Promised (The Promised Series)

hesitantly as she takes the seat Mom just vacated. She sets plates with sample cakes and icings in front of Dani and me and pulls a pad of paper out of her frilly half apron. She points out the flavors of each cake and icing, then sits back and lets us sample each one.
    “Oh my gosh. This chocolate fudge cake with the raspberry chocolate ganache is ah-mazing!” Dani sighs right before taking another big bite and humming her approval.
    The cake designer, Kylie (somewhere between the chocolate cake and the vanilla, I asked her her name), smiles at Dani’s compliment of her work and then asks me. “What’s your preference, Wyn?”
    “My vote’s for the vanilla cake with the vanilla icing and fresh strawberries, but maybe we can do a couple tiers in each. That way, the chocolate and vanilla fans are both covered.” Even if there won’t be a wedding, at least they’ll have two delicious cake options to drown their disappointment in.
    “Perfect.” She writes down my choice and then asks. “What kind of design are you wanting?”
    Okay, I hadn’t really thought that far. If Mom was here, I was going to let her take the reins at this point. I look at Dani, wide eyed, quietly pleading for help.
    “Can you do a purple ombre going down the tiers and put some kind of sparkly embellishment on each?” Dani asks as she takes over.
    “We can do that. It’ll be so pretty.” Kylie answers, not taking her eyes away from the notes she’s taking.
    “Perfect.” I smile at Dani in thanks. She covered my taste and Mom’s in one swoop and didn’t even have to take time to think it over. Kylie finishes her notes and says her goodbyes. I go to the counter and order two hot chocolates for Dani and myself. Then join her back at our table where she’s finishing up the samples on her plate.
    “Want mine too?” I ask, setting her cup down and sliding my plate towards her.
    She looks up, searching my face, then asks. “What’s wrong? Well, other than the scene with your mom.”
    “What makes you think anything is wrong?” I ask as I take a sip of my drink.
    She sets her fork down, pushes both plates away, and steeples her hands together on her belly. “The fact that you’re turning down cake of any kind might as well be a huge flashing sign pointing at you with the words ‘not right’ printed on it.”
    I set my drink down and avoid her gaze by tracing the scroll work on the table with my finger. “Umm…well…I got some news the other day.”
    “What kind of news?”
    “I got accepted into my top choice of school with a full scholarship.” I say quietly.
    I hear her gasp in surprise. “I didn’t even know you applied anywhere.”
    I gather the courage to look at her and explain. “I did it months ago, because the counselor pushed me too. I didn’t think I’d be able to go or that I’d even get in.”
    “So I take it that you’re bringing it up now because it’s helped you make a decision?” She asks with tears forming in her eyes.
    I nod my head because I don’t want to say the words. She takes in my nod and the tears start to fall from her eyes. Seeing her cry causes me to cry too.
    I grab her hand. “I’m so sorry, Dani. I don’t want to leave you.”
    She pulls her hand out of mine and wipes at her eyes. “But that’s exactly what you’re doing. Do you hate this life so much that you can turn your back on all of us? Your niece, your brother, and me?”
    “You know why I have to do this, Dani. I wish I could still be around you all, but they won’t let me.” I plead with her to understand.
    “You’re doing this for him. He’s more important than your family. What are you going to do when he gets bored with you and throws you away? You won’t be allowed back in.”
    My hand flies to my mouth to cover my shock at the hatred in her words. I grab my purse and stand, needing to get out of here and away from her.
    She reaches for my hand and I pull away. “I’m sorry, Wyn. I didn’t mean that.”
    “I thought out of everyone, you understood me enough to know why I need to do this, but apparently I was wrong.” She tries to call me back, but I ignore her pleas as I rush out of there.

April
Chapter 25 – Linc
    ~She Thinks You Are~
    I take in all the cars lining the street around my house. It was no secret to me that Mom was planning a party for my eighteenth birthday, but I didn’t want to ruin all the work she’s done so I’ve been pretending to be clueless. Now if I can pull off