Don't Promise (Don't 3)

“Dad,” Kaitlyn pressed. She tried to show off the ring on her left hand, but he interrupted her.

“You are going to marry my daughter by the end of the week, or you’ll never step foot in this house again.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked out of the kitchen.

I pulled Kaitlyn into my arms. I didn’t know what else to do, but hold her.

19

Kaitlyn

“Merry Christmas, darlin’.”

I heard the words Cole muttered in my ear as I tried to climb out of a deep sleep. Everything was peaceful and calm. I tried to cling to the last bits of the dream I was having, while still relishing his words. As the last threads slipped away, I opened my eyes.

“Merry Christmas.” I smiled.

“It’s Christmas morning.” He winked. It was still dark outside. I knew we had to walk next door before Grayson woke up. He didn’t completely understand, but this was his first year with Santa. Cole wanted to make sure we had everything videoed.

I nodded. And then the horror of last night hit me. I covered my eyes with my palms.

“Hey, don’t do that, baby.” He pulled my hands from my face. “It’s going to be ok.”

I shook my head. I remembered the look on my father’s face. He didn’t care that Cole and I had created a family together. He couldn’t get past how it had happened. As if it were meant to be a personal assault on his conservative values.

“I wanted Christmas to be perfect for you.”

“It is.” He brushed the hair from my neck. “Don’t let what your father said ruin today. He was just mad. It will blow over.”

My eyes widened. “You think that was an idle threat?”

Cole shrugged. “He wasn’t serious.”

I sat forward, my breasts spilling out of my tank top. I huffed. “He was completely serious.”

“That’s crazy. He can’t demand we get married.”

I bit my lip. “He did.”

Cole shook his head. He still didn’t believe me. We had stumbled through an awkward Christmas Eve dinner, everyone pretending the bombshell hadn’t happened. My mom focused on Grayson, making sure he put cookies and milk out for Santa. Ryan kept handing Cole beers until it was time to go to bed.

I didn’t even say goodnight to my father. I couldn’t remember a Christmas Eve ever ending like that.

“What do we do?” I asked.

He leaned forward, raking his warm lips against mine. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

I smiled. It was the first time since last night I thought we might make it through this.

“We’ve got to get going.” He jumped out of bed, surprising me with his quickness.

“It’s so early,” I whined.

“Yep, come on. It’s Christmas. I don’t want Grayson to wake up first. We’ve got breakfast and presents. Parents waiting. Your dad might need my help with the fire.”

I studied him as he rifled through his suitcase.

“Cole?”