Read Online Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans - Free Book Online

For eight dollars?” Matthew asked.
    â€œI don’t make the rules,” she said.
    â€œI’ll get it,” I said. I got back in my purse, brought out my wallet and showed her my driver’s license.
    She stamped the back of the check, wrote down my driver’s license number and put the check in the till.
    I looked back at Matthew a little embarrassed. “Bye.”
    â€œHey, would you hold on a second?”
    I looked at him quizzically. “Why?”
    â€œI just want to talk to you. I’ll just be a second. I promise. Please.”
    I’m not sure why I said yes—maybe something as simple and powerful as social pressure—but I relented. “Okay. Just for a few minutes. I really need to get home.”
    â€œThat’s all I need,” he said.
    I walked over near the automatic doors to wait for him. He handed the clerk a couple bills and said, “Keep the change.” He walked up to me smiling. “Thanks for waiting. Got a big party tonight?”
    â€œOh, yeah. We’ll be swinging from the chandeliers.”
    â€œSounds fun,” he said, as if he believed me.
    â€œSo, are you stalking me?”
    His smile broadened. “You’re a direct woman, so I’ll just cut to the chase and ask you out.”
    â€œYou want to ask me out?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œWhat if I told you that I’m not interested?”
    â€œI’d expect that.”
    â€œBut would it deter you?”
    â€œProbably not. It’s a new year. I’m betting you could use a friend.”
    â€œI have enough friends. Besides, men never just want to be friends.”
    â€œMaybe I’m the exception.”
    â€œ
That
would worry me.” I looked at him, feeling a little sympathetic for his situation. “Look, you seem like a nice guy and I’m sure you know you’re very handsome, but I’m not looking for a new relationship in my life right now. I’m flattered, really. But I’m not interested. Sorry.”
    He stood there looking at me, completely unfazed by what I thought was a pretty clear dismissal. “You’re honest. I like that.”
    â€œWhich only shows that you haven’t been around me long enough. No one wants that much honesty.”
    â€œYou’re right, it would probably drive me crazy. When can I take you out?”
    I looked at him in astonishment. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”
    â€œI’m a poor listener.”
    â€œListen . . .”
    â€œMatthew,” he said.
    â€œRight. Matthew, you know nothing about me. You don’t even know my name. So let’s leave it at that. Trust me, that would be best.” I turned to leave.
    â€œIt’s Bethany,” he said.
    I turned back. “What?”
    â€œYour name is Bethany.”
    â€œHow did you know that?”
    He shrugged. “I must have heard someone call you that.”
    â€œNo one calls me Bethany except my mother. And she passed away ten years ago.”
    He just looked at me. “Then it’s a mystery.”
    I said, “I really need to go.”
    â€œWait, please. I just want to ask you out. I won’t take no for an answer.”
    â€œTake it or not, that’s still the answer.” I walked away. He followed me out to the parking lot.
    When I was unlocking my car, he said, “Why won’t you give me a chance?”
    I opened my car door. “I told you why. Besides, now you’ve set off all my internal warning bells. Bye.”
    â€œI’m not giving up,” he said.
    â€œBye.” I climbed inside my car.
    I started my car and backed out. He stood there, his hands in his pockets, watching me.
What did he want?
Roxanne would have smacked me over the top of the head for turning him down.

“Alas, another year.”
    Beth Cardall’s Diary
    New Year’s Eve was even quieter than usual—which, for me, is saying something. Marc and I had never