Promises (New Beginnings Book 2) Read Online Free

her, and all he wanted to do was hold her and protect her from all of the evil she’d had to experience. He sat back down beside her and leaned his back against the headboard. She curled into his side.
    "Can we talk about something else?" she asked.
    Elijah blew out a long breath to calm himself and nodded. They sat in silence for a few moments before Elijah finally spoke. "So, Jake."
    "Oh, God." She covered her face with her hands. "I can't believe I said yes this time. It's probably some huge mistake."
    "Probably."
    "Hey!" She laughed, bumping him with her shoulder. He shrugged. "Tell me everything is going to be okay."
    "I can't. You know Jake. You know his reputation."
    "I don't know why I agreed to this date."
    "Because you like him." Elijah held his breath, hoping she would somehow refute this.
    "I do."
    "Well, then I'll tell you this: I think he's going to hurt you one day. That's just who he is. But when that happens, I'll be there. I won't say 'I told you so'. I'll just be there for you for whatever you need. I'm never leaving you."
    "Promise?"
    "I promise."
    ###
    Present Day:
    Elijah woke with a start as the memories came flooding in.
    Before last night, he hadn't spoken to Jake in four years. Not since the day he forced Maggie to leave him. Jake hadn't tried to call him after that. He hadn't tried to explain himself. He knew it wouldn't do any good. Jake always knew that Elijah would choose Maggie. There was no question. So, why now?
    The smell of coffee dragged him from his bed. He pulled a shirt on and left his room. Maggie was already dressed, eating breakfast at the table.
    "I thought your coffee maker was broken?" Elijah asked.
    "Good morning to you too," Maggie said.
    Elijah grumbled something unintelligible and poured himself a cup.
    "Oh, I forgot, you’re a terrible morning person." She laughed.
    "And I forgot that you’re way too chipper at this time of day."
    "It's been a while since we've lived together."
    "Yeah, about that." He took a sip and set the mug on the table. "I can't ask you to put me up for so long."
    Maggie folded her hands on the table and narrowed her eyes. "Elijah, I basically moved in with your family when we were sixteen. You put me up for two years."
    "That was different."
    "You're right. This time we’re adults, and I say that you are staying. End of story."
    Elijah knew better than to argue with Maggie when she used that don’t-mess-with-me tone.
    "As for the coffee maker, I went out and bought a new one this morning. Not all of us need so much beauty sleep." She stood and put a hand on his shoulder. "I love you, Elijah, but I have things to do today, and I believe you do too." She kissed the top of his head and grabbed her keys on the way out the door.
    Elijah leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a sigh. He had a feeling this summer was going to be the death of him.
    ###
    Elijah got an early start on Monday morning. He wasn't happy about being awake but he was excited to work on the house. He had all day free and he knew exactly what he wanted to work on first.
    At his parent's house in Boston, the deck and backyard had always been a special place. As a family, they loved to eat dinner outside when it was warm enough. They had countless parties and he had spent a lot of time out there with Maggie.
    It didn't make sense. He knew that. When the rest of the house was in the state it was, the exterior was usually the last step. But Elijah didn't care what made sense.
    He had spent the day before doing measurements and shopping for supplies. Everything was ready.
    He was just about to get started out back when he heard voices coming from around front. He rounded the house and found Jason and Josh.
    "Elijah," Jason called. "Maggie said you might like some help getting started."
    "Do you even know how to use a hammer, Jason?" Elijah laughed. He was used to seeing Jason behind a bar or doing the books on the computer.
    "You use this claw thingy to pound the nail,