Promised (6 page)

“Umm…maybe we should open them.” He suggests after clearing his throat.

“Ok.” I answer hesitantly then ask. “Should one of us go first?”

“We should open them together.”

I nod in response and then I pick up the little box. I watch Linc mimic my action and then he carefully begins unwrapping his present. We said we’d open them together, but once he gets started, I can’t take my eyes off him. I want to see his reaction. It’s the best part of giving a gift because good or bad, a person can’t hide their honest opinion of the item in those first few seconds after opening it.

The last of the wrapping paper falls free from the box and he lifts the little hinged lid. He stares at the item lying inside and I watch as his eyes light up and my favorite smile spreads across his face. He lifts the chain out of the box and the dog tags swing freely in the air in front of his face. I can tell he’s inspecting the engraving. I had them put his name on one and his parent’s names on the other. He drops the box, not caring that it falls to the floorboard of the car so that he can slip the chain over his head. The tags lay perfectly against his chest, right by his heart.

“God Wyn, this is the best gift I’ve ever received.” He turns his smile to me.

“I’m glad you like it.” I say, returning his smile. His eyes hold mine, but eventually they drop to the present still resting, un-open, in my hand.

“Open yours.” He pushes.

I turn my attention to the box so I can carefully peel away the silver and gold wrapping paper. I lift the lid off the little white box; inside sits a small, white gold four leaf clover charm on a white gold chain. I feel the smile cross my face and I turn it to Linc.

“I love it, Linc. Thank you.”

He grabs the chain out of the box and tells me. “Turn around. I’ll help you put it on.”

I turn so I’m looking out the passenger window and twist my hair up in my hands so it’s off my neck.

“My father says we can all use a little extra luck. So when I saw this, I knew I wanted to be the one to give you yours.” He whispers his explanation as he slips the cool chain against my throat and fastens it. His fingers brush the back of my neck so gently that it causes a shiver to run through me. He pulls his hand away, refusing to acknowledge my body’s reaction to his touch.

I release my hair and turn back around so we’re facing each other.

“Do you have something that brings you extra luck?” I ask quietly.

He turns to face the windshield and runs his hand over the leather of his steering wheel. “I think my car is what brings me my extra luck.”

“What kind of good luck has she brought you?”

“Well…” He pauses, considering his answer. I’m praying he doesn’t tell me about all the girls he’s caught in the back seat of this car. He finally continues. “Last month, I was standing beside her, listening to my cousin rattle on, when all of a sudden I caught sight of this girl propped up against a tree reading. She was so beautiful that she took my breath away and I knew I wanted nothing more than to get to know her, so I could be near her.” He lets go of the steering wheel and slowly turns back so we’re facing each other. The heated look in his eyes has me itching to reach out and pull his mouth to mine, but I can barely breathe, let alone move to take that step. His hand snakes hesitantly out, wrapping itself around a handful of my curls. He sighs. “So I think that little extra luck she provides me is what gave me the good sense to look in the right direction to find you.”

“Linc.” His name comes across my lips as a soft moan; it doesn’t even sound like me saying it. The voice is sensual and needy. Something I’ve never considered myself, but at this moment, staring at his lips, I know I definitely am.

“Wyn, I want to kiss you.” He whispers, his eyes dropping to my lips.

“Oh, please do.” I sigh in response.

He releases my hair to wrap his hand around my neck, pulling me to him. My eyes fall closed as I feel his lips a hair breadth away from mine. And somehow, I know he’s smiling and I can’t stop myself from smiling too. But it only lasts for a moment because his lips take mine in a kiss so gentle, so sweet, that the only thing that exists anymore is his lips on mine.

His hand at my neck slips up into my hair and I reach out and latch onto the material of his Henley. Partly to pull him closer, but mostly because I need to anchor myself to something so I know that what I’m feeling is real and not me dying and going to heaven.

I pull back to break the kiss and I rest my forehead against his. I’m smiling as I say. “I guess that blows the only friends idea out of the water.”

“I’ll be whatever you’ll let me be.” He rumbles.

“Then be my Linc.”

“You’ll be my Wyn?” He asks.

“I can’t give you forever, but I can give you now.” I tell him, though I really wish I could give him forever because forever in this boy’s arms would be heaven.

“What about the guy you’re suppose to…” He can’t finish the sentence. I can’t blame him and I don’t want him to bring it up while I can still taste his lips on mine.

“They haven’t announced the engagement, yet. And when they do, I have to marry him. But until they make me, I won’t be with him like this. He may have my hand, but he won’t have me. Not like you do.” It’s the only promise I can make him. I’ve been holding out hope that Shay changed his mind, but I know that hope isn’t enough and it’s only a matter of time until they force his ring on my finger.

“Then I’ll be your Linc and you’ll be my Wyn.” He states gently, squeezing my neck before releasing his hold to slide that hand along my jaw line. He tilts my head up so we’re looking in each other’s eyes. Then with his eyes locked on mine, he leans in and captures my lips again. Neither of us closes our eyes as we drink in the new love that’s reflecting there. And our mouths take in each other’s breath.

********************************

From the driveway, I can hear the music and laughter that’s filling my parent’s house. The whole extended family has gathered to celebrate the season and it’s going to make for a long night, especially when all I want to do is hide in my room and replay that kiss in my head, over and over.

“Come on, Wyn.” Dani calls over her shoulder. “If you don’t come in, they’ll all come out to find you. And you know the cops got called the last time we took the party into the streets.”

“That’s the last thing we need.” I cringe at the memory of the cops showing up here on Thanksgiving, when my brothers and cousins had decided to hold a boxing match in the middle of the road. The neighbors didn’t care too much for the noise and blood spots staining their streets. They had promptly called the cops after only a few rounds. Almost half the family was hauled into jail that day, including my dad and brothers. Needless to say, Mom wasn’t too happy about her party being broken up, though she put the blame on the neighbors instead of the family. I definitely don’t want to have the blame thrown at me this time. So pouting, I stomp the rest of the way into the house.

The house is packed with family, friends of the family, friends of the family friends, and people who heard about the party from those friends. I can only name half the people here, if that, but this is the norm when it comes to a
family
get together. The louder, the bigger, and the more people you don’t know, the better.

A group of girls below me in age stand huddled together a few feet from me. All decked out in different versions of the same bright colored outfit…short, tight skirts with low-cut, tight tops and five inch heels. Not to mention, covered in glitter, sequins, fake diamonds, or some other bling; it doesn’t matter as long as it sparkles. I want to shake my head at their outrageous get-ups, but I know that’s rude. And honestly, I’m the outsider here and it’s best not to advertise it any more than I already do. So I ignore them and move further into the room to make my presence known to my
actual
family members.

I find Adam first, standing with a beer tipped to his lips and his free arm around Dani. He’s deep in conversation with one of his friends so I slide in beside him and put my arm around his waist, giving him a little hug.

He drops the hand with the beer to my waist, giving me a one armed hug in return and says, “We’ve been waiting on you, Winnie.”

Looking up confused I ask
. “Why were you waiting on me?” I rarely take an active part in these parties, choosing to hide in the least crowded spots.

“There’s Dad. He’ll tell you.” Adam says, looking behind me.

I release my hold on him and turn around to find my dad strutting towards me with my mom on one side and Shay on the other. A huge smile is plastered on my dad’s face and I’m not sure if it’s from the news he’s getting ready to deliver, or because he’s had one too many drinks. It’s probably a combination of both. Shay’s smile could rival Dad’s and it doesn’t look calculating or mean, like you’d expect from the person trying to ruin your life. He looks honest to God happy. And that breaks my heart even more because I know I’ll never return that feeling, not with him anyways.

I take a huge gulp to swallow down the sickness that’s threatening to come up and then I plaster a smile on my face. This is supposed to be a happy time for me, for my family, for Shay. I have to play my part, but I can’t stop Linc’s golden brown eyes from flashing through my mind.

Dad fits his arm snug around my shoulder, holding me close to his side as he shouts. “Quiet down, I have some wonderful news to share.” Now you have to understand that this approach at getting
this
crowd’s attention wouldn’t work for everyone, but my dad is a force to be reckoned with and these people know it. So when he says to quiet down, they do and it gets so quiet you can hear the faucet dripping in the kitchen.

“What’s this about, Al?” One of the guests shouts from the back of the room.

“If you’d shut up long enough to listen, I’d tell you.” My dad shouts back. He waits to make sure no one else has a comment to make and then continues. “Now, most of you know my beautiful daughter, Arwyn.” He pushes me in front of him so I’m the center of attention. I give an awkward wave to the masses and fight my tired cheeks to keep the smile plastered to my face.

“And most of you know Shay Dawson.” He claps Shay on the shoulder. Then he pushes him to stand beside me. “Well Shay has asked for my Arwyn’s hand and I’ve accepted. They’ll be married on her eighteenth birthday. So prepare yourselves my brothers and sisters, because we’re going to show this town how you really throw a wedding.”

The room erupts in cheers and congratulations as all the guests converge on me and Shay.

“Where’s the ring?” Someone in the crowd hollers.

“Yeah, let’s see the bling.” Someone else chimes in. Probably one of the girls I saw by the door.

Beside me, Shay fumbles around, pulling something out of his pocket. He finally releases the little black box and smiles at me shyly. “I almost forgot about this.”

He opens the box, takes the ring out, and then turning to me, grabs my left hand and slips it on my ring finger. I look down at the foreign object now taking up space on my slender finger. It’s pretty, a two karat heart shaped diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds on a platinum band that’s also encrusted with diamonds. It’s very pretty, yet not me.

“I know girls like hearts, so I thought you’d love it.” Shay explains his choice. I look up at him and force my smile a little wider, though I wish I could tell him some girls prefer four leaf clovers. My fingers tingle with the need to pull my new necklace out from under my shirt. I want to remind myself it’s real and maybe let myself pretend this isn’t, but I can’t draw anyone’s attention to my new charm. It would lead to questions that I can’t answer honestly without causing myself and Linc loads of trouble. So I ignore the tingle and I hold my hand up high so the room can take in my new ring.

“We have so much to do before May.” My mom squeals from behind us, causing me to turn around to face her.

“Dad, what about school?” I ask as quietly as I can in a room full of people.

“I told you that you can finish. Your last class is the week before the wedding, so you’ll have time to do the last minute things the week of the wedding.” He smiles down at me.

“But graduation is the day of the wedding.” I protest.

“You have better things to do then go to that sad excuse of a celebration.” He grumbles.

“But…”

Tipping my chin up with the scarred up knuckles of his left hand, he warns. “Arwyn Elizabeth, don’t try me on this. I’m letting you finish when I don’t have to. You’ll have much more important things to do on that day, so let it go.”

“Ok, Daddy.” I whisper my defeat, wanting nothing more than to get away from everyone so I can release the tears that are threatening to fall, but knowing that I’ll be stuck with these people till late in the night. And because of Shay Dawson and his stupid “proposal”, I’m forced to be the center of all of their attention.

Sensing the tension, Shay places his hand at the small of my back and proceeds to guide me away. “Let’s go show Dani and Adam your ring, Winnie.”

I wait till we’re a decent distance away from my parents before I pull away from Shay’s touch and turn to scowl at him. “Only Adam is allowed to call me that, Shay, and you know it.”

Running his fingers through his perfectly tousled, blonde hair in frustration, he says. “Sorry, I know that. I’m just as flustered as you. I didn’t want to do it.” He throws his arms wide to indicate the crowded room around us and continues. “Not this way.”