His Broken Promise (Daybreak #2)

Prologue

Penny

A Few Months Ago

Was this a terrible idea? Maybe.

Okay, yes, it was. But I’m a romantic at heart, and my best friend deserves to find love.

Talking her into creating a profile on a dating app may have backfired when she told me she would only do it if I did it too.

But what’s the harm in putting myself out there one more time?

It’s not like I have to actually follow through.

Jordan just left to walk home from our bi-weekly girls’ night, and I peek in on my four-year-old daughter to make sure she’s sound asleep.

Sometimes she likes to stay up and spy on Jordan and me after I’ve put her to bed for the night.

I don’t mind, but I don’t necessarily like her listening in on some of our adult conversations either.

She’s getting to be too smart for her own good, and clearly, she’s learning more than I bargained for when she told Jordan that she has a resting bitch face.

I mentally face-palm myself at the memory from only a few hours ago.

I slip into my old college t-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts and head to the living room. I usually wind myself down at night with a romance book or trashy TV, and tonight, I choose the latter.

I’m about to turn the TV on when my phone buzzes. It’s a message from the person I matched with on the dating app.

I only swiped right on one person tonight to appease Jordan, not convinced enough to be an active participant on the app, even though I said I would be.

The guy I swiped right on didn’t show his face, just his tattooed body.

A very masculine, hot, tattooed body. What are the chances he swiped right on me, too?

I guess pretty good since we matched. I’m honestly surprised because I didn’t show a picture of my face either.

Just one that Jordan took of me from behind, when I was sitting on the beach at sunset one day.

The chance that this guy was going to match with me based on my picture was slim to none, but here we are.

I always get a little nervous talking to men, and butterflies dance in my stomach as I open the chat box.

Since I didn’t show my face or use my real name, I suppose I can bail out of the conversation at any time without feeling bad.

I always feel guilty ghosting people because what if I see them on the street?

Sometimes I think I’m too nice.

Dec Y: Hey

Pen W: Hi.

Good one, Penny.

Dec Y: I’m Dec.

Pen W: I’m Pen.

Face palm.

Dec Y: So, are you new to the app?

Pen W: I am. This app at least. I’ve tried online dating before. It didn’t work out, though.

Dec Y: Let me guess… the sex was terrible?

Pen W: Let’s just say the catfishing was next level.

Dec Y: That’s never good. Why don’t you have a picture of your face? Trying to catfish me?

Pen W: I could ask you the same question…

Dec Y: I try not to show all my cards up front.

Pen W: I get it. You have the face of an ogre. No worries. I’m looking for someone with a good personality anyway.

Dec Y: And Blondie has jokes. Cute.

Pen W: I didn’t put a picture of my face on the app because I want my soulmate to get to know my personality first.

Lies.

Dec Y: Soulmate? That’s pretty bold. Does that mean you think people only want you for your looks? Kind of conceited if you ask me.

Pen W: Says the guy who took a picture of his abs. Cue eye roll.

Dec Y: Lol. Brat. How far are you from Newport?

Pen W: Uh… like an hour. Why?

Dec Y: Damn. I didn’t realize I had my settings set that far out. I would have treated you to one night of fun. Sans catfishing, of course. My face is pretty spectacular.

I look at my profile. Shit. Jordan must have expanded the field range on mine, too.

Makes sense, though, since the same guys pop up if it’s only set at thirty minutes from Daybreak.

The conversation with this guy is kind of fun, though; his body is not only easy on the eyes, but he has a good sense of humor.

Something you don’t find often these days.

It’s a bummer he’s so far away because I wouldn’t have minded him showing me a good time.

Pen W: It’s a little too far for me, too. One night? That’s all you would give me?

Dec Y: I’m a one-night kind of guy. I guess we’re just going to have to be star-crossed lovers. Sigh.

Pen W: I’m heartbroken. There’s a tear running down my cheek. Sorry, Mr. Beautiful Face.

Dec Y: Maybe in another life, blondie.

~ ~ ~

Two Weeks Later

Dec Y: You there, Pen?

Pen W: Yup. Bored, Dec? Or can’t find anyone to fuck lately?

Dec Y: For some reason, I can’t picture you saying the word fuck. You seem too innocent.

Pen W: Little do you know…

Dec Y: You may be right, though. No one has caught my eye, that’s why I can’t find anyone to fuck. I guess I’ll just have to rely on you for my entertainment.

Pen W: I feel so honored. However, erectile dysfunction is a serious problem. You should get it checked out.

Dec Y: I’ll have you know, I can get hard perfectly fine, thank you very much. It’s just that my hand is better company lately than a real person. Less drama, if you know what I mean.

Pen W: That, we can agree on.

Dec Y: You know, since we don’t live close to each other, maybe we can just be friends. I find you mildly entertaining, and it would be like having a Pen pal.

Pen W: Lol. I see what you did there. Are you that hard up for friends that you need a stranger to befriend you, though?

Dec Y: Brat. You wound me. I have friends. Just none like you…

Pen W: I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed to being your Pen pal, it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do. My personality is pretty spectacular. But I’m not sure I’ve ever been friend-zoned before. It’s… humbling.

Dec Y: Glad I could bring you down a peg. That’s what friends are for. In all honesty, I shouldn’t have been on this app in the first place. I’m moving soon and have a shit ton to do. I can’t afford distractions right now.

Pen W: Aww… you consider me NOT a distraction? We really are friends. (Fist pump). Okay, Dec, I’ll bite. We can be “Pen” pals.

Dec Y: (Cheers) To the beginning of a new friendship.

Pen W: (Cheers)