Page 28 of Ashes to Ink

“And it makes sense,” Thea put in. “But why don’t you tellus about the rest of the night? Because I heard from a reliable source that youdidn’t pick up Julia until much later than dinner would suggest.”

Abby just grinned. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“I saw your face, young lady,” Adrienne said, trying herbest to be prim and proper. But the piercings and the tattoos ruined the look abit. “I saw the way you looked, and I saw how you purposely didn’t look me inthe eye because you didn’t want to talk about it in front of Julia. And I letthat pass. I’ve let a full morning pass, and yet we’re here for girl time, andit’s time for you to tell us what happened. And how much you liked it. Andeverything else. I mean, I can go in the back and get a baguette if you’d liketo discuss measurements.”

Abby threw her head back and laughed, the others joining in.

“You are not going into my kitchen to look for a baguette,”Thea said, her voice stern. Although there was laughter dancing in her eyes, soAbby wasn’t quite sure if Thea meant it. For all she knew, there was a baguetteor something a little thicker that might join them at the table soon.

At that thought, Abby knew she was blushing, the heat of hercheeks warming her body.

“So?” Kaylee asked, her voice soft. “Should I ask how itwas, or how you’re feeling? Because I want to know both. We love you, Abby, andthe fact that you’re smiling like this? I think I love you a little more for it.”

“And I think I could hug Ryan for it, too,” Roxie put in.

Abby bit her lip and stirred her tea as she looked at herfriends. “I didn’t mean to sleep with him on the first date, but it justhappened.”

She was keeping her voice low, but they were at the specialcorner table where Thea knew that others couldn’t really hear well. It’s whyshe always sat them there. Abby didn’t mind, and she knew that if any of themen came in for sweets, she would just pretend that she totally wasn’t talkingabout having sex with Ryan.

She also knew that she couldn’t stay here long and talkabout it, because one of Thea’s part-timers was working over at the tea shop,picking up hours that Abby could barely afford. They were testing it out, and Abbywas doing her best to not think about it. But, hopefully, it would work out,and the new person could get some needed money while Abby got some needed help.

And if she kept thinking about work and money, maybe shewouldn’t blush as hard when she thought about Ryan.

“Hello?” Adrienne said, waving her hand in front of Abby’sface.

“We need the deets.” Adriennegrinned, and Abby rolled her eyes.

“I’m not giving you details.”

“Um, yes you are,” Thea said, grinning. “We gave youdetails.”

“And yet I’m a little worried that we know way too muchabout each other’s sex lives.”

“At least you have a sex life,” Kaylee muttered and thenlooked over at everyone, her eyes wide. “Forget I said that. This isn’t aboutme, this is all about you and Ryan.”

“Oh, we’re going to come back to that later,” Adrienne said.“But we’ll let you slide. Just for now. Because I know Abby needs to get backto the shop, and we need to know exactly what happened with Ryan. Every singlelittle detail you want to share.”

“You shouldn’t have added the you want to share part,”Roxie said, smiling for the first time. “Because now she’s just going to tellyou nothing.”

“Fine, I’ll tell you a little.”

“Oh, don’t say little when we’re talking about sex withRyan,” Adrienne said, grinning.

“Fine.”

“And don’t say fine,” Thea put in.

“If you would like me to continue, I’ll actually tell yousomething. Or if you’d just like to keep cutting me off, I’ll go have some teain my shop.” Abby smiled as she said it, and everybody rolled their eyes,leaning forward as if they were afraid she might whisper what she had to say.

Well, considering she was about to whisper it all, shedidn’t blame them.

“It was everything. I didn’t know I was going to sleep withhim until it was happening. And he was kind and sweet and sexy as hell. Hedidn’t make me feel like I was doing anything too slow or fast or wrong. Notthat I was doing anything wrong, but there was a moment there when I realizedthat, yes, this was my first time since Max, and while I wasn’t comparing, Ihad that clutch. That little heart twinge that said, ‘Okay, you can do this.You like Ryan. And you’re not cheating.’ And I wasn’t. And he looked me rightin the eyes, and I knew that he understood what I was feeling. I didn’t know Icould ever feel like that. I didn’t think I could ever have that connection.And I know that there were no promises made, and I don’t know what’s going tohappen next, but I don’t regret it. Not even a little. Because he made mehappy. He does make me happy. And even if we just remain friends after this andnever go on another date, even if we never sleep with each other again, I knowthat he was exactly what I needed, and what I need right now. I don’t reallyknow what’s going to happen next, but he made me happy. And I guess that’s allthat matters.”

All four women were wiping tears from their eyes, and Abbydidn’t realize she had let a few tears fall herself until Roxie handed her anapkin.

“I’m glad that you’re happy,” Roxie whispered.

There was such longing there in that statement, so muchyearning that Abby reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. Roxie met Abby’sgaze and then pulled her hand away, obviously not quite ready to tell the worldwhat was going on with her. Then again, Abby was just now getting used totelling the world about herself.