Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

The hostess smiled when we walked in. I scanned the place and found Kynslee and her parents sitting at a table. And a few feet away from them was an open booth. Perfect. Becky and I would have to walk by their table if we were seated in that booth. And we would be seated in that booth since I’d be requesting that exact spot in three…two…one…

“If you have a booth, that would be great,” I said to the hostess.

Becky’s face lit up. If she thought we were going to snuggle on the same side, she was sadly mistaken. I needed to make it clear that this wasn’t really a date, more of a catch-up-on-old-times dinner.

After looking down at the paper that had all the tables laid out, the hostess nodded. “Yes, I’ve got one left.”

I kept my gaze forward and walked right by Kynslee’s table following close to Becky the entire way.

“Miles?”

My name stopped me in my tracks. I turned and saw her eyes bouncing from me to Becky and back to me again.

“Hey there, Kynslee, Ally, Steve.” I stuck my hand out to shake her father’s hand.

Ally gave me a warm smile, Steve gave me a stare that said he was not thrilled with me, and Kynslee was shooting daggers. Not at me, surprisingly, but at poor Becky. I actually felt sort of guilty for using her as a pawn.

“Good seeing you again, Miles,” Steve said. I could hear the bitterness in his voice. Rich had already filled me in that Steve thought Kynslee had turned Jack down because of me. Something I was hoping was true.

“Y’all, too. If you’ll excuse me,” I said, giving them a smile. When Kynslee’s eyes met mine, I let my smile fade some. She drew her brows in ever so slightly.

Once we were seated in the booth, Becky started talking about her kids. I loved kids. Loved my nieces and nephews like crazy. But hearing about Becky’s two-year-old’s diaper blow out at pre-school was not my ideal subject of conversation while eating dinner.

I stared in disbelief as she went on about the great poo incident, which she was now calling it. Moving my gaze away from Becky, I caught Kynslee looking our way. I didn’t react and went back to focusing on Becky and her story. Well, not really, but I had to shift my attention from Kynslee back to Becky.

Finally, I’d have enough of the poop talk.

“Tell me what’s been going on in our little town since I left.”

She gave me a wide grin. “Well, lots of gossip, but you were never much into that. Some of it was about you, though.”

“Me?” I asked, raising a brow.

Becky glanced over her shoulder at Kynslee, who was in a deep conversation with her parents and no longer sending death rays toward me or Becky.

When she looked back at me, Becky leaned in. “Folks say Kynslee couldn’t move on with Jack because she’s been heartbroken about you leaving her. They were pretty hot and heavy for a few years, so we were all surprised when they didn’t get married.”

I smiled, but my insides were boiling. It was going to take everything I had not to punch Jack when I finally did see him. “Is that so?” I said with a chuckle.

Becky nodded. “Did anything ever happen between the two of you? I mean, for her to be heartbroken? We all knew y’all were friends.”

My eyes drifted back to Kynslee, then to Becky. “Well, we took each other’s virginity at sixteen, then slept together before I left for the Marines, and oh yeah, we hooked up right before she started dating Jack.”

Becky’s smile faded fast. Then I laughed, causing her to laugh along with me. “Oh, you’re kidding with me. That was mean.”

I raised a brow. It was time to move on.

“I was surprised you didn’t bring your kids,” I said.

“My kids?”

“Yeah, to dinner tonight. I mean, I’m sure you leave them at home when you go out on dates.”

Now she looked confused. “Ummm, is that not what we’re on tonight, Miles?”

“A date? Like as in a romantic date?” I asked.

She nodded.

Yeah, this is where I felt like a dick for using her. Time to set her straight. “No, I mean, I thought it might be nice to catch up, that’s all. I’m so sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”

Her eyes filled with horror, then she quickly recovered. “I’m just glad that was cleared up before I did something foolish.”

“I’m sorry if I misled you. I was simply asking an old friend to dinner.”

Becky forced a smile. “Then I won’t be needing my babysitter all night long.”

Now it was my turn to look shocked. “Okay. Well, even if this had been a date, I’m not sure I would have had the same ending in mind as you did.”