“You aren’t talking much,” he accused.
“Just tired.”
“You’re on vacation, how can you be tired?”
“We’ve been going hard the last few days. Doing some touring stuff and hitting up the beach.”
“I still don’t see how that makes you tired.” He was getting that whine in his voice that Abigail hated. “I still can’t believe you’re there. I thought you needed money. You should be working all summer.”
Something snapped in Abigail at those words. They were eerily similar to the things her dad had said since she was fourteen. She’d been controlled then and had her teenage years taken from her. She wasn’t going to let someone make her feel bad for enjoying herself now, especially someone who’d never worked a day in his life.
“We need to take a break,” she said quietly. Why could she be so assertive and strong-willed with everyone else in her life, but not him?
“Yeah,” he said. “You’re pissing me off. Let’s calm down and talk tomorrow.”
“You don’t understand. I can’t do this anymore.”
“Do what?”
“Us,” she whispered.
He was silent for a beat.
“No, I don’t think you understand.” His voice was low, dangerous. “You remember what I can do?”
“That’s over, Colin. It was months ago. No one will believe you anymore.”
“You think that’s all I have on him?” His laugh vibrated in the phone. “Ask him what happened the summer after his rookie year when he went to Vegas.”
In any other situation she’d make a joke about what happens in Vegas and all that, but something told her Colin wasn’t bluffing so she stayed quiet. She knew the reputation of playboy Grant Mackenzie, and was scared how bad it could get.
“You believe me,” Colin said smugly. “I can tell. When you get home, you talk to golden boy and then we can talk about us.”
He hung up without a goodbye. She held her phone a moment longer before flinging it to her bed like it burned her hand.
Taylor and Josh were sitting in the living room when she came out. The looks on their faces said they overheard her part of the conversation. Damn tile floors and vaulted ceilings. Taylor hurried over and wrapped her in a hug.
“So,” she said. “You finally broke up?”
“What?” Abigail asked. “I thought you guys liked him.”
“God, no. He’s such a tool.”
Abigail looked past her best friend and directed her next question at Josh. “Can I talk to you?”
“Take a seat in my office.” He offered her a smile while gesturing her to the couch. “I am at your service.”
Her smile was forced and fell almost instantly. Even after everything that’d happened to him over the past year, Josh was still one of the happiest people she knew. She could use some of that.
“What do you know about Grant’s trip to Vegas the summer after his rookie year?” she asked finally.
Josh leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “I know he went, but that’s about it. I was still a couple years away from being a Blue Jacket.” A shadow crossed his face when he mentioned his old team, and then it was gone. Josh never let people see how it all affected him. He tried to remain strong.
“Dammit,” Abigail yelled. “Dammit dammit dammit.”
“What’s going on?” Josh asked, taking Taylor’s hand as she sat on the arm of the couch.
“I think something happened. Something bad. And it’s going to get out unless I do something about it.”
“What do you mean ‘unless you do something about it’? What’s going on, Abigail?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.” Mack’s hair was wet from the shower and a towel hung across his bare shoulders.
Abigail looked up, past his chest and into his stormy eyes. She recognized the look as one of her own. He was about to lose it.
“I’m waiting, Abigail.” He bit off the end of her name, making it sound harsh on his tongue. “Why is Vegas any of your business?”
Abigail opened her mouth to speak, but it just kind of hung open.
“Speak,” he demanded.
Taylor and Josh looked to each other, unsure what they should do or if they should intervene.
Grant walked forward until he was looming over Abigail. “Dammit, Abigail!”
He lowered himself to the floor in front of her and put his hands on her knees.
She couldn’t tear her eyes from his as they went from stormy to desperate. “Please,” he pleaded. “What’s going on?”
Abigail reached out towards Grant and then pulled her hand back as if she’d changed her mind. He didn’t break their gaze as he sat back on his heels.