Promised (The Promised Series)

shadowed our whole relationship. I know my indecision is the cause of it and I want to give him an answer, the answer he wants. But like always, the thought of turning my back on Dani and Adam causes a knot to form in my stomach. I don’t want to live without Linc, but I can’t live without them either. I’m facing a double edged sword with this decision and either way I go, I’m going to hurt and be hurt.
    I look at the time on my cell to make sure there’s time before school lets out. We don’t need another incident with Shay. He’ll be here soon to get me, but we still have a few minutes.
    We’re both leaning against the Challenger, side by side, in silence. Grabbing his hand, I give it a little squeeze to get his attention. It works because he turns to look at me. “Thank you for today.”
    “I should be thanking you; it was your surprise for me after all.” He releases my hand so he can slip his arm around my shoulders, to pull me tighter to his side.
    I slip my arms around his middle to hold tighter to him. “It may have been my surprise to you, but you could’ve refused. And you agreeing to go, made my day. So thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” He whispers against my hair right before placing a kiss there. We stand there wrapped around each other in silence for several minutes. Finally, I break the silence by whispering. “I hate that I have to leave you to go to him.”
    His arms flex tighter around me and I don’t think he’ll respond, but finally, I hear him whisper back. “Me too.”
    Sighing, I push away from his side and move to face him. His beautiful face that had been smiling and happy a short while before is now sad and closed off, I cause this. Each day I hold off on my decision, I hurt him. Someone should slap me for what I’m putting this boy through. He may not be perfect, but he’s pretty darn close and I’m dragging him through the ringer. I don’t deserve him, but he says he loves me and I know without a doubt that I love him. So I can’t let him go. Not yet.
    I lean in and kiss him, soft and sweet. His hands automatically go to my waist to hold me to him as he kisses me back, eyes closed. I don’t close my eyes this time so that I can take in his face. The kiss wipes away a little of the sadness, but not all. I pull back and give him a sad smile when I tell him. “I better go.”
    His fingers at my waist tighten. Then he releases me with a nod of his head. It’s the only acknowledgement I get from him so I turn and walk up to the school to wait on Shay. As soon as I’ve taken a seat by the front door, I hear the Challenger roar to life and take off.
    Not even ten minutes later, the Dodge pulls up. He looks me over, taking in the jeans and flats, and then his eyes come to rest on the hoodie. Finally, his eyes come to mine and his left brow arches in question.
    “School recruiters came today and gave out freebies.” I explain, handing him my book bag to carry.
    He gives me a chin lift in understanding, throws my bag over one shoulder, and then takes my hand to guide me to the truck.
    He’s quiet the short drive to my house, where he drops me off with orders to get changed and be ready by six p.m. One quick kiss on the cheek later (him kissing my cheek) and I’m out of the truck and in the house.
    Two obscenely large bouquets of roses are sitting on the kitchen counter. Both sets are a red that’s so dark, they’re almost black. I by pass them, figuring they’re the first step of Dad’s always outrageous Valentine’s Day plans for Mom. He goes all out each year. And the next year, he has to try and top himself. But no matter how much he grumbles about it, I know he loves the big show he makes, not to mention the look of pure love that he sees on her face when she finally gets to see her surprise.
    You see, Mom and Dad are a typical gypsy couple. But unlike my unwanted arranged marriage to Shay, they wanted to be together. So much so that they got married in a big gypsy wedding when she was fourteen and he was seventeen. They haven’t had a perfect marriage. He’s a strong willed gypsy man and she’s a hot tempered gypsy woman. And at times, that’s a very volatile combination. But thankfully, as hard as they fight, they love twice as hard. That’s the nature of their relationship and somehow it works for them, and has for twenty-six years.
    Mom walks into the kitchen as I’m walking out to head to my room. She’s grinning from ear to ear and carrying