Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“As I said, Dad. Let me get there and settle in a bit first. I’ll call you tonight and let you know which day’s best. Maybe even if you guys just came to rehearsals…,” she says.
But Kane frowns.
“Are you kidding me? I want front row seats, so I don’t have to throw all those roses so far when we all give you a standing ovation,” he kids her.
But we all know he’s not kidding, and Abby’s quick to hold her finger up in warning with a stern expression.
“Dad, please! Noooo!” she finally laughs but kinda meaning it seriously.
“I’m scared enough without worrying about you making a fool of yourself in front of all those people,” she says, looking pale suddenly.
The pre-show jitters are hitting her hard, and she hasn’t even gotten there yet.
Both Kane and I take turns in making Abby feel better.
Complimenting her, telling her how great we know she’s gonna do.
It’s enough to get her relaxed and bratty again and almost enough to take both our minds off what we know is coming once she is gone.
“I’ll drive you to the airport, and make sure you get there in plenty of time,” Kane reminds her.
“Can I come to?” I ask, surprised when both Abby and Kane give me a strange look.
“Of course, you’re coming to see me off,” Abby clips. “Dad can drop you home after, can’t you, Dad?” she asks, and Kane nods.
“Sure. Sure I can,” he says, sounding as unconvinced of that happening as I feel it already brewing between my legs.
“My scooter, though,” I answer, sounding like I believe her dad’s just going to drop me home right after the airport.
But Abby’s already moved along, already talking about the shopping and the sights of the big city.
Her dad reminds her that she’s maxed out every card he’s given her.
That has her changing her tune pretty quick until Kane can’t help from chuckling to himself.
“I’m only kidding, Abs. I’ll make sure you’ve got plenty of everything, don’t worry about money. Just focus on being great out there,” he says, beaming with pride again.
Making me wonder if I could ever make him as proud as he is of Abby right now.
“Thanks, Dad,” Abby murmurs, flushing red and looking down.
“I mean it,” she adds, sniffing back a little emotion before she shifts gears again, ordering me to hurry up so I can come and help her pack.
“You packed a dozen times already,” I groan, shooting Kane a longing look.
Wanting to sit here having him feed me and then take me back to bed.
But he signals me with a silent jut of his chiseled jaw to do what she wants.
For now, at least.
I can feel his dark eyes fixed on me as we leave the kitchen, knowing he’s going to look after me as much as Abby.
But in a very different way.
The secret way that only we can know about.
And it’s the one thing I can’t even tell my best friend right now.
Pushing the thought of being found out to the back of my mind, it’s kind of hard not to get caught up in Abby’s excitement.
But it’s nothing compared to the excitement I can hardly contain when I think about what’s waiting for me once she’s gone.
CHAPTER TEN
Kane
I’m proud of Abby. I truly am.
But am I a total asshole for being secretly glad she did get the part? All so I can have Jen to myself once she’s gone?
I don’t feel like an asshole. But I’ve never kept anything from Abby either.
Except for this one thing. And it’s the one thing I know could change everything between us. Her best friend and I hooking up is one thing, but the future I already have planned for Jen and me?
It’s not the kind of thing either of us can keep secret from Abby for very long.
At least we have some time while she’s in New York to think about it.
For all my talk about how much time Abby has, she’s still cutting it pretty fine by the time I’m waiting at the bottom of the stairs, hollering up to her that she’ll miss her flight if we don’t get moving.
Plus, this is eating into my and her best friend’s time…
I wanted more than just bacon and bread this morning. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to skip eating Jen for lunch.
Whatever nervous energy Abby had earlier has been replaced with her professional, ready-for-work attitude by the time she and Jen finally come down.
Jen only gives a tiny shrug in reply to the intense stare I can’t take off her. Amazed by her every time I see her.
But both of us are just waiting now.
Not wondering anymore because we know this thing between us is unstoppable. We just need the time and place to act it out.
I almost show panic bordering on irritation when Abby tells me her flight’s been delayed, but it’s only a half hour. Meaning we still have plenty of time to get her to the airport.