I Promise Read Online Free Page B

all.”
    â€œOh, is that all?” Todd teased, pressing the back of his hand against her warm cheek. “Then why are you blushing?”
    â€œSunburn?” she ventured, raising her eyebrows and trying to look as innocent as possible.
    â€œIn December? I don’t think so.” Todd smiled at her. He seemed to be studying every detail of her face. His hand rose to the crown of her head. Gently, he stroked her long hair.
    â€œOh, Kilikina, if you only knew.” He smoothed his thumb across her lips. “You have no idea what you and your love have brought to my life. You are the other half of my heart. Without you, my life would be only a shadow.” He paused. “I love you, Kilikina. I love you more than you will ever know. More than you will ever ask. Nothing will ever change my love for you.”
    â€œOh, Todd.” Christy tilted her head toward him and offered him her lips.
    Todd accepted her gift and kissed her slowly.
    Just then a loud horn sounded in front of them, shattering their forever moment.

3 Todd and Christy reluctantly drew away from each other and looked through the car’s windshield. They saw Doug pulling his truck into his narrow driveway, wildly waving at them. Jumping out of his yellow truck, he came over to Todd’s open window and said, “Hey, did I just catch you two making out in front of my house?”
    â€œWe weren’t making out.” Christy felt her face turn red all over again.
    Doug laughed. His face lit up with a little-boy expression that had become familiar to Christy over the years. Doug was taller than Todd, but with his short, blond hair and mischievous grin, he could have passed for a high school freshman. “I suppose you’re going to tell me Todd was checking your hair to see if it smelled like green apples.”
    â€œNo, that’s your line, Doug.” Todd glanced at Christy with an equally charming little-boy grin and stated matter-of-factly, “We were kissing.” He pressed the back of his fingers against Christy’s cheeks. “This ismy blushing bride. We’re going to get married. Did you know that, Doug?”
    Doug punched Todd in the arm. “The whole world knows it after last night. You two space cadets better come in and see everyone. Tracy will be thrilled you’re here. We had a big sleepover last night. Rick is going to make omelets.”
    â€œRick?”
    â€œYeah, Rick’s here. It’s been awesome hearing what God has done in his life. He and Katie had us laughing all night.”
    â€œKatie?”
    â€œYeah, Katie is here, too. So were Sierra, Paul, Vicki, and Wes.” Doug opened Todd’s door. “You two want to help me carry in the groceries? I had to make a run for supplies.”
    â€œThat explains what happened to my roomie last night,” Christy said.
    Todd and Christy followed Doug to the front door, each carrying two bags of groceries. Doug and Tracy’s cozy cottage was four blocks from the beach and was the only yellow house with white shutters on their street. It had one bedroom and one bathroom. The living room area opened into the kitchen, and they had a small backyard, where Tracy had worked hard to start a flower garden.
    As soon as they entered, Katie leaped from the couch and met Christy with a huge hug. “Did you get my message? Why didn’t you come last night? We had a great time celebrating your engagement. You shouldhave been here. When I called you late last night the line was busy.”
    Katie seemed even more energetic than usual.
    â€œI was talking to my parents,” Christy said.
    Taking one of the grocery bags from Christy, Katie asked, “Were they surprised about your engagement?”
    â€œNo. Todd talked to my dad earlier and asked for my parents’ blessing.”
    â€œIt was more like asking his permission,” Todd said.
    â€œPermission or blessing,” Christy said. “My dad gave