All Chapters of A Promise to Remember: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I'd aimed to sever all ties with Ted, sharing my new number with only two close friends. I'd stopped using the old app, planning to delete it after sorting contacts.But finding someone was easy for Ted. I'd assumed our parting was a mutual, unspoken understanding, yet here he was calling.I hedged. "Yeah."Ted paused, then said firmly, "When are you coming back? I'll pick you up."Fireworks burst in the distance, their glow fading to ash in seconds. I drew in a deep breath of cold air, feeling my throat tighten."Ted," I said softly, "I'm not coming back."Silence lingered. Then he asked in a flat tone, "What do you mean?"I popped open the beer tab, foam spilling over. "I'm staying home."The chill seeped from the can into my palm and through my body, making my heart ache dully, numbed somewhat by the alcohol.I continued, "You're right. I'm not young anymore. It's time to find someone and settle down."Only breathing came from the other end. I added after a moment, "Gotta

Chase turned to me with a casual smile and asked, "So, where should we hit up today?"Ted set down his fork with a sharp clink, fixing Chase with an icy stare. "And who might you be?"The question came out rude, almost accusatory, but Chase didn't bat an eyelid. He just gave a serene smile. "Oh, me? I'm basically part of the furniture here."Ted's face darkened instantly, like a storm cloud rolling in.That whole meal dragged on like torture, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. As soon as we finished, I grabbed Ted by the arm and dragged him upstairs, eager to escape the awkwardness."What are you doing here, really?" I demanded with a frown. "Shouldn't you be lounging on some pristine beach with Audrey right now?"He averted his gaze, staring at the floor. "I changed my mind at the last minute. Didn't feel like going."His tone shifted then, frustration bubbling up as he turned the spotlight on me. "Why did you suddenly bail back to your hometown? Running low on cash?

Over the past few days, I'd done some digging about him.Chase turned out to be a big deal in the art world. He was a genius painter whose works routinely sold for at least six figures.One of his pieces had even fetched over three million dollars at a high-profile auction."What have you been painting lately?" I asked. "I haven't seen you at it once."Chase glanced down at me with a mischievous glint. "Not telling."I rolled my eyes. "Like I care. Such a poser."The icy, salty breeze whipped off the sea, cutting right through to the bone. After years of living down south, I wasn't built for this kind of biting cold anymore.I rubbed my hands together, breathing warm air onto them for relief.Chase teased me, "Told you to layer up. Style over warmth? Now you're freezing your butt off."I looked askance at him. "A gentleman would strip off his jacket and give it to the lady. Are you one?"I didn't usually banter like that. My friends always said I was pretty chill, but somethi

"Let's get together," Ted said, his voice gaining urgency. "I know you like me. I'll give you whatever you want. Come back, Nora."I watched him closely, imagining how ecstatic I would have been if he'd uttered those words just months ago.I'd carried a crush on him for over a decade, through exhaustion, tears, and endless heartache. But I'd never once given up on loving him.Now, my dream had finally come true, Ted reciprocating, but all it stirred in me was a sense of ridiculous irony, followed by a deep, bone-weary fatigue washing over my soul.I shook my head. "No."He gripped my shoulders tightly, his brows knitting together in a mix of desperation and urgency. "Why? Tell me you don't like me. Say it to my face."I met his eyes, searching them deeply. The boy I'd known had grown into this man, his features unchanged in so many ways, yet everything between us felt irrevocably altered.For the first time, I saw clearly that there was no going back."No one's going to wait fo

I glanced at my watch; time was up.Chase was the jealous type, and if I was late, he'd start with the snarky comments.I turned away, waving lightly over my shoulder. "Gotta go, Ted."I'd walked quite a distance when a gut-wrenching yell pierced the quiet night from behind. "Nora, I can't let go! I'll never let go!"I didn't stop.Back home, I was slipping off my shoes when Chase leaned against the wall, giving me the side-eye and mimicking in a whiny tone. "Nora, I can't let go."I played it cool. "Alice wants us over for apple pies. You in?"He perked up instantly, the drama forgotten in a flash. "Yeah!"...News of genius painter Chase Sterling holding an exhibition hit the trending lists.My friend called, buzzing with excitement. "Please, you know Chase, right? Hook me up with a ticket. I'm such a huge fan!"I asked Chase about it, but he only handed me one ticket. "Just this one. Yours alone.""Show-off!" I grumbled under my breath.But I showed up on the exhibition