Paxton's Promise (2 page)

Growling in frustration, I slammed the door and stormed back over to the couch.
Fuck him with twelve giant cocks.
He didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. I was going to make damn sure that promise was a promise he couldn’t keep. What an arrogant prick.

Closing my eyes, I leaned my head against the couch and sighed. Only one more day of freedom. How was I going to spend it? The answer came with a text.

Bradley: I need to talk to you. Can I come over?

Here we go. If there was ever a time we should split up, it would be now. There was no way he was going to put up with me being with another man for the next month.

Me: Sure. I have lots to tell you too.

And none of it was good. Quickly, I dialed Ashleigh’s number. I needed her guidance. “Hey, Gabby, what’s up?”

“I just talked to Paxton,” I blurted out.

“And?”

“And I’m in some deep shit.”

I NEVER THOUGHT breaking up with someone could be so fucking difficult. I was sitting by the window with my legs bouncing up and down while I waited for Bradley to show up. Not only was I letting him go, but it would be the second time I’d done it to him. He deserved someone who could be there for him, which clearly wasn’t me.

I jumped when my phone rang and almost fell out of my chair. Thankfully, the coffee table saved me, but when I looked down at my phone, I groaned.
Please don’t tell me my brother needs me to train right now.
Fighting was fun, but he had a tendency to overdo it sometimes.

When we were younger, he was the one who took care of me and our mother because our father left when I was just a toddler. Ever since then, Matt had worked for our neighbors, cutting grass and doing odd jobs just to help my mother bring in more money. We lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a long time. It was crazy how things changed.

“Hey, Matt,” I answered.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Turning my head toward the window, I could see Bradley’s blue truck pulling into the parking lot. “I’m waiting on Bradley. He just drove up.”

The sound of my nephew laughing in the background made me smile. I couldn’t wait to hold him again. And now there were two more babies coming into the mix, once Ashleigh and Ryley had their twins. If there was anyone I missed more than anything it would be them. They were my best friends and now they were gone to the mountains to raise their kids in peace. It just reminded me of how alone I was.

“Are you two going out tonight?” my brother asked.

I huffed. “Not exactly. So, what’s going on with you? Do you need me to train today?”

“Actually, no. That’s the reason I’m calling. Since you don’t have any fights coming up for a while, I thought it’d be best for you to take some time off.”

Eyes wide, I jumped out of my seat and squealed. “Are you serious? You’re really going to let me take a break?”

He chuckled. “Damn, don’t sound so surprised. I’m not a slave driver, Gabby.”
That’s what he thinks.
“But yes, you need some time off. Shelby and I are going to take the baby and go on a vacation for a few weeks. I think we all need it.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” I remarked. “How long of a break are we talking about?”

“I’m thinking six weeks. But I need you to promise to keep up with a workout routine and stay active.”

He didn’t have to worry about that. I was going to be with Paxton every day for the next month, and I was positive he would keep me busy. Luckily, my brother was going to be gone and not paying attention to what I was doing. Since none of us could talk about the Dark Side, my brother didn’t know about my involvement in it; hence, the reason why he wouldn’t understand my living with Pax. I had to hope and pray he didn’t find out.

“I’ll be fine, Matt,” I promised. “I’ll work out every single day and eat right. Well, except for my Ben and Jerry’s. I simply can’t live without it.”

He chuckled and I could almost hear him rolling his eyes through the phone. Men would never understand a woman’s need for ice cream and chocolate. “All right, but not too much of it.” I couldn’t promise that. “And just so you know, we’re probably going to our house at Oak Island, but before we leave I’ll give you a call. Make sure you swing by the salon and see mom. She said you haven’t been by in a while.”

“Yeah, well, it’s been a hell of a week. If only you knew.”

“I think it’s best I didn’t.”

“Yes, we’ll leave it at that. Have fun on vacation. Maybe one day I’ll be able to go on vacation like that.”

Both he and the baby laughed. “You’re more than welcome to come with us. I think your nephew would agree.” Bradley knocked on the door and it was so loud my brother could hear it through the phone. “I guess that’s my cue. Oh, don’t forget to call Garrett. He’s been hounding me since you haven’t been returning his calls. He needs an answer about the movie within the next week.”

Yes, he does.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have an answer for him. I was being offered a role in a movie, and although the thought was exciting, I’d have to put my fighting on hold while the filming took place. Fighting was what I was good at and I didn’t feel comfortable leaving it. Not to mention, I had no experience in acting. I didn’t want to look like a fool.

“Don’t worry. I’ll call him . . . eventually.”

“Just make sure you do. And while I’m gone, don’t do anything stupid, you hear me?”

Getting up from my seat, I wiped my sweaty hands on my shorts and started for the door. “Gee, I love the encouragement, dear brother. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You just go and have a good time.”

“Will do, sis. Take care of yourself.”

“I always do.”

After we hung up, I set my phone down on the kitchen counter and opened the door. My heart thumped so hard it made my chest hurt, especially when I got my first look at Bradley. His warm smile was the first thing I saw, followed by his gorgeous caramel colored eyes, which were almost hidden underneath his USC baseball cap.

Opening the door wider, I beckoned him inside. “Come on in.”

He stepped through the threshold and took off his hat before running a hand through his chestnut brown hair. “Thanks,” he said, setting his hat down beside my phone.

I started to walk into the living room, but then I noticed he wasn’t following me. It was clear something was wrong. Turning to him, I confronted the silence. “What’s up?”

He averted his gaze, licked his lips, and pressed them together.

Something was definitely not right, he wouldn’t even look at me. “Bradley, what’s going on?” In my heart, I already knew. I could feel it inside, with the way he looked at me when he walked through the door.

“I’m done, Gabby,” he blurted out. “I’ve tried to do the whole friends with benefits thing, but it’s not working.” He’d reached his breaking point. But there was nothing I could do about it.

Hanging my head, I nodded. “You’re right, it’s not. So what exactly are you saying?”

“I think you know. I’ve tried to be patient in hopes you would really come back to me, but I was a fool to think you would. This is me bowing out and moving on. I can’t play second best anymore.”

My eyes burned as he spoke the truth. I had no choice but to agree with him. “I never wanted you to feel that way,” I murmured, lifting my head.

Sighing, he moved closer and pulled me into his arms. “I know you didn’t. Making you choose between me and your friends wasn’t fair. Ever since that moment, I could feel the tension increasing between us. Things won’t ever be the same and you know it.”

“I know,” I whispered, holding him tight. Burying my face in his chest, I breathed him in one last time. I knew after today I probably wouldn’t see him again. In the end, breaking up would make my life easier, but knowing that still didn’t help.

My heart ached for him, for the friendship I was losing. Bradley had been a part of my life for years. We were friends long before we became lovers, and there was something different between us than with any other guy I’d known. He’d always been there to pick me up when I was down.

“So what did you want to talk to me about? You said in your text you had something to tell me.”

Now that we were breaking up, there was no sense to tell him about my arrangement with Paxton. It was probably best he didn’t know. “It’s nothing really,” I answered, stepping back. “My brother called and told me to take a few weeks off. I was just a little excited about it.”

Bradley gazed down at me and brushed a strand of my hair away from my cheek. “So the time I have to leave California is the time you have off. Talk about irony.”

He was leaving? “Where are you going?”

His whole demeanor changed and his lips curved into a small smile. “I wanted to tell you this before, but you’ve been kind of busy. I’m headed to New York. Apparently, they’re interested in me.”

“Bradley, that’s amazing,” I squealed. “Will you be playing with Colin?”

Reaching for his hat, he nodded and put it on. “You’re damn right. We’re gonna tear it up in the major leagues. I just don’t know how I’m going to get used to New York. It’s not exactly the place I thought I’d call home.”

“You’ll get used to it,” I told him lamely, knowing I couldn’t give him the comfort he needed. It wasn’t my job anymore.

We stared at each other for I don’t know how long. All of our shared memories flooded my mind and made my chest ache. Tears came to my eyes, not from sorrow, but the heaviness of it all. This was a chapter of my life coming to an end.

Opening the door, he stepped out but I wasn’t ready to let him go just yet, so I walked out with him. Side by side, we strolled down the stairs, my throat constricting tighter with each step. “You’ll do fine,” I assured him, choking out the words. “I’m so proud of you and how much you’ve accomplished.”

By the time we got down to his truck it took all I had not to let my tears fall. He unlocked his door and was about to open it before he scooped me up into his arms and squeezed. “Goddammit, I didn’t realize how hard this was going to be. As much as I’ve spent the last couple of months pissed off, I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”

I chuckled as my tears finally fell. “Same here. Especially our fights. You sure knew how to push my buttons.”

“It’s just part of my charm, babe. Maybe I’ll give you a call sometime and we can fight.”

After he let me go, I lifted up on my tiptoes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips and brushed my hands through his hair. It was the last time we’d ever share an embrace. “I look forward to it. Just don’t forget me when you’re all big and bad in New York.”

“What about you? I bet next season you’ll have a title. You’ll be the one forgetting me.”

“That’s never going to happen,” I said, taking a step back.

Opening his truck door, he got in and smiled down at me. “I’ll talk to you soon, Gabby. Don’t get into any trouble.”

With a sly smile, I winked up at him. “Can’t promise you that. Be careful in New York.”

Even though I was smiling and I was glad it ended on good terms, I could feel the hole in my heart growing. His truck roared to life and he glanced down at me, mouthing the word ‘goodbye’ before driving out of the parking lot. As soon as his truck disappeared, I turned on my heel and headed for the stairs in a fog, keeping my gaze on the ground as I walked.

Eyes blurry, I ran smack dab into a wall and almost fell over, but a set of hands grabbed onto my arms, keeping me in place. Once stable, the guy let me go and I quickly rubbed my eyes and looked up at him. It definitely wasn’t a wall I ran into. On the contrary, it was a tall, young man—a few years older than me—with ash blond hair and chocolate brown eyes. He was shirtless and sweaty, with blue running shorts hanging low on his hips.

“I am so sorry,” I apologized. “I should’ve watched where I was going.”

“No problem. I’m glad I could help. My name’s Cliff,” he replied, holding out his hand. “I just moved in upstairs a couple of days ago.”

Taking his warm hand, I shook it and let go. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Gabriella. I live upstairs too.” I started up the steps and he followed alongside me.

“Not that it’s any of my business, but are you okay?” he asked. “You look upset.”