shoulders. She fluffed the remains of it out then hugged me from behind, settling her chin against my shoulder.

  “You got a ride over there?”

  I shrugged. “Figured I’d walk. Or ride my bike.”

  “Well, I can drive you. D.J. said I could borrow his car while he watches the game.”

  I nodded. “Thanks, Mom. I appreciate that.”

  “Let me just get my purse and we’ll head out. I’m doing the food run while D.J. stays here.”

  The two of us made our way out of my bedroom and down the stairs. And even though I peered into our living room and saw that sorry sack of shit sitting on our couch, he didn’t even acknowledge my presence. He didn’t look at me. He didn't say ‘hi’ to me. He didn’t say anything about my outfit or ask me where I was going. Not that I’d want to tell him anyway. But, still.

  Dick.

  Mom tapped my on my shoulder. “I’ll be right back with food, D.J.”

  He nodded mindlessly. “Sounds good.”

  “I’m gonna drop Rae off for the night, then go get it.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “You want anything else tacked onto your regular order?”

  “Not if it gets you out the door quicker.”

  I wanted to punch him in his nutsack. But Mom simply giggled. She laughed at him. Like he was making some sort of a joke.

  “Be back soon, sweetheart.”

  D.J. nodded. “Uh huh.”

  What an absolute asshole.

  We made our way out to D.J.’s car and I quickly slipped in. I wanted to get away from this house, and fast. Even if I couldn't stay over at Clint’s for the night, I’d end up at Allison’s. Because I sure as hell wasn’t coming back home until D.J. left.

  I pointed. “Take a right here.”

  “On it.”

  I talked Mom all the way to Clint’s house and she whistled lowly to herself. I saw her staring up at the massive mansion, her eyes widening as we parked in the roundabout driveway. I unbuckled my seatbelt. I leaned over and kissed her, thanking her for the ride.

  Mom winked at me. “My daughter really knows how to snag ‘em.”

  I snickered. “Have a good evening with D.J., Mom. Okay?”

  My eyes found hers and she nodded slowly.

  “I will. I promise.”

  I let myself out of the car and watched Mom drive away. I waved at her, wanting nothing more than to go right back to the house while she wasn’t there and give that man a piece of my mind. I hated that she was back with him. I hated it, because I’d actually believed her the last time she told me it was over. I felt like we’d bonded over that moment. Bonded over our hurt and our pain. Yet, here she was, giving him another chance.

  Then again, I’d given Clint a lot of chances, too.

  I walked up to the front door and knocked. While I was nervous about meeting Clint’s stepmother for the first time, formally, it didn’t abate the butterflies in my stomach. I was anxious to see him. Anxious to hold him. Anxious to be in his presence again.

  And when the front door opened, Clint smiled at me.

  “Hey there, beau—oh!”

  I threw myself into his arms, unable to contain my laughter. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close as his body cloaked itself around mine. His arms hugged my back. He pulled me into the house, kicking the front door closed with his foot. I buried my face into the crook of his neck, feeling how much stronger he already was.

  “You’re upright.”

  Clint chuckled. “And you’re here.”

  I giggled. “I am. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “Are we going to stay like this until we get to the kitchen?”

  “Depends. Do we have to go to the kitchen right now?”

  He snickered. “Nope. Not yet.”

  I drew in his scent, clinging to him as he held me tighter. His strength shocked me. Especially after such a terrible accident. I kissed his neck. His shoulder. His jawline. I nuzzled my nose against his as I slowly pulled away from him. His hand cupped the back of my head as his emerald eyes danced between mine.

  And as he fisted my hair softly, I pressed my lips against his.

  “Mmm, hello there, gorgeous.”

  I smiled. “Hi, handsome.”

  “I’m really glad you’re here.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Ahem.”

  I jumped at the sound of the female voice, but Clint kept his arm wrapped around my waist. I saw his stepmother standing there, clad in a beautiful yellow dress and a crimson red apron. She smiled at the two of us before she came closer, her bare feet padding on the floor. She held her hand out to me, taking mine within hers. And I smiled at how warm and welcoming she became.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you, Rae. I’m Cecilia, Clint’s stepmother. I’ve heard a great deal about you, too.”

  I paused. “You have?”

  Clint chuckled. “Over the past few hours, at least.”

  I nodded. “That sounds about right.”

  Cecilia giggled. “Don’t worry, he’s not hiding you.”

  I shook my head. “I never would have thought that.”

  Clint squeezed my side and I leaned closer into him as Cecilia dropped my hand.

  “Well, why don’t you two come on into the kitchen? The lasagna just came out of the oven and the salad’s ready. Plus, by the smells of it, the garlic bread is about to come out of the oven.”

  Clint chuckled. “You haven’t lived until you’ve had her lasagna. Ready to eat?”

  I shrugged. “I’m ready whenever the food’s ready.”

  He kissed the side of my head. “A girl after my own stomach.”

  Cecilia laughed as s
he turned around, beckoning for us to follow her into the kitchen. And the smells that greeted me once we got there made my stomach growl out loud. It was a beautiful home-cooked meal, and the table was set with fine china and actual silverware. Not the plastic stuff we used, and not the fake silver stuff found in most stores. Genuine silver utensils.

  “Rae, what would you like to drink?”

  Cecilia’s voice pulled me from my trance. “Um, soda or something is fine.”

  Clint pulled out my seat. “We’ve got Mountain Dew, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Coke.”

  “Um, Coke’s fine. Thank you.”

  Cecilia was a brilliant host. She cracked open the can of Coke and poured it into the ice-filled crystal glass. Right in front of me. I’d never been treated this way before. Home-cooked meals in my house were microwaved meals and pre-cooked oven meals my mother slapped into the oven or something like that. With canned vegetables on the side. This was a spread. Lasagna. Fresh salad. Multiple dressings. Freshly-made garlic bread in actual loaf form.

  Clint whispered in my ear, “And there’s blueberry crumble for dessert.”

  And oh, the growl my stomach let out.

  18

  Clinton

  “Oh, holy sh—itake mushrooms.”

  I chuckled at the way Rae edited herself. “Good, huh?”

  She groaned, taking another bite of the lasagna. “It’s heaven. Where in the world did you learn to cook?”

  Cecilia smiled. “My mother. She taught me a lot of homemade recipes. Macaroni and cheese. Basic noodles.”

  Rae’s eyes widened. “You made these noodles?”

  “Yes ma’am, I did.”

  Cecilia beamed with pride and my heart felt fuller than it had in a long time. Rae kept devouring the food like she hadn’t eaten in weeks, and I loved it. I adored a girl that wasn’t afraid to put carbs in her system. Not like the other girls at school, who walked around with fiber bars stuffed in their purses and ate nothing but fruit and yogurt for lunch.

  “So, Rae. Are you a senior, too?”

  Rae nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

  “Any plans after graduation?”

  I waited with baited breath as Rae swallowed her food. For some reason, I was now wondering what her plans were. I mean, it hadn’t been important before. But now that Cecilia had formally brought it up, I wanted to know the answer.