The jean shorts she’d put on were shredded at the hems, and the white men’s dress shirt was oversize and part of the comfy attire Ron had told her to wear. Sean can’t see me like this. She’d slipped on a pair of old pink flip-flops and tossed her hair up into a messy ponytail. “I forgot to bring something. I can run to the store and pick up a dessert. I’ll be right back.”
“Abigail Swanson, turn off this damn car, or I’m jumping on the hood.” He knocked on the window again with the edge of his cell phone.
“Fine! You’re an ass, Ron.” She turned the key and popped it into her purse. When she stepped out of the car, Ron hauled her into his strong arms. She wanted to hate him, beat the shit out of him, but all she could manage to do was melt into his secure hug. I’m not going to cry. No damn way. “You do know that we’re no longer friends, right?”
The way he stroked her hair made her sleepy. “I know. Are you hungry? How do you feel?”
When she tilted back, she had to look up to see the soft expression in his dark eyes. “I’m hungry, but I can’t eat. I feel like shit, but I’m going to be okay.”
“Come on.” He took the purse from her shoulder and cradled her against his body as they walked to the house. “Sean’s here.”
“I know. Why?”
“Don’t sound so excited. He came over to play Xbox and swim. He’s been pretty quiet today. I was surprised he came.”
Abigail slammed a fist into his biceps. The gesture hurt her a lot more than it did him. “You asshole! You knew he was going to be here and invited me over?”
“No, Muhammad Ali, I didn’t know I was going to invite him over until Eric made the suggestion, and that wasn’t until after I talked to you. So don’t get all UFC fighter on me. Go hit Eric.”
She couldn’t hit Eric. He was too sweet. “Ugh, I have to pee.”
“Listen,” he said and turned her, getting her full attention. “It’s just dinner, okay? No issues or problems. Just food.”
Abigail took her purse from his hand and hauled herself through the front door. “Right.”
There was a bathroom downstairs, right off the foyer, thank God. She stared in the mirror and washed her hands. Her hair was a total mess, not to mention her jean shorts were too tattered and way too damn snug on her fat ass. The boys didn’t care what she looked like when they spent lazy evenings by the pool or watching old movies, but this evening was different. Sean. Beautiful, sexy, funny, smart, angry Sean is here. Oh God, my thighs are too big. This shirt makes me look too round.
She leaned on the marble vanity, trying to catch her breath. I can do this. I can do this.
The door handle jiggled.
“Just a minute.”
“Oh, sorry.” The sound of Sean’s deep voice made her body shake.
It’s him! It’s him! Oh God, I can’t do this! She didn’t know if she wanted to cry or fling the door open and jump into his arms. He didn’t have permission to make her feel like this. He’d thrown her away. He’d told her she was a cheater and a liar. He’d scared her and…made her pancakes and made her feel lonely…and made her laugh, and he liked her dog. I can’t do this.
“Abigail?” he whispered behind the door. “Is that you?”
Where in the hell had the tears come from? With a wad of toilet paper, she dabbed at her eyes. “I’ll be out in a minute.” Hopefully. She waited another five minutes before cracking the door open to peek out into the foyer. The coast was clear.
From the hallway, Abigail could hear voices coming from the kitchen. The soft sound of Marvin Gaye’s voice drifted through the house. Peering over at the hall mirror, she dug in her purse for a tube of lip gloss. She smeared the translucent pink gloss over her lips and tossed it back into her purse. Not great, but better.
“Stir it, babe. Don’t let it stick,” Eric said.
“I am, but you said to put the veal in now,” Ron said back.
Abigail rounded the corner and watched the two men in the kitchen. They were side by side at the stove. Eric had his hand on the small of Ron’s back while Ron stared down into a large metal pot.
“Okay, now you can put it in.” Eric turned around to find Abigail slinking into the kitchen. “Abigail, you’re here. Good, can you pull out a cookie sheet from that cabinet?” He pointed to the cabinet by her head.
Was she being watched? She didn’t feel like it but checked around to be sure. Sean was nowhere in sight. “Sure,” she said, then dropped her purse on the counter and reached up into the cabinet.