The Promises We Keep (Made for Love Book 1) (122 page)

It
’
s almost eleven by the time everyone has showered and made their way back out of their rooms. Logan suggests that we all head into town to do a little shopping and grab lunch. Everyone agrees that it
’
s a good idea and we set out right away. Once we arrive, we split up, and I spend most of my time with Sarah and Claire. As horrible as it might sound, I
’
m content to put some space between myself and the boys, as well as myself and my sister. By the time we meet up for lunch, my ill feelings from this morning after breakfast are all but forgotten.

Since it
’
s still pretty cold out, despite the shining sun, we decide to head back to the house to watch a movie. We make popcorn and eat candy
—
because, of course, Logan
’
s mom thought of everything
—
and we all cuddle up on two couches in front of the gigantic TV. Jack and Claire sit with Gray and Ave and Daphne and Trevor, which is just too cute to make me upset
—
that, plus my current sitting arrangement is far too distracting to leave room for any remaining jealousy in regards to the couch-o-couples. Somehow, I end up sitting between Roman and Beckham. On the other side of Roman is Sarah. On the other side of Beckham is Logan. The irony of the situation is just downright ridiculous and all I can think about, the entire movie, is how incestuous our couch is.

Honestly, though, it makes me
that
much more aware of how amazing each guy is. They
’
re different in so many ways, but they are also both sweet, loving, smart, kind, gentlemen that would make any girl
really
happy. They might not know it, but each of them is sandwiched between two girls whose heart could belong to them.

After one movie, I can
’
t handle it anymore. I have to get up. I have to get away from them and get out of my head. While they pick another movie, I offer to make dinner. I get a few offers from people to help, but thankfully I don
’
t have to argue too much to convince them I can handle it on my own. While I hunt for ingredients in the pantry and the fridge, I have a conversation with God. I tell Him what He already knows
—
that I
’
m conflicted and confused
—
and He says nothing in return.
Not that I was expecting Him to. I know that this is my decision, regardless of how much I wish He would just make it for me.
With a proper meal plan set into motion, I spend the next hour and a half not thinking about anything except what
’
s for dinner. I decide that after we eat, I
’
ll snag my journal and find a quiet place to write; but for now, I
’
m content to not think about anything.

“
Is there a rule about waiting a half an hour to get into the hot tub after you eat? Or is that just for swimming?
”
asks Avery.

“
Who cares? If you go, I
’
ll come with you!
”
chimes in Claire.

“
I was actually thinking of playing a different kind of pool,
”
says Trevor.
“
Anyone else?
”

“
Pool sounds fun,
”
pipes in Gray.
“
I
’
ll play.
”

“
Me too,
”
says Jack.

It doesn
’
t take long before it
’
s been unanimously decided that the girls want to dip into the hot tub and the guys want to disappear into the basement. Our gentlemen offer to clean up the kitchen and the rest of us scurry upstairs to change into our bathing suits before they can change their minds. It dawns on me, as we are parading past them through the dining room and out the sliding glass door that leads to the back patio,
why
they didn
’
t mind having an excuse to stay upstairs for a few more minutes. I
’
m the last one out, so I
’
m left to shut the door behind us. When I do, I spot both Beckham
and
Roman standing at the sink, staring right at me. I
’
m in a towel, given that it
’
s
freezing
outside
—
but I suppose that
’
s not saying much.

Good Lord. I
’
m in so much trouble.

“
Let me see the ring, again,
”
asks Daphne as I join them in the steaming water.
“
Why an emerald?
”
she asks when Avery holds out her hand.

“
It
’
s the color of his eyes. I love his eyes.
”

“
You two are intolerably adorable,
”
mutters Logan. I can tell by the look on Avery
’
s face that she can
’
t tell whether or not that was a compliment or an insult; considering her tone, I
’
m not so sure either. Both of us look to Daphne as she interprets and responds.

“
Oh, please,
”
she says, rolling her eyes.
“
Deep down, I
know
you want the same thing.
”

“
Daph, you know I don
’
t date. I
—”

“
Play
. Yes, and how
’
s that working out for you and blue-eyed-wonder-boy in there?
”

I stifle a gasp as my gaze fastens onto Logan
’
s face. They
’
re talking about Beck. She smirks and nonchalantly lifts one of her shoulders in response.
“
He
’
s different.
”

“
Who?
Beckham?
”
asks Sarah, who appears to be as aghast as I am.

“
She likes him,
”
Daphne says, as if she
’
s Logan
’
s spokesman.
“
She has a hard time admitting it, but it
’
s true.
”

“
Hey, I
’
m just biding my time,
”
Logan responds.
“
There
’
s no point in me admitting
anything
when he
’
s still dealing with
the bitch
.
”

I shake my head wondering if I
’
ve managed to get water in my ears as I
’
m
sure
that she didn
’
t just call me something horrible.

“
Whoa, whoa, whoa
—
who are you calling a bitch?
”
asks Claire, offended on my behalf.

Avery, who
’
s sitting beside me, finds my hand underneath the water and wraps her fingers around mine in a tight grip. I squeeze back as the adrenaline Logan
’
s words have stimulated courses through my veins.
Why on earth would anyone even bring Beckham up? Especially in conjunction with Logan. I
’
m sitting
right here!

“
That
’
s what LG calls a complicated situation. She
’
s not referring to anyone in particular,
”
Daphne clarifies.

“
Well, she might be a bitch. His ex or whatever. I don
’
t know. He never talks about her. All I know is that he
’
s not yet ready to move on. So, like I said, biding my time.
”

What. The. Hell?

“
Um
—
you
do
realize that you
’
re talking about my sister like she
’
s not sitting
right here
, right?
”
exclaims Avery.

Logan
’
s eyes find mine, which haven
’
t moved away from her since this whole conversation started. I see a flicker or emotion tug at the features of her face, but it
’
s gone in an instant. She covers up whatever it is she doesn
’
t want anyone to see when she lifts her eyebrows in surprise and then flashes me a smug smile.
“
So
you
’
re
the one who has his heart on lockdown. Any guess as to when you
’
ll be setting him free?
”

I can
’
t breathe.

This water is too hot.

Am I understanding her correctly?

“
He
—
he didn
’
t tell you? About me?
”
I choke the words out, but I know the answer before I even ask the question. By the way she
’
s referring to the status of his heart, I know she doesn
’
t know a single detail about our story. With every shallow breath I take, my heart seems to crack open a little bit more; as it opens, my eyes blur with tears.

“
Nope.
”
She pops the
p
in the word and suddenly I feel like I might lose it. I
’
m out of the water before anyone can say another word. As I wrap my towel around myself and hurry inside, I barely notice how freezing it is or how fast my tears are spilling down my face. As I stomp into the kitchen, every pair of eyes looks up from their task and zeros in on me. I, however, am only interested in catching
one
man
’
s attention
—
when I have it, I can
’
t stop the yell that bursts from my throat.

“
You didn
’
t tell her about me? This
whole
time, even after she made it
completely obvious
that she liked you, you didn
’
t think to mention me?
Really?
”

“
What? Addie, what are you talking about?
”
he asks calmly. His even temper makes me even more mad.

“
Logan! Unless, of course, there might be
more
pretty blondes that think it
’
s okay to
kiss
you because they have
no idea
that you
’
re saving your heart for someone else! Oh, wait, maybe you
aren
’
t
anymore! It was
you
who broke up with
me
in the first place.
”