Broken Promises

Jessica pursed her lips and looked at me. “Different? How so?”

“We’re um…we’re expecting a baby.”

Her smile faded as her eyes filled with regret. “Really? Y’all are having a baby? So soon? Don’t you think you’re rushing things, Walker?”

I looked straight into her eyes. “No. I don’t. How are you and Mitch doing?”

Her posture straightened a bit as she let out a gruff laugh. “On again. Off again. That’s how we like it.”

I looked over to the main entrance of the building when I heard the doors open. A nurse came walking out wearing pale blue scrubs. “Oh hey, Jessica,” she said. “Forgot my cell in my car. I’ll meet you inside.”

I nodded at the nurse as Jessica lifted her hand and called out, “Okay.”

I glanced back at Jessica. “Well, listen, Jessica, it was great seeing you, but I’ve gotta run. Some asshole slit my tire and now I’m running late.”

Jessica covered her mouth and gasped. “Oh, God, Walker. They slit your tire? Why?”

I looked around. “Probably kids. Liza’s car got the shit banged out of it a few weeks back. I’ll just be glad to start going to the Fredericksburg office soon. It’s closer.”

“Oh, I bet. Hey I know this is kind of out there, but if you still wanted those tickets for your mom for the nutcracker, I can get them. It’s next weekend.”

I blinked slowly and mumbled, “Shit.” I’d have loved to take my mom but we were heading to Tennessee. “Damn it, I wish I could. I’m heading out of town for work, so I’ll have to pass. But thanks!”

I jumped into my truck as she called out, “Sure. Maybe next year.”

I turned and gave her a funny look. One nod of my head and I was pulling off.

“STOP POUTING.”

I turned to my father. “I’m not pouting.”

Layton laughed. “Walker, you’re pouting. You have been since you climbed into my truck to head to the airport.”

I rolled my eyes, sank into my seat, and looked out the window. My father reached across and hit me on the shoulder.

“It’s still hard for me to leave your mother. She’s going to be fine. The private investigator I hired reported in before we boarded the plane. Keith is in Dallas. If he makes a move to head toward Llano, he’ll be on the phone with us. Stop worrying.”

I nodded and turned to look out the window. I hadn’t told Liza about my slashed tire. She was already freaked out. With Keith being in Austin that day, the slashed tire, his text, the flowers…shit. All signs were pointing at him, and I could no longer deny that it wasn’t a coincidence. My father and Layton agreed with me. We’d hired a P.I. to follow Keith for a bit. If something strange happened, we’d know where Keith was.

I rested my head on the seat and remembered making love to Liza this morning. I could still smell her sweet vanilla scent. Hear her soft moans of pleasure as she called my name. I tried to shake the uneasy feeling in my gut. Sitting up, I grabbed my cell phone and texted Liza.

Me: Getting ready to take off. Have fun with our moms! I love you and the baby!

I put the phone in my carry-on, I leaned my head back, and closed my eyes. The sooner this trip was over, and I had Liza back in my arms, the better.

I STOOD BACK, evaluating the room. I smiled at my mother, giggling when I saw she had a splat of paint on her cheek. She winked at me and scrunched up her nose.

“We did good, ladies,” Courtney said. “We knocked this out faster than I thought we would.”

I nodded. “I’m so glad y’all are here. This has been so much fun!”

My mother took me into her arms. “My baby is having a baby.”

I held her tighter as she smiled sweetly. “How about we go cook up something to eat?”

We spent the next few hours making tacos and drinking. Well, my mother and Courtney were drinking wine—I had orange juice and water. I hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time. I looked over at my phone. I reached for it and saw Walker’s text.

Walker: Getting ready to take off. Have fun with our moms. I love you and the baby!

I smiled when I read it and placed my hand on my stomach.

“Phone sex?”

I snapped my head up and looked at Courtney. “What?”

She nodded toward my phone. “Phone sex. I’ve seen that look before. On your mother’s face. On more than one occasion.”

I snapped my head over to my mother as she shouted, “Hey! That is a lie, Liza.”

Courtney laughed. “Really? Do you remember the night you got Layton all hot and bothered talking about your vibrator?”

Oh my God.

“Oh you’re one to talk. You bought it for me.”

No. No this conversation is not happening right now.

Courtney laughed, pointing at my mother. “Whit, are you denying that was the best damn gift I ever gave you?”

My mother shook her head. “No, I’m not saying that, Court. I’m saying—”

I covered my ears. “Too much! I have to bleach my ears now. Seriously!”

Mom and Courtney stared at me like I had two heads.

My eyes widened. “I’m popping popcorn. We’re all going to snuggle up and watch movies and not talk about vibrators.

I spun on my heels and headed to the pantry for the box of popcorn. When it was ready, I poured it into two bowls. My mother and Courtney were now heading upstairs, giggling. I rolled my eyes, but grinned. I loved that they were best friends. Ava and I used to be like that, before we went away for college. I sighed and followed our moms.

Then I remembered I hadn’t replied to Walker’s text. Setting one of the bowls down, I grabbed my phone.

Me: We love you, too. Going upstairs to watch movies with your mom and mine. It’s slumber party time. And I think they’re both buzzing pretty hard. They’re talking about vibrators.

Walker: I didn’t need to read that. Have fun baby. I’ll call later. Heading out for drinks with the pops and my future father-in-law to meet some big-shot trainer.

Me: Have fun and be careful. Love you!

Walker: You too baby. I love you, too!

I shoved my phone in pocket, reached for the bowl, and headed up the stairs. I could hear my mom and Courtney laughing hysterically. This was going to be a long night.

SLAMMING MY HANDS over my ears I asked, “Who picked this movie?”

My mother grabbed my arm and screamed as Courtney dipped under the covers screaming, “Turn it off! Turn it off!”