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“Love you too, Sunshine.”
“Christ, woman, we’re only going to be here a week. Did you pack a separate bag for each day?”
Ah, the sideshow act has arrived, I think to myself as Jackson opens the door.
“I don’t know what I’ll need while I’m here. I like to be prepared,” Abigail responds as she drags her luggage inside the house.
“Hopefully one of these bags is filled with industrial sex toys, so you loosen up while we’re here.” Jackson simply has no sense of self preservation, I decide.
“Wouldn’t you like to know, asshole,” Abigail responds, throwing her hair back and one choice finger up in his direction.
Donovan sent a plane to fly Jackson and Abigail down here to meet us. Probably a better idea than having them fly commercial. There’s no doubt in my mind they would have been put on a no-fly list otherwise.
I lean over to Lindsey.
“Do you have a suitcase filled with sex toys?” I growl in her ear, playfully nipping the lobe.
She gives me a devilish smirk.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she says, repeating Abigail’s words back to me and shoots me a wink before getting up to greet the undynamic duo.
Kasey and Lindsey show Abigail to her room while Donovan shows Jackson his, which is on the other side of the house, thank God.
After they freshen up, everyone gathers in the living room. Donovan puts steaks on the grill while Kasey makes a salad. Apparently, it’s her specialty.
Abigail wanders over to me with a glass of wine in her hand.
“Can I get you anything?” she asks.
“No, I’m good for the moment. I do want to talk to you, though.” My palms are a tad sweaty. I don’t know why I’m nervous. Scratch that, this woman is intimidating as hell, even to a man like me.
“Uh-oh. This sounds serious.” She sits down next to me, and I turn toward her, sitting a little straighter myself.
“I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you the last couple times I saw you. I have a past that includes losing someone I love to substance abuse. My head was all over the place last time I saw you and I overreacted to what I walked in on. I also put the blame on you for what happened with Lindsey at the bar, and I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
She looks a little shocked by my admission, like she’s not used to people taking responsibility for their actions.
“It’s all good, my friend.” She smiles and raises her glass in a one-sided toast.
My brows raise at her calling me her friend.
“Oh yeah, we’re totally besties now. Get used to it. I’m just glad you’re okay. I don’t know if Lindsey would have survived if you hadn’t.” I hear the concern in her voice, and I feel the need to reassure her.
“She’s a lot stronger than she knows,” I say.
“I know that, but I don’t know how she would have gotten through losing the love of her life.” She gives me a pointed look.
“She told you I’m the love of her life?”
“No, but she doesn’t have to. I’m just glad you’re good, Captain America.” She pats my leg and rises off the couch.
“I’m English.”
“Tomato, tomahto.” She smiles at me, then heads outside to where Donovan and Jackson are manning the grill. I’m sure the urge to give Jackson shit about his meat or something just as ridiculous is too strong to pass up. It’s been a solid fifteen minutes since they’ve thrown barbs at each other, after all.
“All good?” Lindsey asks as she makes her way to me.
“Yeah, Sunshine. Everything’s great.”
