His Promise

by Eddie Cleveland

  Julia cracks a smile and the tension between us melts away.

  “Okay, okay. I’m getting hungry anyway.”

  Relieved to change the subject, I practically drag her out of the store in search of a restaurant. I know Julia’s right about telling Colt. In my heart and my head, I know it’s the right thing—no, the only thing to do. Yet, every time we have a moment together, I can’t seem to force the words from my mouth. I silently promise myself that tonight I’ll find a way to spill it. Maybe I’ll call him when I get off work. Or maybe I can tell him tomorrow. That might be better. Tomorrow I’ll definitely tell him… tomorrow.

  28

  Isabella

  I’m so exhausted. I swear that the pile of used dish rags and aprons in the corner is tempting me to roll up into a little ball and fall asleep on it. I can’t believe I’m only halfway through my shift and I already feel like a zombie. Actually, I’m pretty sure zombies have way more motivation than me. I mean, they’re dead and they’re still motivated to go find some brains or something. Isn’t that how they work? I never did get into that kind of stuff.

  I’m only twenty-eight, but I feel so old. Between worrying about Colt and this pregnancy, I barely sleep. On top of that, being on my feet all day at the diner is really taking it out of me.

  I press my face against the cool tile on the wall by the time punch clock. I just need a nap. Only fifteen minutes or so to go.

  “Hey, Isabella, everything all right over there?” Mr. Taylor walks up to me, a look of concern tattooed on his face.

  “Yeah, sorry, Mr. Taylor. I just needed to take five.” I turn my head to face him, keeping my cheek firmly pressed against the slightly greasy subway tile.

  “I got just the thing to wake you up.” He smiles broadly and the spaces between his teeth remind me of a jack-o’-lantern. “I need you to go cover table six, okay?”

  So his answer for being exhausted is to work more? Genius. Why didn’t I think of that?

  “Thanks, Mr. Taylor, that’s a real pick-me-up.” I pry myself off the wall and make my way out of the kitchen to the dining area. My mouth hangs open when I see Colt and Madison sitting at the table. “What are you doing here?”

  The smile on Colt’s face wilts a little. “Nice to see you too.” He tries to brush off my rudeness, but I can see he’s disappointed by my reaction.

  “Imma gonna eat French fries and ketchup!” Madison announces excitedly. “Do you have ketchup, Isabella?” Her brown eyes suddenly cloud over as concern sweeps over her face.

  “Yes, hon, it’s that red bottle on the table. You can have as much as you want.”

  “Don’t tell her that.” Colt laughs. “She’ll just drink the whole bottle. This kid would eat nothing but ketchup if I let her.”

  I don’t return his friendly smile. I’m not sure what he was thinking coming here. I’m pretty sure grimy and exhausted isn’t a good look for me. Definitely not sexy. “So what can I get you?”

  “Hey, come here, sit down with us. I thought it would be fun if we stopped in to see you. You’ve been such a stranger lately.” He reaches out and attempts to wrap his arm around my waist, but I pull back instinctively.

  “I can’t just sit down. I’m on shift here.” A step back from the table.

  “Oh, sorry. I just thought—”

  “Did you think? I mean, seriously, what did you think would happen? You were gonna come here and we’d have some kind of picnic? I’m a waitress, Colt. If you come to the diner, where I work, I have to serve you. Is that what you wanted? Just tell me what you want to eat, please.”

  “Whoa, hang on. It’s not like that at all. I didn’t come here so you could serve me or whatever. I came here because we missed you. We haven’t seen you a lot lately, and I thought it would be nice to surprise you. I certainly didn’t think you’d act like this.” He flips his palm up at me and disappointment pinches his face.

  I look over at Madison, who is watching us intently. There’s no emotion on her face at all, like she still hasn’t decided whether to react to our little argument.

  To my side Fiona is watching the scene unfold, blatantly staring at us. “Oh,” she says mockingly, “someone’s got some baby-daddy drama.”

  I could slap that fucking smirk right off her face.

  “Don’t you have a job to do? Get out of here and mind your own business,” I snap.

  “Please, like you’re one to talk about working? You’re always dragging your ass around here acting like it’s my job to pick up the slack for you. Whatever.” She rolls her eyes and walks away.

  I look back at Colt, who appears to be frozen in time. “Baby-daddy?” he mumbles as realization spreads across his face like an oil slick across the ocean. “Are you? Wait, are you pregnant?” He frowns at his folded hands and then slowly looks up at me for an explanation.

  “Yes.”

  His eyelids spring open like the top on a jack-in-the-box. The word hangs in the air as the sounds of the people in the diner grow distant. People in the restaurant are talking and laughing, but here, in the space between us, the silence is overwhelming.

  “Is it mine?” His eyes squint, like he’s seeing daylight after being locked in a dark room for weeks.

  My mouth twists to the side. “Yes. I’m one hundred percent sure of that.”

  I watch as his shoulders sink down and my heart drops. I knew he wasn’t going to be happy!

  “Is that all? Is that why you’ve been so distant lately? You’re pregnant?” Suddenly a smile spreads over his face like a sunburst from behind a dark cloud. “I’m going to be a father!” He jumps out of his seat so quickly he almost knocks over the napkin dispenser, and Madison bursts out into a fit of surprised laughter.

  Colt wraps his arms around me, drawing me in close to him, and my apprehension fizzles out like a flat soda. I lean into his strong chest and rest my head against him, allowing myself to float away from this diner, this stress, this uncertainty and just breathe. My moment is short-lived, though, as my doubts quickly creep up the tiny hairs on the back of my neck and back into my brain.

  I step back from him, afraid to let myself get too comfortable. I feel like this is too easy, like he’s too happy. I’ve been expecting a torrential downpour for two months now, but all I got was the light mist of a sun shower.

  “So, you’re happy then? I mean, it’s kinda a huge deal, isn’t it?” I cross my arms and try not to pout, but I’m pretty sure I’m failing.

  “No, of course it’s a big deal. I’m just so relieved.”

  “You’re relieved?”

  “Yeah, I am. I thought you were going to give me ‘the talk.’ With how distant you’ve been lately, it’s been hard to imagine this was going to go anywhere good. I mean, I know this is going to be a transition, but honestly I couldn’t be happier, Isabella.”

  “Really? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled you feel that way. I am. But aren’t you nervous? We haven’t known each other long…”

  “I’ve known you long enough to know I love you.” He looks into my eyes and an electric current runs through my body. He just said the words I’ve been trying to push out of my head for weeks now. Every time my heart would flutter at the thought of him, or my mind would lazily daydream about our future together, I would shut it down. Now, he’s telling me he loves me? No man has said that to me in my entire life, but the wait has made it much sweeter to hear it from the lips of the only man I’ve ever loved.

  “I love you too,” I croak and swallow hard to try to ease my parched throat. All of a sudden, I feel like I’ve just trekked across the Sahara.

  Colt looks away from me and my eyes follow his gaze to the people in the surrounding booths watching us. We’ve been so wrapped up in our own drama, I forgot all about everyone else.

  “Here, sit down with us.” He tugs my hand as he sits back down at the table.

  “I don’t know.” I tug nervously at my apron. “I’m still on shift here.”

  “The hell you a
re! I’m not going to let the mother of my child work herself to the bone when you should be relaxing and taking care of yourself. Come sit down with us. You don’t need to work this job anymore. It’s too hard on you, and besides, what kind of man would I be if I didn’t take care of you?”

  “Well, okay.” I sit down beside Colt, wary that Mr. Taylor might come out from his office at any second and give me shit. “I don’t want this to be about you taking care of me, though, Colt. I don’t want this to be about anything like that. I have no problem earning my own way.” I stick out my chin proudly.

  “That’s fine. I’m not saying to never work again. But how are you gonna get your degree and become a teacher if you’re always working your ass off here? Sorry.” His eyes dart across the table to Madison. “I meant to say ‘butt.’ If you’re always working your butt off here,” he stresses.

  “You love Isabella, Colt? You love her?” Madison’s brown eyes twinkle with delight.

  Colt smiles at her, nodding.

  “And you love Colt?” She looks at me expectantly.

  “I do.” It’s like I’m answering a pastor at my wedding service. Although, in fairness, if I had a pastor this cute, she would steal the show.

  She clasps her chubby hands together. “And I love Colt. And Colt love me. And I love you.” She looks directly at me. “And you love me. We a family! Right?” She seems so overjoyed by the idea, it’s hard not to get choked up.

  “Well, first thing’s first,” Colt interrupts, “we’ve gotta ask Isabella if she’d like to come live with us.” His eyes flicker over to me as he talks to her.

  “Will you come live with us, Isabella? Pleeeeease?” Her eyes widen as she waits for my answer.

  Way to put me on the spot, Colt.

  “I know we haven’t been together long, but I also know how I feel about you. You’re going to make a perfect mother, Isabella, you really are. You know, I’ve been thinking about asking you to spend some more time at my place. I mean, I understand if you want your own space, but I’d love it if you’d stay with us. I was going to give you a key soon anyway. I don’t need an answer right this second,” he rambles. “Just think about it? I’m ready to take that step with you, and I hope you are too.”

  Luckily, it isn’t something I need to think very hard about. Colt’s reaction to my pregnancy couldn’t go better in my wildest dreams. My eyes fill up as I nod at them. “I’d love to live with you.”

  “Colt, no more talk. Ketchup, please.” Madison interrupts our moment, and I can’t help but smile. The kid has her priorities straight.

  29

  Colt

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes.” I cozy up behind Isabella, wrapping my arms around her middle. From the second I laid eyes on her, I’ve found her irresistible, but now that she’s pregnant with my child, I can’t stop thinking about touching her, kissing her, fucking her. It’s like I’m a horny teenager again, and with her morning sickness being off and on, sometimes it’s just as sexually frustrating as it was back then too.

  “You’ve only been gone for a couple hours. It’s not like you’ve been out to sea or something,” she teases, leaning her head back against my chest. Her hair smells like flowers after a summer storm and I breathe her in deep into my lungs.

  “Well, what can I say? I don’t like being away from my girls. How was she?” I tilt my head toward Madison’s bedroom down the hall.

  “We had a nice afternoon this time. Somehow she even managed to tire herself out. She’s passed out in her little princess bed like a tiny drunkard on a park bench.”

  A few weeks ago, when Isabella first moved into the condo, Madison really put her through the paces. It’s not like anyone could blame her for resisting more change in her life. She’s been through so much already. However, if she said ‘not Mommy’ or to ‘go away’ to Isabella one more time, I was afraid she might take her up on the suggestion.

  “I’m glad. It seems like she’s really bonding with you now.”

  “Let’s hope so. You can never predict the moods of a two-year-old, though.”

  I step back and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. “Want one?”

  She nods, and I hand her a bottle of water. After a long swig I brace myself and decide to try to talk some sense into Isabella again.

  “So, have you given any more thought to what we talked about? You know, about your parents?” For some reason, Isabella is letting her past issues cloud her judgement. Her folks still don’t even know I exist, let alone that she’s almost three months pregnant. “Isabella, are you planning on hiding your entire pregnancy from them? It just doesn’t make sense. Avoiding them isn’t a long-term solution.”

  “I don’t plan on hiding it. I’m not even hiding it right now.” She sticks her chin out defiantly. “I’m just avoiding what I know will be a terrible conversation. I don’t expect them to be happy for us and I just don’t need that kind of negativity right now. Not everyone grew up in the Brady Bunch or whatever.” Her tone is frosty, but I can’t just let this go.

  How can she keep her parents out of her life like this? It isn’t right.

  “No family is perfect, Isabella. But they’re family. You can’t hold their mistakes against them forever. It isn’t fair. I know we’re gonna make mistakes as parents too and I hope our child isn’t as bull-headed as you’re being.”

  “You know what, you don’t know everything!” She slams her bottle of water on the table and a small stream erupts from the top like a volcano in a children’s science fair. “You’re a smart guy, but you don’t have all the answers. And you sure as shit don’t know my father. You think he’s gonna welcome you into the family with open arms? Think again. It’ll just be another way I’ve disappointed him. Because that’s what I am.” She points to her chest and her face twists up. “I’m a walking disappointment to him. Why should that change now?”

  Tears fall from the corners of her eyes and flow down her face. Isabella’s body shakes as sobs escape her lips. I put my water down and pull her into me as she soaks the front of my dress shirt with tears.

  “Hey, shhh. It’s okay. You’re not a disappointment to anyone, you’re amazing.” I try to soothe her.

  “You don’t know my father!”

  “Well, if he can’t see what a beautiful, intelligent, kind person you are then that’s his loss.” Pulling back, I run my thumb over her wet cheeks. “Besides, it doesn’t matter what he thinks of you, or us, or the baby, okay? What matters is what you think. Don’t let your father’s voice be your inner dialogue, Isabella. It doesn’t sound like he’s known who you are for a long time. All I’m saying is I want to meet your parents. If they aren’t happy for us then that’s their issue, not ours.” I guide her face to my lips, gently kissing her forehead.

  “Fine, I’ll introduce you.” She relents. “I don’t want to keep having this same argument. I refuse to let my parents put a wedge between us.”

  “Thank you. Seriously, I mean it. I know this isn’t easy for you.” I look down at her and pull my thumb down her cheek, following the trail of her tears to the corner of her perfect mouth, before tracing it across her lips. Leaning over her, I kiss her gently, tasting her lips slowly. I can’t stand to see her sad. I want to kiss away her misery, to take away her pain. Sometimes she’s keeping me at arm’s length, and I only know half of the story. I can’t help but wonder how much more time it’ll take before she lets me in.

  She looks up at me from under her eyelashes, but the sadness has been erased from her eyes. Instead, I see something that makes my body react instantly—lust. I hold her head in my hands and tell her with my eyes what I’m about to show her with my body.

  Kissing her again, my tongue is speaking a different language than the one we just shared. My gentle kisses have been replaced with an urgent longing as I drag my lips down over her jaw and nibble a trail down the side of her neck. Isabella’s breathing is quickening. Her hot breath is billowing in my ear as I press my body into her, emphasizin
g the growing desire begging to be let free from the fabric of my pants.

  “Come on.” She tugs my hand. “Let’s go to the bedroom.” The look of longing in her eyes makes my cock throb. The fact she’s still wearing any clothing at all speaks loudly to my self-control.

  “I can’t wait that long. I need you right here. Right now.”

  I tug her tank top up over her head and unclasp her bra, letting it drop to the floor. My tongue circles her nipple, dancing over it until it is a diamond tip in my mouth. Isabella throws her head back, moaning softly. I drag my tongue across to her other breast, devouring her pink nipple as my hands slide underneath her shorts and skimpy underwear, pulling them down over her supple ass. I slide them down over her thighs until she wiggles her clothes to the floor.

  For a moment I let my eyes glide over every inch of her milky flesh, soaking in her statuesque beauty. Isabella throws her head back and holds her chin high under my gaze. Her eyes glint with the pride any woman who owns a body like this should have. I love how she owns her sexuality, how she knows what she does to me, and she’s proud of it.

  I easily lift her up and slide her back onto the counter until she is resting back on her elbows. Her mound is glistening with desire, her nectar barely contained between her lips. I lean over her, laying my hands flat on the insides of each of her thighs, holding them open until her pussy is exposed to me fully. Isabella bites her lip in anticipation and I bury my head between her thighs, breathing in her perfume, plunging my tongue into her mound. She gasps and throws her head back so her long hair is draped over the counter, and she rocks her hips forward to meet my mouth.