Page 26 of Promise Me Never

“I’m aware. But Bennett, I don’t feel right having you support me. Quit both my jobs, give up my apartment? Move to some little town? It sounds like a Hallmark movie. And I’m not a Hallmark type of girl.”

He laughed. “You’re certainly not. Look, I get it. I walked away from my parents’ money, and I was lucky that my art paid off right away. Yours will too. I know it. But how will that happen if you’re spending all your time working at jobs that mean nothing to you? You can follow your passion. Say yes.”

I wanted to say yes, but it felt so old-fashioned to rely on a man to support me. I had to think it over.

“I’m not saying no. I need some time. I’ve made some rash decisions in my life, but this—”

He got up and pulled me into his arms. “Not saying no is a good place to start.”

I had finally met a man as passionate about his art as I was. Someone who wouldn’t complain when I lost myself creating because he did the same thing. I wouldn’t have to choose like I had in the past. And Bennett was intelligent, kind, and someone I could picture growing old with. My heart had already said yes. It was just a matter of time until the rest of me went along.

| Twenty-Four |

Savannah

The weekend had been amazing. Bennett brought her breakfast in bed, and they stayed there all day, making love so many times that she lost count. She hadn’t known that sex could be so wonderful. Bennett was a master of foreplay and Savannah was astounded at the physical pleasure he gave her. She opened her eyes expecting to see his head on the pillow next to hers, but it was empty. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Six. Was he already up?

“Bennett,” she called, thinking he might be in the bathroom, but no answer. She slipped out from under the covers and grabbed a robe. The door to the bathroom was closed, and she knocked. No answer. She pushed it open. Empty. He’d left a note on the counter.

Didn’t want to wake you. Working in my office. Love you. B

Yawning, she padded back to the bedroom. Now was her chance to examine that picture she’d seen and make sure the ring Bennett had given her wasn’t the same one he’d given Poppy. She opened his nightstand drawer. The picture was gone. She opened the other drawer, but it wasn’t there either. Had he thrown it out? Shit. Nothing to do about it now. She didn’t hear any signs of life as she walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee filled the air, and she saw that the pot was half full. She had hoped to have some time with him this morning, but he had said that come Monday it was back to the grind. She poured herself a cup of coffee, then looked through the cabinets. Bennett had told her how much he loved pancakes. Savannah pulled up a recipe on her phone. She pulled out flour, eggs, and the rest of the fixings and whipped up a batch. She’d surprise him with a nice hot breakfast. When they were ready, she found a tray and put the plate of pancakes and some heated syrup in a container and walked down the hall to his office. The door was shut. Propping the tray on one knee, she knocked. No reply. She knocked again.

“What?” he growled.

“Good morning. I made some pancakes. I brought you some.”

She heard him sigh heavily through the door. Then footsteps. He opened the door a crack, his body blocking her view.

“Can I bring this in?”

“Look, Savannah, I don’t like anyone in my office. It’s the one room in the house that’s off-limits. I thought I told you.”

She shook her head. “I just wanted—”

He cut her off. “I’m not hungry. And for future reference, when I’m working, I don’t want to be disturbed. It interrupts my flow. I’ll see you when I take a break.”

Before she could respond, he shut the door in her face. Her cheeks burned with humiliation. He’d never spoken to her that coldly before. She was only trying to be considerate. After she went to all the trouble to make him something from scratch.

“Asshole,” she muttered, keeping tears at bay as she went back to the kitchen. She dumped the pancakes in the trash, then threw the plate into the sink. Was the honeymoon over already? What was it with men? They showed you their sweet side and then once they had you, the mask fell. Slow down, she told herself. Maybe he was stressed about his deadline. And he had told her that he didn’t like to be disturbed when he was writing. She got that. When she was writing, she didn’t want to be bothered either. She shouldn’t be so sensitive.

She had things to do anyway. Bennett had told her she should start looking around for furniture for her office. She couldn’t wait to get rid of Poppy’s things and claim the space that had belonged to her. She hadn’t realized how aggravated she would feel being reminded of Poppy at every turn. She looked over at the sitting area off the kitchen where there was another one of Poppy’s sculptures. Savannah thought they were ugly and weird. This one was a small wooden ladder with broken porcelain doll heads glued to it at odd angles. Cracked mirrors and vintage photos with faces partially cut out overlapped with the doll heads. It looked like something a crazy person would make. This one was labeled The Ladder of Faces. Savannah thought a better name would be The Ladder of Insanity. She shook her head. Over time, she would relegate both pieces to the storage unit. But for now, unfortunately, she was stuck with them.

The sound of footsteps made her look up. Bennett walked into the kitchen looking contrite. He came over to Savannah and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m sorry. I was a dick.”

“Yes, you were.”

“I appreciate your going to all that trouble to make pancakes. I’d love to have some.”

“I threw them out.”

“I guess I deserve that.” He put his hands on her arms. “I get a little grumpy in my writing cave, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I was reading your chapters.”

All her irritation evaporated. “Oh. What did you think?”

“They definitely have lots of potential.”