See Me .(55)
Keeping one hand over his crotch, he petted Penelope with the other. “She’ll come around eventually.”
Abigail picked at her fingernail. “I hope so.”
“She just needs some patience and a gentle touch. That’s all.”
She looked to Carl, then back down at the dog. “It sounds so simple.”
“It could be.”
Her sad smile made him want to pull her onto his lap. Fuck the camera. Sean watched as Abigail sashayed her cute round ass out the door. When the latch clicked, he turned back to Carl. “Let’s get this done. I’ve got a wall to fix.”
* * * *
Abigail stuffed another tank top into the duffel bag sitting on the bed before padding back into the bathroom to grab the tube of travel toothpaste. She stepped into the dining room and peeked at her handiwork on the kitchen wall. The white blob of drywall mud stared back at her—a constant reminder of how mad Sean could get, but also a reminder of the tile she needed to fix in the bathroom.
The soft knock on the door made her jump. She ran to the door and grabbed the baseball bat she kept inside the umbrella stand. “Who is it?”
“It’s Sean. Can I come in?”
She slid the baseball bat down into the brass umbrella stand and opened the door. She was greeted with a tank-top clad Sean, who had a tool belt draped over one muscular shoulder and a drywall bucket full of supplies fisted in his hand. “I’m here to fix your wall.”
Abigail stepped aside and proudly pointed to the wall in question. “I already did. Just needs some paint and it’s good as new.”
Sean stepped inside. “Really? Huh, you did a…great job. Come on, Abigail. Let me do it right. I’ve got everything here and some new paint out in the truck. Give me a second chance. Please.”
Abigail looked at the wall, then back at Sean, who was fidgeting with the hammer hanging from the tool belt. “Okay, I guess it would be all right. I was going to order some Chinese for lunch. Do you want any?”
“Sure,” he said and walked into the kitchen to put down the tools. “Mind if I grab a glass of water?” Penelope came running from the bedroom. “Hey, girl!” He leaned down to scratch behind her ear. “She missed me.”
Abigail hugged her waist. She missed him too. “Let me finish packing up a few things, and I’ll call.”
He grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the tap. “Was Ron serious when he asked me to go camping with you guys? Do you really want me to go?”
She stopped by the sofa. “Yes, I mean, if you want to go. I thought it would be fun to get away.”
“Then I’m in. I was thinking maybe you could stay at my place tonight. You know, so we could get an early start in the morning.” Abigail watched as he rinsed out his glass and put it in the drainer in the sink. “I mean, if you’d want to. The mutt can come too.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on, be adventurous. I promise it’ll be fun. Just like a little slumber party. I’ll spring for pizza.”
He set out the tools on the counter and walked over to her. She fidgeted with the tiny tube of toothpaste. “I… Sean, there’s things about me you don’t know and—”
He slipped a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Like who that guy was on the answering machine? Like who that key chain really came from? Or how about the dead rose petals in the sink? I’m not blind, baby. Something is going on, and it’s got you on edge all the time.”
She turned her cheek into his warm palm.
“Nothing…and I mean nothing you tell me will make me run away. Okay? When you’re ready…I’m here.” He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her temple.
“Sean…”
“I like sweet-and-sour chicken, and get some of those big egg rolls too. Oh, and some fried rice.” When she pulled back from his tender embrace, she watched him grin. “What? I’m hungry.”
She smacked him on the shoulder and laughed. “You’re always hungry.”
“So what do you say?” he asked and pulled her tight against the safety of his body. “Come stay with me tonight, and we can talk about this key chain business.”
The thought of talking about Justin made her insides shake. Maybe it was time. “Okay, I’ll stay with you, but only if my wall looks like new. I was thinking about changing the color.”
“That’s great, because so was I. I was thinking more of a gunmetal gray,” he said and gave her a smirk. “I know it sounds weird, but I can do this treatment to the wall that’ll make it look really cool.”