The Promises We Keep (Made for Love Book 1) Read Free Page A

grandmother and their grandfather, too.
    For a while, I couldn ’ t tell the difference between Avery and Addison. I ’ d always found them attractive, but because I couldn ’ t tell them apart, I never thought to pursue anything, from fear that I ’ d end up hitting on Beck ’ s girl. Then I got to know them — and while they are a lot alike, they are also incredibly different. Not that my ability to tell them apart mattered at that point. By the time I realized that I liked her as more than a friend, it was quite clear that she deserves far better than the likes of me …
    But that doesn ’ t mean that I can ’ t look.
    She ’ s more than a foot shorter than me; and even though I know she ’ s got her own little bit of strength, evident in her toned muscles gained from years of running and carrying that cello of hers, she ’ s so petite and delicate. Sometimes I wonder how her personality fits inside of her small frame. She ’ s incredibly talented, with a focus and determination that seems to be a reflection of my own. She can also be really shy, which I find to be just downright adorable. Then she ’ ll get really passionate about something and you can ’ t shut her up, but she ’ s always kind and genuine.
    When she looks up at me with those big brown eyes, like she is now, and smiles at me with her full heart-shaped lips, she owns me. She doesn ’ t know it — but she does. What I want to do is scoop her up into my arms and tell her how pretty I think she is, only I won ’ t. Instead I simple say, “ Good Morning. ”
    “ Finally! He speaks, ” says Beckham, nudging me with his shoulder. “ I thought I was just going to have to stand here all morning and watch you two stare at each other. ” I whip my head around and cast a warning glare at him. He chuckles and pushes past me. “ Morning, Ave. ” He greets her with a hug and I force myself to shake off my annoyance — first, in regards to his comment; second, in regards to the fact that he just stole my hug.
    “ Morning, Hammy. ” When he releases her and enters the apartment, she offers me a smile and, just like that, all my irritation has become null and void. “ Morning, Sonny. ”
    My arms are wrapped around her before I can even stop to think about it. I manage to control myself, enough to keep her feet on the ground, and pull away before I send the wrong message. As she steps away from me, I close us inside and she furrows her brow in confusion.
    “ Where are Jack and Claire? ”
    Beckham and I make eye contact, silently recalling why we decided to leave early. “ They ’ ll probably be late, ” he says.
    “ They got distracted, ” I add with a shrug.
    “ Oh, ” Avery whispers with a blush. The color in her cheeks turns my smile into a grin.
    “ Hey, guys, ” calls Sarah from the kitchen. “ I ’ m guessing your early arrival means you ’ re quite hungry this morning. ”
    “ For your pancakes? Always, ” I reply.
    “ Morning, love, ” Addie greets Beck as she emerges from her room.
    For a moment, none of us exist. That ’ s how they are, how I ’ ve always known them to be, and I envy them. No — envy isn ’ t the right word. I ’ m happy for them, I just wish I could have something like that — something pure and healthy and full of love...but regardless of all the things I ’ ve put behind me, I ’ m not sure I ’ ll ever have what they have. Not with the woman I wish to share it with. She deserves more than the mess that is my past — she deserves someone like Beckham.
    Growing up, it was just my father and me. Or should I say Patrick and me. He doesn ’ t believe in love. In fact, I ’ m not sure that he believes in much of anything, anymore. Not even me. He does believe in whiskey with his breakfast, microwave dinners in front of the television, and Saturday night bar brawls — but not love. The only exposure to affection I ever had growing up was from my Uncle Charlie. My mother ’ s brother. Or