Promised (The Promised Series)

black sheep of the family. And you know, I’m exactly where I want to be. I asked Daddy to let me graduate.” I try to ease her discomfort.
    “I never understood that. But if that’s what you want, I’m glad he’s letting you.” She tells me as she releases her lip.
    “I wish everyone was as understanding.” I whisper to myself.
    “I’ve got some news that will cheer you up!” Dani declares, putting her arm around me.
    “Did you bake me the cupcakes that have sprinkles in the batter?” I ask. She knows I love the sprinkle cupcakes.
    “No. But now that you bring them up, I want some. I think this baby is going to like the same foods as his or her Aunt Wyn.” She giggles.
    “That’s fitting since she’s going to have my name.” I grin.
    “Only if it’s a girl and it’ll be her middle name.” She corrects me again.
    “I’m still calling her Lil Wyn.” I inform her.
    “You are a complete goof.” She laughs at me.
    “So what’s the news that’s better than cupcakes with sprinkles?” I ask, getting us back on topic.
    “I never said it was better than cupcakes with sprinkles. I said it would cheer you up.” She reminds me.
    “The only thing that cheers me up is cupcakes with sprinkles. So if you say it’ll cheer me up, then it must be better.” I explain my reasoning.
    “I’m seriously re-thinking giving my baby your name as her middle name. I don’t know if I want her named after a goof.” Dani kids.
    “Oh hush! You know you love me just the way I am.”
    “There’s no way I’d have you any other way.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze.
    “So what’s this fantabulous news?” I ask, turning to look at her.
    “Rumor has it that Shay Dawson is planning on speaking with your Dad about your hand.” She’s so excited by this news that she’s bouncing her butt up and down on the bed.
    “My hand seems fine.” I try to play ignorant because I so don’t want this to happen.
    “Oh, don’t even try that act with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” She chides me.
    “How reliable is this source?” I ask.
    “Adam told me he heard it straight from Shay’s mouth himself.”
    I let myself fall face first into the bed and grumble against the comforter. “Oh, poop!”
    “How can you not want this?” Dani asks as she absentmindedly strokes her pregnant belly.
    “I’m not ready.” I grumble against the comforter some more.
    “It’ll be fine.” She promises.
    “Do you know how soon he’s planning his acquisition of me?” I sit up and snap.
    “If Adam understood correctly, then it’ll be happening soon.” Dani tells me.
    “Poop! Daddy promised me he’d let me finish school.” I complain. I thought I had my dad wrapped around my pinky about this. I thought he understood I wanted to finish school before I took this step. But if he entertains Shay’s interest, graduation could be thrown out the window. It’s not that Shay’s a bad guy. Like Dani with Adam, I’ve known him my whole life, but I don’t see him like that. He’s more like my sixth brother than my future husband. I don’t know what the Hades has gotten into him if he’s thinking about doing this.
    “I better get home.” I stand up and grumble.
    “Ok, but you could stay a little while longer.” She suggests.
    “Nah, I need to get home and make some sprinkle cupcakes ASAP.” I give her a hug and head out of the trailer.
    As I’m walking out of the trailer, I walk smack dab into my brother.
    “Easy there, Winnie.” He says, grabbing my shoulders to steady me. Out of all of my siblings, I’m closest to Adam and he’s the only one on this planet that I allow to call me Winnie.
    “Hey, Addie.” Just like his nickname for me, I’m the only one allowed to call him Addie.
    “Leaving so soon?” He asks.
    “Yeah, I’m going to go make sprinkle cupcakes.” I tell him, knowing he understands the meaning of sprinkle cupcakes.
    “What’s wrong?” He asks as he releases me. I’m about to answer when I notice we’re not alone. A few feet behind him stands the reason I’m upset. Shay Dawson has his hands shoved in his pockets and is watching the exchange between my brother and me closely.
    “We’ll talk about it later.” I tell Adam while I glare at Shay. I’ve decided he’s on my list and he should know that’s not a good place to be. If he thinks I’m going to roll over and take this betrayal easily, he’s sadly mistaken.
    “I see Dani has been sharing.” Adam says,