Don't Promise (Don't 3)

Gone with your dad.

Grayson tagged along.

Loved last night.

Xo,

Cole

She had plans to go to a yoga class with her mom this morning. We’d probably be back at the house before them. I didn’t want to roll out of bed when my alarm went off. She looked like an angel next to me.

It was hard not to let the guilt crush me. It hit me when I wasn’t thinking about it. Sometimes when she smiled. Or when she said my name. And instead of a rush of adrenaline, I felt soul-crushing regret. What the fuck was I doing?

Frank fiddled with the station. He stopped when he found a Christmas song he liked.

“I guess you and Ryan have patched things up.” He talked out of the side of his mouth.

“You mean about Kaitlyn?”

It was true the last time I saw him, Ryan had given me a pretty severed upper cut. But who wouldn’t? He didn’t want me fucking his little sister. I gave

him a pass.

“Well, yes. He wasn’t the only one who was surprised.”

“Yeah. I think he’s used to it now.”

Frank nodded. He flipped the blinker to exit toward the airport. “She’s young, Cole. You have experience she doesn’t.”

Fuck. I didn’t want to get into this, and not with Grayson in the backseat.

“Yes, she is. But she’s also smart. And independent. Kaitlyn makes up her own mind.”

He considered my words. “I’ve known you a long time.”

“You have, sir.”

He took the ticket from the gate and looked for a space to park in the garage. He turned off the car and looked at me.

“It’s just. Moira would never say this, but you’ve been friends with Ryan for years. We’ve spent some nice Christmases together. No matter what happens, you’re always welcome to stay with us at the holidays. You and Grayson. No matter what.”

I stared at him.

“You don’t take this thing with Kaitlyn seriously.”

“She’s young. That’s all I’m saying.” He gripped my shoulder. “And I don’t want that to change how Moira and I feel about you. You and Ryan have a Corps bond that goes above anything else. We know that. You’re brothers.”

Now that the car wasn’t moving I had to get Grayson out of the car seat or he’d start to whine. I pulled on the door handle. This was fucking great. The man had no confidence in his daughter or me.

I opened the backseat to retrieve my son. “Ready to see some more planes?” I tried to sound happy, but I wanted to punch something, preferably my future father-in-law.

“Planes!” Grayson squealed, holding up a train.

I didn’t try to explain the difference. Right now I had to get through this and back to Kaitlyn.

I gritted my teeth and followed Frank to the baggage claim.

We spotted Ryan right away. His rucksack was stuffed and thrown over his shoulder. His dad pulled him into a bear hug, before I shook his hand.