“I’ll never understand how you can be around those Gorgers all the time.” He grumbles.
“Daddy, we’ve discussed this. It’s not about me being around them. I like going to school and learning and I like helping people, especially those little kids.” I remind him, taking the bar stool beside him.
“You’re like your Nana Scott. She couldn’t resist helping a person in need.” He tells me the same thing every time we have this talk.
“If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth?” I change the subject.
“Arwyn Elizabeth, when have I ever not told you the truth?”
“I’m sorry Daddy. I didn’t mean it that way.” I apologize, looking down at the counter.
“What’s your question, Arwyn?” He asks.
“Has Shay Dawson approached you for my hand?” I turn on my stool to look him in the eyes.
“He has.” He tells me with a smile. To him, this is a good thing. He’s never understood that I don’t want that life. That I don’t want to marry someone just because they’ve asked for my father’s permission without even trying to win my heart.
“Daddy, I don’t love him.”
“Arwyn, he’s a good boy and he’ll make you a good husband.”
“You’ll learn to love him.” My mom says as she walks into the kitchen and places her hand on my father’s shoulder.
“Have you already accepted his proposal?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“Not yet, but Wyn, I have every intention of agreeing to this.” He tells me.
“Please don’t.” I beg.
“It’s happening, but don’t worry. I’ll let you graduate school. I gave you my word and you know I always make good on it.” Dad reaches out and grabs my hand.
“And if I refuse?” I ask.
Dad drops my hand and looks to Mom before responding. “Don’t joke about something like that, Arwyn.”
“I’m not joking, Daddy. What will happen to me if I refuse to marry Shay?” I straighten my back and look him in the eye when I ask him again.
“We’d disown you. You’d be kicked out of the family and that means no contact with any of us. Not even Dani or Adam.” I know he doesn’t want to do that and I don’t want him to, but it’s the way he was raised.
I can’t respond; I’m too upset so I nod my head so he knows that I understand. Then I get up from the stool and head to my room. Like always, when I’m upset with this life, I lose myself in my homework. I realized at an early age that even if I can’t control everything else around me, I can control my grades. So I shove my nose in a textbook and focus on getting the best grades I can.
It’s started to get dark outside my window and I’m just finishing off my English assignment when my cell goes off, signaling I have a text. I grab it off the dresser. It’s the new guy, Linc. In the uproar, I’d almost forgotten about him asking to text me and I mean almost. Linc is a hard one to forget about. That boy is flat out gorgeous. He’d give those guys from Magic Mike a run for their money. His dark brown hair is cut close to his head like a soldier and he has these golden brown eyes that suck you in. And his body…wowsa! That boy is cut! He’s bigger than Adam and that’s saying something.
I look at the text.
Linc: what r u up 2?
I send back a quick response.
Wyn: English paper. U?
I get an instant response.
Linc: Baking with my mom. I finished my English paper yesterday. :-P
Wyn: I’m just finishing up mine. What r u baking?
What am I doing? I know I shouldn’t be encouraging him. I’m supposed to keep all the outsiders at arm’s length. Yet, here I am, texting with one of them. The hottest one of them, I should add. And it was only a few hours ago that I found out I’m being promised to Shay. Would texting Linc be considered cheating? Am I a dirty cheater?
My phone signals a new message so I go back to texting Linc and let my worry fall to the back of my mind for the night.
Linc: Cupcakes. It’s 1 of my mom’s friend’s b-day 2morrow.
Wyn: Cupcakes r my fav. I luv the sprinkle kind. It’s nice of u 2 help.
Linc: Do u want 1? I could bring it 2 school 2morrow.
Wyn: No that’s ok. But thx 4 offering.
Linc: Anytime. So can I confess something?
Wyn: Is it embarrassing? Bc if it is I should confess 1st that I have a big mouth. Jk
Linc: lol no not embarrassing.
Wyn: then shoot. :-)
Linc: I’ve been trying to find a way 2 talk 2 u 4 a couple days.
Well, poop. What do I do with that? Now would be the perfect time for me to push him away so he doesn’t get hurt. But for some reason, I can’t. Instead, I nibble on my lip as I send back my reply.
Wyn: U have?
Linc: Yes. Is that ok?
Is it ok that the hottest guy in school wants to talk to me? Umm, yes!
Wyn: Yes. Can I confess something?
Linc: Is it embarrassing? Lol
Wyn: No lol
Linc: Then ur turn 2 shoot.
Wyn: I’m glad Mrs. Mandevers asked me 2 help u.
Linc: Me 2.
Linc: Will u plz let me drive u to the kids program 2morrow?
I so want to say yes, but if I blow off my brothers giving me a ride, they’ll be furious and come looking for me. And if they find me with Linc, we’d both be in trouble. Him more than me.
Wyn: I wish I could but my brothers. Sorry. :-(
Linc: I’m not afraid of them Wyn. Is there any1 who could cover for u with them?
Hmm, I could ask Dani. I covered for her a bunch before she got married so she owes me. I send her a quick text asking her to cover for me. She responds quickly agreeing to, but says I have to clue her in when she does actually pick me up after I’m done volunteering.
I send her a text thanking her and then respond to Linc.
Wyn: Ok I’m in.
Linc: 4 real?
Wyn: Yes
Linc: Now I am bringing u a sprinkle cupcake.
Wyn: Y? lol
Linc: Bc u made my night.
Wyn: Ur goofy.
Linc: Not goofy. Honest.
Wyn: U can be both.
Linc: Ok but u make me goofy.
Wyn: I’ll take the credit. I should get off here and finish the last of my paper.
Linc: Alright. :-(
Wyn: Night Linc
Wyn: Night Wyn
I look back through the texts again just to see if they’re real before I finally set it back on my night stand and return to finishing the last of my English paper. I have a smile on my face for the rest of the night.
Chapter 5 – Linc
~That’s Not How It Works In My World~
I haven’t seen Wyn all day. I looked for her in the library at lunch, but she wasn’t there. Now I’m standing in the parking lot against my car, hoping she doesn’t stand me up. Stand me up? This isn’t a freaking date. I’m only giving her a ride, but damn if I don’t feel like I’m being stood up.
The last student car pulls out of the lot and I let out a sigh. She did stand me up. I pound my fist on the top of the car, then turn and roughly jerk the driver’s side door of the Challenger open.
“Hey, now! She’s too beautiful to be treated that way.” Wyn calls from behind me.
I smile to myself. Then schooling my features, I spin around. “She is beautiful, but don’t let that fool you. She can be brutal.”
“Aren’t all the beautiful ones?” She asks on a smile.
“Yes. Yes, they are.” I smile back at her. “I didn’t think you were here today. I looked for you at lunch.”
“Oh, I don’t normally eat lunch in the cafeteria.” She admits, staring at her feet.
“I know. I went to the library, but you weren’t there.” I confess, watching closely for her reaction.
“How did you know that’s where I go?” Her head snaps up.
“I may have come looking for you the other day.
” I admit honestly.
She looks back down at her shoes, but that doesn’t hide the crimson that’s now shading her cheeks.
“We should probably get on the road. The other volunteers are going to be wondering where I am.” She changes the subject.
“Ok.” I walk around to the passenger side and hold the door open. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”
She meets my eyes as she walks around the car and slides into the passenger seat. The smile on her face is worth me acting like a love sick fool.
“Thank you, kind sir.” She says around her widening smile.
“My pleasure.” I wink at her and then shut the car door.
I slip into the driver’s seat and start the car. I hesitate for a moment and then, before I can change my mind, I turn around in my seat and grab the small Tupperware container off the back seat. I hand it to Wyn. Then I shift the car into gear and head us towards our destination.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her look between the container and me several times before she finally removes the lid. She pulls out the perfectly decorated sprinkle cupcake. She sucks in her bottom lip in an attempt to try to hide her adorably wide smile.
“You brought me a sprinkle cupcake.” She states as she turns to me.
“A sprinkle cupcake with sprinkles in the icing. That should get me a couple bonus points because everyone knows that the only way to best a sprinkle cupcake is by topping it with icing with sprinkles.” I inform her.
“A man after my own heart.” She jokes as she swipes her index finger through the icing and pops it into her mouth. She realizes what she insinuated and then she turns to me and mumbles. “Um, I didn’t mean it. Well, you know. I don’t think you’re trying to…”
“It’s ok, Wyn. I know you’re joking.” I reassure her.
“Thank goodness.” She lets out a sigh and then turns her attention back to her cupcake.
“Wyn, I think we should have a full disclosure.” I tell her as I pull the car into a parking spot outside the children’s center. I put it in park, take off my seat belt, and turn sideways in my seat so I’m facing her.
She mimics my action so we’re sitting face to face a foot apart. She puts the lid back on the Tupperware container and asks. “What are we disclosing?”
“Well, it’s more me disclosing than you. Unless you have something to add.” I rattle on.
“Linc, spit it out.”
“Wyn, I’m after your heart.”
“You don’t know me. I don’t know you. There are my brothers and my parents. Dog gone it, Linc! We can’t do this.” She turns away from me and rushes out of the car.
I move to follow her and catch her at the back of the car.
“We can do this, Wyn. I can go to your father and talk to him. Or if you prefer, we’ll keep this secret, but I want to spend time with you.” I plead with her.
“Linc, there are things in my life that you can’t understand and this…” She waves her hand back and forth between the two of us. “Will never be able to work out.”
“You can’t know that. You’re not even giving us a chance.” I cross my arms.
She throws up her arms. “You want to know how this will go if I give in?”
“Yeah, since apparently you’re a psychic, tell me how this will go, Wyn.”
“Say my family doesn’t find out, which is highly unlikely. And say if they do find out and they don’t hurt you. And Linc, those are two huge obstacles to overcome right off the bat. Well, say we overcome those, then what?” She runs her hands through her hair before she continues. “We’ll spend a few weeks, a few months if we’re lucky, together. But it won’t last after that, Linc. It’ll be over and we’ll be left with what? Nothing.”
“You’re wrong, Wyn. We’ll have the memories and I’d rather have those than nothing.” I want to reach out and grab her. I want to hold her in my arms, but I know she has boundaries that I’m not use to and I can’t cross them. I’m afraid to even hold her hand, that it might cross some unseen line.
“I’m not sure I can handle the memories. Because if you give me everything I think you can and things turn out the way I know they will, I won’t be able to handle them. Knowing I had you and I had to let you go. I can’t do that, Linc.” There’s a quiver in her voice and I have to shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching out for her.
“You won’t have to let me go.”
“Yes, I will.”
“The only way I’m going anywhere is if you decide you don’t want me around.” I promise her.
“It won’t be me who pushes you away.”
“Well, I can promise I won’t push you away. I want to be with you, Wyn.”
“I’m promised, Linc.” As the words leave her lips, I watch the tears begin to escape her eyes.
“Explain please.” I have a feeling I know what it means, but I need to hear it aloud.
“My dad informed me last night that someone expressed interest in my hand. He’s going to accept the proposal.” She’s watching my face as she finishes. “I’m going to be married.”
“W-w-when?” I ask stunned.
“I haven’t been told that much yet.”
“Do you love him?” I must be a glutton for punishment, but I need to know. Her answer matters more than I should let it.
“That’s not how it works in my world.” She informs me as she wipes at the tears coming down her cheeks.
“Well in my world, it does matter. So please tell me, do you love this guy?”
She’s quiet for a long time and I’m on the verge of speaking again when she finally admits. “No. I don’t.”
“Then until your marriage is final, give me this time.”
“Linc...” She begins softly.
“No, Wyn. I’d rather have the memories than nothing.” I search her tear stained face as I wait for her to answer.
“Me too.” She whispers her confession.
“You’re going to give me a chance?”
“Yes.” She smiles at me. I close the few steps that are left between us to grab her up in my arms and swing her around. She holds tight to my shoulders and I don’t want to let her go. But she takes a step back and I feel the loss of her body heat against mine like a punch to my gut.
“Linc, we can only be friends though. We can’t do more than hang out. And as much as I hate it, we have to keep this a secret.”
“I can do that.” Yeah right! Like I’ll be able to spend time with my dream girl and not fall for her. And damn if I don’t plan on having her fall with me.
Chapter 6 – Wyn
~Are you going to turn your back on us?~
For two hours, I watched Linc interact with the kids at the center. I tried to focus on my own tasks, but my eyes kept searching out the brown eyed boy. And every time I gave in and looked for him, I found him watching me with a sweet smile on his mouth. Then right before he’d turn his attention back to the child he was helping, he’d reward me with a wink. And that simple little gesture caused my cheeks to flame every time. That wink somehow seemed more intimate than a kiss. It stripped me down each time and I felt as if I was standing naked in front of him with all my insecurities on display. And instead of him scrutinizing each and every one of my flaws, he was taking them in and memorizing them so he could add them to the list of reasons why he wants me.
Now I’m sitting on the curb outside the center, waiting on Dani to show up. Who, by the way, is already twenty minutes late. Linc refuses to leave me here alone so he’s sitting beside me, not more than a foot away, though our hands are resting mere inches from each other. I wish I could have the courage to close the distance and hold his hand. But because of the strict ideals of how a Romani girl should be, I’ve never held the hand of a boy I liked. And I’ve definitely never kissed a boy. And right now, I want nothing more than to break out of that and be a normal teenage girl who can hold the hand of the boy she likes without fear of being looked down upon.
“So, how’d you like
volunteering?” I ask to distract myself.
“I liked it. They’re good kids.”
Promised Page 3
