Promise Me (RLU #1)

by Carlie Jean

his words are hitting my worst insecurity—not being good enough to reach my goals.

The man’s head snaps up, and cinnamon-tinted eyes take me in from behind his glasses. His dark brown eyebrows furrow as he stands and removes his glasses. Holy hell. My mouth dries out while another place gets a different memo. He’s tall, at least 6’4, and let’s just say he looks like he’s well-acquainted with the weights at the gym. His ball cap sits atop brown hair that curls slightly at the ends. I get the sudden urge to run my hands through it. No, dammit.

If I’m being honest, I don’t like when people don’t like me. I’m very much a people pleaser.

I’ve gone my whole life without falling in love, and right now, with my senior year ahead of me, and that Team USA spot looming, it’s impossible for me. No matter how much space Cameron’s been occupying in my mind since we met.

She’s slowly starting to become a code I want to crack. A series of numbers out of order that I want to put back in their proper place to function again.

You know when you hear an old favorite song and it fills you with a warm, happy feeling at the familiar tune? Yeah, that’s what listening to her laugh did to me, and despite it being new, it feels like my heart knows its tune already. I’m in trouble.

I want to take care of Aurora Vallacourt, and once I start, there’s no stopping.

We may have just become friends, but it’s evident how much he cares about me, and that makes my goosebumps triple.

Because I can’t have him. No matter how much I may want to.

I’ve always had a sweet tooth, and he’s on his way to becoming my newest craving.

Her voice is like music to my ears, but her sighs and moans? Those are a siren call right to my cock.

He’s making my girl uncomfortable for whatever reason, and to hell if I’m going to let it continue.

MY GIRL!!!!!! He called her my girl!!!!! My heart

I fall into step with her, noting how she keeps bringing up the words friends with me. I hate it because I know I don’t want to just be friends with her. Sure, that’s part of it. But I also want her heart, her lips on mine and mine all over her damn body.

I’ll have to keep an eye out for a shooting star because I think I’ll need all the luck I can get.

I know it sounds silly, but when a girl has the same interests as you, it’s a goddamn turn-on.

I like her. I really fucking like her. And not as a friend. It’s more than that. So. Much. More.

Cameron… that man. He is the sweetest, most caring man I’ve ever met, and I bet I haven’t even seen half of it yet.

“Because Aurora is totally into her tutor, and they have this soulmate crap going on, but both are too stubborn to make a move,”

“Who did this to you?”

AAAAAAAAH! It's the point of no return, they have to kiss soon

“Because I didn’t want you to get hurt,” her voice cracks as a tear strolls down her cheek. Only she could ever hurt me.

“I’m proud of you,” he whispers into my ear. “For what?” I ask, my voice choppy with emotion. “For being you. For being so goddamn strong, confident, and an amazing person overall. It’s inspiring, and I’m proud of you. Not because you kick ass at volleyball, but because you add extra light to this world just being who you are.”

He has me, more than anyone else ever has.

She’s safe and happy now. That’s all that matters. Never again will I let anyone hurt her.

“Promise me? Promise me that no matter what happens, we won’t lose sight of us, nor our dreams,”

Maybe I was waiting for him this entire time. My one and only exception.

I know my dream means shit without her. It’s something I realized today. I don’t care what I end up doing so long as she’s by my side. It’s the one thing I won’t compromise on. I can lose out on the job or get a different one, but I can’t lose her. I refuse.

“None of my dreams make sense without you in it. You are the dream, Rory.”

I have no idea what’s next, and it’s refreshing as fuck.