Dapper’s sappy poetry was horrible, but Blythe didn’t say it, not wanting to be quieted by Abby again.
“The embers in her eyes burned hot,” Ricki said as she entered the room.
Though Abby kept her gaze on the screen, she laughed.
Hmm, not half bad.Ricki must have made up the line since it wasn’t part of Dapper’s drivel. Blythe made note of the line in case she wrote something new.
When the video approached the end, Blythe turned up her nose, waiting for the final puke-worthy moment. A flash of black filled the screen before Dapper’s girlfriend’s face appeared. A single tear rolled down her cheek from her red-rimmed eyes.
“Aww,” Abby said and then clamped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. But it was kinda sweet.”
“It was the most awful poem I’ve ever heard.” Blythe scrolled away from the video when it played again.
“It wasn’t a literary masterpiece, but her girlfriend’s reaction was sweet.” Abby stiffened and gave Blythe a side eye. “I mean, she’s photogenic. Probably an excellent actress to get one tear to roll down her cheek.”
Blythe scrolled back. “I guess it worked. Over a hundred K, and mine only got fifty.” She met Abby’s gaze. “Apparently, the missing ingredient was you.”
Abby looked away and leaned forward, snatching her plate off the table. She ripped the crust off her half-eaten pizza and tore it into smaller pieces.
Did she plan on eating it, or was it something to occupy her hands?
“Cut Abby some slack.” Ricki dropped onto her chair and slung her legs over the arm. “Dapper’s girlfriend is a theater major at UCLA.”
“How do you know?” Abby asked.
“Because Ricki watches the competition,” Blythe snapped but regretted it when Abby’s face dropped. “No worries. I’ll catch you up on what’s been going on.”
“Lucky you,” Ricki said.
Abby rubbed Blythe’s thigh. “I was hoping we could turn in early tonight.” Her hand rose higher on Blythe’s leg.
Blythe glanced at Abby from the corner of her eye. Was Abby flirting, or had it been an innocent comment? When Blythe looked across the coffee table at Ricki, her expression showed the same surprise Blythe felt. Perhaps Abby meant her words to be pointed.
While Blythe wasn’t opposed to some Netflix and chill with Abby, she’d been cautious. Abby wasn’t like the other women Blythe met online. The others were adventurous and ready to jump into bed on their first meeting, but something about Abby gave Blythe pause.
Ricki claimed Abby intimidated Blythe, but that couldn’t be it, could it? Blythe didn’t have a frame of reference on how to deal with someone like Abby. Classy. Professional. And not interested in going viral. Still, Blythe wasn’t intimidated. Just respectful.
“Hey, are you zoning?” Ricki waved her arm in a large arc.
“Huh?” Blythe said, buying herself time.
“I asked what time we’re heading out in the morning.”
“Oh. Uh…” Blythe turned to Abby. “What do you think?”
Abby shrugged. “You’ve not told me the agenda, so I can’t say.”
“Navy Pier.”
Abby nodded. “That doesn’t tell me much.”
“Leave here by nine?” Blythe raised an eyebrow at Ricki.
Abby’s hand hadn’t left Blythe’s leg. Her fingertips raked over Blythe’s bare skin and stopped at the hem of her shorts. Blythe’s already short shorts had ridden up, so Abby’s fingers brushed the soft skin on her upper thigh.
“Nine it is.” Ricki pulled her legs off the arm of her chair and swung them around. Once they hit the floor, she was on her feet. “I’m gonna head upstairs. It’s been a long week.”
“Should we order tickets for anything?” Blythe said to Ricki’s retreating back. “The speedboat. The Tall Ship Windy—”
