Promised (The Promised Series)

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