Promised (The Promised Series)

pretend.” I whisper as the tears start to fall from my own eyes.
    She nods her okay against my chest and continues to cry.
    “Skip school with me, please.” I beg, lifting my hand to run it over her hair.
    “I’ve never done that before.” She pulls back to wipe her eyes with the tips of her fingers.
    “Neither have I, but I want to be alone with you today. Will you?”
    She looks at me closely for several moments and then nods her head.
    I grab her hand and pull her back out of the school before a teacher can catch us.
    Once I have her in the car and we’re on the road, I ask. “What would you like to do?”
    “Runaway.” She jokes, laying her head against the back of her seat.
    “Don’t tempt me.”
    “I don’t know. Let’s just drive around until we find something that catches our eyes.”
    “You want to know what I just realized.”
    “What?”
    “You’re the first person who hasn’t asked to drive my car.”
    Turning her head to look at me, she says. “Well, that’s because I don’t know how to drive.”
    Shocked I ask. “Is this a gypsy thing?”
    Giggling she says. “No. It’s a Wyn thing.”
    “Explain.” I push as I grab her hand and lace our fingers together.
    “Well, you’ve seen how my brothers pick me up from school. When it was time to get my license, I knew even if I did get it, I wouldn’t have the freedom to use it the way I wanted. I’d always have someone with me. My brothers would still be picking me up from school. Eventually, they’d force a husband on me and he’d drive me everywhere else. So, I decided not to waste my time getting it.” She explains, looking down at our joined hands.
    “Do you regret it?”
    “Sometimes.”
    “That settles it.”
    “Settles what?” She asks confused.
    “What we’re doing today.” I say, taking the road that leads to the lake.
    “Want to clue me in to what that is?” She laughs.
    “I’m going to teach you how to drive.” I tell her with an excited grin on my face.
    *************************************************
    “I’m not sure about this.” Wyn groans from the driver’s seat. She’s nibbling on her lip and rubbing her hands together nervously.
    “I believe you can, but I won’t push you.” I say reassuringly, rubbing her back.
    She turns her bright green eyes on me and I watch as she pulls back the tears that are rimming them as she gathers the courage. I reward her strength with a smile. She faces the right way again and places her hands back on the wheel. “I can do this. What’s first?”
    I pull my hand from her back and situate myself in the passenger seat, fastening my seat belt. “Starting the car would be the first step.”
    “I guess I should have figured that out on my own.” She laughs at herself, reaching out and turning the key in the ignition.
    “Now, put your right foot on the brake and push it down.” I watch her follow my directions and then she looks at me expectantly. “Good. Now, keeping your foot on the brake, take the shifter and move it to the drive position.”
    “Is that right?” She asks, putting her hands back on the steering wheel at the three and nine position.
    “Perfect. Now slowly release the break and gently push down on the gas.” She attempts to follow my directions, but ends up pushing too hard on the gas, rocketing us forward. Frightened, she slams on the brake and jerks us to a halt. My chest slams against the seat belt and I reach my hand out to the dash to steady myself.
    “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry, Linc.” She stammers as she puts the car back into park.
    I release my grip on the dash and sit back against my seat. “It’s fine. Just take it a little slower this time and if you get scared, slowly push on the brake. Don’t get scared on me now.”
    “I never said I was scared.” She scrunches up her face and gives me a stern look. “I’m Arwyn Elizabeth Scott. I don’t get scared.” She grumbles as she shifts the car back into gear and slowly moves us forward around the lake’s parking lot.
    I should have known challenging her strength would’ve given her the push she needed. Seeing her focused and determined, I can’t help but chuckle. Her eyes flutter to me and then move back to the road. “What’s so funny?”
    “You.” Her brow arches in question. “Well, you’re more adorable than funny, but still you.”
    “So, you’re saying I’m so adorable I make you laugh?”
    “Pretty much.”
    “Here’s a little FYI for you. A