Promised (17 page)

“Don’t be shy because I’m here. Go greet your fiancée.” Dad prompts when I don’t immediately stand and rush to Shay’s side.

I give him an awkward hug and whisper my thanks for the flowers. He hands me the bag with a grin on his face. “That’s only the start of what I have planned for tonight.” Yep, he’s totally following my dad’s playbook for tonight.

Opening the bag, I tell him. “You really didn’t have to do all of this.”

“I know, but I wanted to.” He smiles, watching me open the jewelry box.

I close my eyes at the relief of seeing earrings instead of a necklace. He got me large square cut diamond earrings. To be polite, I take them out of the box and put them on.

“They’re beautiful.”

He reaches out and touches my cheek. “I’m glad you like them.” We stand like that in uncomfortable silence, him touching my face, me trying not to jerk away from his touch.

Thankfully, Dad speaking up breaks us apart. “
You kids have a good time tonight.”

Shay pulls away from me to turn to Dad. “We will, sir.”

The next step of Shay’s surprise for the night was a limo that drove us to a five star Italian restaurant. We order our food and then sit in uncomfortable silence at the beautifully laid out table, lit with tea lights in little red vases. I begin picking at an invisible piece of lint on the white table cloth to avoid his eyes. He downs his glass of water in three big gulps and then takes on the task of devouring the bread basket.

Nibbling at his second bread stick he asks. “Why were you meeting with a college recruiter?” Well, that explains why he’s been so quiet.

“They meet with all the seniors. It’s no big deal.”

“You know you can’t go, right.”

“I’m not dumb, Shay.” I say, meeting his eyes.

Setting down the bread stick he sighs. “I didn’t say that. Why is everything with you a fight?”

“Well, fighting is inevitable when the person you’re with is being
forced
to be with you.” I glare at him.

“We’re getting married. I’m going to work to care for you, and you’re going to take care of our house and kids. This is happening, Wyn. The sooner you let that sink in, the sooner you accept it and we can start working towards being happy together.” His forearms are lying on the table and he’s leaning in to get closer, trying to hammer his point home. But my thoughts get stuck on one word. Kids.

So that’s what comes out of my mouth. “Kids?”

His face softens and he reaches out to grab my hand. I pull it back so he can’t. He sighs. “Of course I want kids. Lots of them. I was hoping we’d start right away after the wedding.”

Kids with Shay? Lots of kids with Shay? Little boys and girls with his blonde hair and my curls and green eyes? I close my eyes and swallow the lump that forms in my throat. In my head, the blonde children fade away and a little girl with my curly brown hair and Linc’s golden eyes take their place.

“Oh my.” I whisper softly at the thought of a child with Linc.

“I see it’s starting to sink in.” Shay grins, apparently taking my response as a good sign for the two of us. Poor guy has no clue how far from the truth he is.

“Oh yeah, it’s sinking in.” I mumble. I believe I’ve finally made my decision, now to find the right time to break it to Linc and Dani.

March

Chapter 23 – Linc

~The Letter~

I’m pounding down sodas and pretzels with Nate. It’s Saturday and we’re watching the Ohio State vs. Syracuse game. There’s a little less than six minutes left in the second half. Ohio State is in the lead and Nate’s pissed because someone from Syracuse just missed a three pointer (he’s a Syracuse fan, while I’m an Ohio fan). The doorbell goes off and we look at each other.

“Who could that be?” Nate asks, turning back to the TV.

“No clue.” I say, standing up to go answer it. I know it can’t be our moms because they’re out having lunch and shopping. I pull the door open and find Wyn standing there and looking all adorably nervous, her fingers latched in a death grip on a little envelope.

I grab one of her hands and pull her out of the cold, closing the door behind her. “What’s going on?”

“Who is it?” Nate hollers from the living room.

“I’m so sorry; you have guests. I can come back later. I didn’t even think. As soon as I saw it came, I drove straight here.” Wyn breaks in before I can answer Nate.

“It’s only Nate, and don’t be sorry. You’re welcome here anytime. We were just watching the game.” I tell her and ask. “What came?”

She holds up an envelope for me to see. “A letter from the school we visited last month.”

“And?” I ask, maybe a little too enthusiastically.

Looking at her shoes, she explains shyly. “I don’t know yet. I was hoping you’d open it for me. I was too nervous to do it myself.”

Taking her hand, I guide her into the living room. I tell Nate. “We’re going to my room.”

He looks up from the game long enough to take in Wyn. He flips out his hand says. “Fine. I’ll record the last part for you to watch. Hi, Wyn.”

“Umm… Hi, Nate.” She replies back as I guide her down the hall towards my room. Once we’re inside and I shut the door, I sit her on my bed and take the envelope from her.

I wave the envelope around and pace the floor in front of her. “Now, you have to promise me that if we don’t get the response we want from this school that you won’t give up. This school might be the ideal location, but there are others and I don’t want you to give up hope.”

“I promise, Linc.”

I stop my pacing to take her in and the sight of her on my bed nearly brings me to my knees. As always, she’s stunning. But like the day we visited the college, she’s dressed casually. A pair of worn in skinny leg jeans, a light purple long sleeved sweater that hangs loose, and a pair of black flats. God, she’s beautiful. And she’s in my room. On my bed!

“Linc?” She calls when I continue staring at her.

“God, you’re beautiful.” I tell her, causing her eyes to warm and a smile to crack across her face.

“The letter.” She prompts softly.

“Oh, yeah.” I finally remember the reason we’re in here. I rip open the end and pull out the small stack of papers inside. Wyn closes her eyes as I scan the top sheet.

“Open your eyes, honey.” I gently command.

Her eyes flutter open and I can see she’s fighting back tears. “It’s ok. I applied to some other schools.”

“You got in.”

Her eyes widen in surprise and then once it fully sinks in, she jumps up from the bed and into my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else before she slams her lips down on mine in a rough and demanding kiss. I, of course, submit and let her take the lead in this sensual celebration.

When both of us are out of breath, she pulls back just enough to place her forehead against mine and gather herself. Her breathing returns to normal and she smiles. “I got in.”

I tighten my arms around her and confirm. “You got in.”

“I don’t care if I have to work four jobs to support myself and pay. I’m going.” She states the steel of her determination in her voice.

I walk us over to my bed, put my knee on it and lay her down. I lay myself between her legs, my upper body propped up on my hands. I stare down at her and ask. “Are you saying what I think you are?”

Wyn nibbles the corner of her lip as she searches my face. Finally, she releases her lip and nods her head.

“I need to hear the words, baby.” I tell her, lifting a hand to run along her hair line, pushing the stray curls back in place.

“I choose you.” Her words cause a warm feeling to shoot right through me. I roll us over so she’s on top, straddling my hips.

“You choose me.” I repeat her words, more so they’ll sink in than anything else.

“I choose you.”

“You choose me.” I say in awe.

“I think we covered that.” She giggles at my reaction.

I run my hands up her back, making her lean closer to me. “I was trying to savor those three little words that just made my dreams come true.”

“Well I can be quiet and let you continue.” She moves to get off me. “Or I could leave and give you a little time to get yourself together.”

I tighten my hold on her back. “The hell you will. I like you right where you’re at.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I’m leaving my world, otherwise I’d be in trouble for being in this position with you.” She says, appraising our position.

I reposition us on our sides so we’re facing each other. “Better?”

“Much. Thank you.”

“I never want you to feel uncomfortable with me.”

“Not possible, but thank you for being so considerate.” She replies, placing her hand against my chest.

“When do you want to go get your stuff? Now? Later? I can’t wait to have you under the same roof as me.”

“Linc, if we don’t want to cause a whole lot of problems, we have to wait till I’m eighteen.”

I flop onto my back. “I don’t like that idea, Wyn.”

She leans into me and lays her chin on my chest. “I’m sorry, but this is the safest way. I’ll have to keep pretending I’m going along with their plans or they might try to move it up and make me drop out.”

“I really hate the idea of you being around that guy.” I grumble, running my fingertip along her bottom lip.

“I’m not thrilled with the idea either.” She closes her eyes at my touch.

Seeing her reaction to my touch spurs me on. I continue to trace her lips with just the tip of my finger. “I don’t want him touching you here.” I let my finger fall to where her neck and shoulder meet, drawing invisible swirly patterns against her skin. “Or here.” I pull her hand up to my mouth and kiss each fingertip. “Or here.”

She lets out a contented sigh and opens her eyes so we’re looking at each other. “He doesn’t get me like you do. No one does.”

As soon as those words leave her lips, mine close the distance. I slide my tongue along the seam of her lips and she spreads them, allowing me entrance. Her hand slides under the hem of my t-shirt. Her tiny hands run up and down the hard muscles of my chest and stomach. I slip my own hand up the back of her sweater to feel the smooth skin of her back against my hands. I could easily move my hand around to the front, but I don’t want to push her too far too fast. Though it’s taking all the will power I have to stop myself.

A knock on the door causes us to jump apart. Wyn literally jumps off the bed and moves across the room. Her cheeks are flushed and her lips are swollen. She moves quickly, pushing her shirt back into place. She looks so damn good, I want to pull her back to me and finish what we’ve started. Instead, I call out. “Yeah.”

“Cover up. I’m coming in.” Nate calls from the other side of the door.

I roll my eyes and Wyn giggles, taking a seat back on the edge of the bed. I pull her back beside me, against the head board and call. “Coast is clear.”

Nate pushes in and surveys the situation. “Two things. One, I finished recording the game.”

“Who won?” I ask as I thread my fingers around some of the curls at Wyn’s shoulder.

“Ohio.” Nate grumbles.

I hold out my hand, palm up. “Pay up.”

He pulls his wallet out of his back pocket and pulls out a twenty. He stomps across the room and slaps the bill into my outstretched hand. I tuck the bill into my own wallet and then ask. “So, what’s two?”

“Oh, yeah.” He pulls out his cell and looks at the time. “Your mom will be home in…well, it was ten minutes, but now it’s more like two.”

Wyn and I both jump out of the bed. She grabs the acceptance letter off the floor and I take her hand as I guide her out of my room. I shove Nate’s shoulder as we pass him. “Dumb ass! That should’ve been number one.”

“Yeah, but what fun would that be.” He chuckles as he follows us back to the living room. I turn around, deciding he might need some sense knocked into him, but Wyn pulls on my hand to make me sit by her on the couch instead.

Nate flops down in the recliner, still chuckling, while I seethe with my arms crossed. “I’ll get my revenge.” I grumble.

Wyn rubs my knee to calm me and I look over to see she’s reading the rest of the acceptance packet. At that moment, Mom walks in. Her hands are filled with shopping bags. She drops them on each side of the recliner and allows herself to fall back in to the chair. “Hey, Boys.” She takes in Wyn and smiles. “Hi, Wyn.”

Wyn looks up from the letter and returns Mom’s smile. “Hi, Mrs. Tatman.”

“Kate, please.” Mom urges.

“Yes, ma’am. I mean Kate.”

“Good.” Mom beams and then notices the letter. “Good news?”

Wyn looks at me and I slip my arm around her shoulder, squeezing her reassuringly. She looks back at Mom with the smile still on her face. “Great news! I got accepted early and they’re offering a full scholarship.”

I turn her to face me. “Really?”

She’s beaming with excitement and she giggles at the surprised look on my face. “Yeah, you must not have read past the first line.”