Promise Me

“You don’t have to explain,” Dixie says. “I moved out of my mom’s house the minute I turned eighteen. So they don’t know?”

“Not yet. I’ve told only Aunt Sally, who immediately insisted I spend the summer here.” She glances at Dixie and then me. “And now you two.”

Dixie crouches until she’s eye level with Amber. “Whatever you need, you know you’re not in this alone, right? You’ve got Aunt Sally, Uncle Jack…”

“And us,” I add, placing my hand over Amber’s fist.

“And us,” Dixie agrees, and stacks her hand on mine.

Chapter Thirteen

Kendall

Twenty minutes later, I’ve almost wrapped my head around the conversation with my sisters. “Sometimes things happen for a reason,” I say to the framed picture of my aunt and me on my nightstand just before the doorbell chimes. I double-check the condoms are in my handbag then hurry downstairs. Stopping in the entryway, I tell Snow to chill before I smooth my hands over my hair, catch my breath, and steel myself against the visual orgasm that is Vaughn Shaughnessy.

When I open the door, though, the mental cold shower fails. He is so much hotter in person. Snow obviously agrees, because I swear the excited noise she’s making sounds like a purr.

“Wow,” he says, raking his eyes over my sundress. His gaze lingers on the keyhole at my chest. It’s a rather large keyhole. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” he fires back. “You look amazing. Ready to go?”

“Yes, thanks. You look amazing, too.” And effortlessly gorgeous from every angle. I close the door behind me.

It takes only a few minutes to arrive at our destination, a cute restaurant just off the beaten path. The hostess greets Vaughn like he’s a regular and leads us to a table. As usual, his nearness clouds my head. My pulse races.

The room is dimly lit and decorated in rich, dark colors. Our small corner table with a bench seat is semi-private. I sink into the pillows at my back as I look over my menu. When the waiter stops to take our order, we both ask for

steaks, his with fries, mine with a baked potato.

As the waiter retreats, Vaughn turns to me. “So, you’re a virgin.”

I almost choke on a swallow of water. “’Fraid so,” I manage, and set the glass down.

“Virginity pledge?”

“No.” It’s so far off base I actually smile. “Is this your idea of interesting dinner conversation?”

He’s utterly complacent as he shrugs. “I’m interested. Very interested. Religious reasons?”

I shake my head. “No again.”

“Just haven’t met the right guy?”

My smile wilts. We’ve reached a conversational cliff. The next step is going to be a doozy. I tip my head to the side and look him in the eye. “You sure you want to know?”

He takes my hand. “I’m sure. You can tell me anything, Kendall. You can trust me.” Then his expression kind of freezes, and his fingers squeeze mine. “Shit. I’m a dumbass. Somebody hurt you.”

Once again, his concern makes me feel like a fraud, but this time I have to speak up instead of running away. “No. Nothing like that. I hurt somebody.” My chin trembles, and there’s a painful clog in my throat, so instead of elaborating, I pinch my lips together and wipe the corner of my eye with my free hand.

“Tell me,” he whispers.

I’m not sure if it’s a question or a request, but the patient words push us closer to the point of no return. Even though I’m terrified he won’t be there when I land, it’s a risk I’m ready to take. If I keep holding Vaughn at arm’s length he’ll definitely back off. There was a time I never shied away from people, and I miss that girl. If I tell him the truth he’ll either think I’m an awful person and this will be the last time I see him, or…

He’ll understand.

“I was seventeen when I got a DUI,” I say quietly.