Page 151 of The Promises We Were Never Meant To Keep

“I’m so confused.” I think I’ve told him this a thousand times tonight. I’m a grown woman, but I’ve never felt so insecure about everything. I don’t want to hurt anyone. There’s already been enough hurt to go around.

“We’ll figure it out,” Holt promises.

I’m quiet for a long moment, and then I whisper, “Owen told me he would be okay if—if we⁠—”

Holt’s brows inch high. “He did?”

I nibble my lip. “Yeah, he did.” I sniffle. “My baby is growing up so fast, but he’s still my baby. I just don’t want him to feel like I don’t love Tate, because I’ll always love him.”

“I know.” His smile is soft. I’m surprised that there isn’t even a touch of pain in it. “And he’ll always love you. He’ll always live here.” Holt touches my chest. “Always, Faye.”

32

STAY STANDING

JUNE 2023 – PRESENT DAY

“I’ve got an appointment tonight I can’t miss,” I tell her as I steal another kiss. “But I’ll meet you at your place for dinner. I’ll bring takeout.”

She drops her head back on a groan of relief. “That would be perfect. Cooking after the insanity of dance and soccer is brutal.”

I chuckle. “What do you want?”

She considers. Her button nose scrunches, and I pretend the adorableness doesn’t totally get to me. It does.

“Italian subs.”

“Can do.” I give her another kiss, this one to her forehead. My chest tightens as she melts into me. If we weren’t already in a time crunch, I’d lift her onto my desk and have my way with her. Since I had her the other night, being inside her is all I can think about. But we’re taking it slow-ish. In front of the kids, at least.

We agreed, no over-nights for a while. In respect for them.

We plan to have the conversation tonight with Owen that we’re going to be seeing each other. I don’t foresee it being a tough one, considering he gave Faye his blessing already. Still, I want to feel the kid out myself. He matters to me. A lot.

If I sense he needs more time, I’ll give it to him.

But I want him to know that I’m not going anywhere, even if I am going to continue playing hockey. From here on out, I’ll be a part of his life. I might not be his dad, because I can’t ever take that from Tate, but I hope to be the man he comes to whenever he’s in need. The man he turns to and looks up to.

“Owen’s getting a ride home with Colton’s older brother?” I ask, pushing the fantasy of Faye on my desk out of my mind.

She slides away from me to pull her purse onto her shoulder. “He is. He’ll be home shortly after us.” Then she looks at me, a little wrinkle between her brows. “What are you doing tonight?”

“I’ll tell you about it later.” I’m not ready to tell her about the property I own, or the house I’m secretly building on it. The home I’m building for her on the property she once told me was her dream property. The house will overlook the lake where we made love so long ago—before everything we had and were fell apart.

We’ll craft a future in that house. I just know it. But I don’t want her finding out like this. I want to surprise her with it. I want to do that when the shell is composed so she can craft whatever she dreams from the inside.

She accepts my blow off easier than I expect with a simple, “Okay.”

I walk her to her car before I climb into my truck. We part ways, but only for a few hours.

I lay the bag of subs on the island counter as Faye pulls a beer from the fridge, cracking the top and handing it to me. She beat me home, so she’s already poured herself a glass of wine.

Swiping the glass from the counter, she takes a sip as she touches the screen of her phone. It lights up and she frowns.

“Owen’s late.”

“It’s nice out. They probably messed around a bit after practice.” I take a swig from the beer as Mabel slides a long box on the counter.

“Can we play Hungry Hippo?”