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I stared at the text for a long time, biting my lip. What could happen could be utter disaster…or based on what happened in that pool…it could be utterly amazing.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. I checked the time on my phone—I’d seen sitting there for over an hour. He was probably already back in the house. Asleep? One could only hope. But I needed a drink to help me fall asleep.
I tiptoed to the door and unlocked it as quietly as I could. I stepped out into the dark hallway and listened carefully. Other than the pounding of my heart, the house was silent aside from the hum of the air conditioner.
I hurried downstairs, grabbed a half-full bottle of wine from the cooler plus a glass, and hurried back up to my room.
I set everything on my nightstand then headed to the door, pushing the balcony door open to let the breeze in. Maybe everything would make sense in the morning.
20
Lucas
I was dumbfounded as Abbie slipped away from me.
At first, I thought she was playing around, then I saw her climb up the stairs and hurry towards her discarded robe.
This didn’t seem to be playful anymore. I watched speechless as she disappeared into the house, closing the door behind her, then the distinctive sound of the lock on the door echoing through the silence.
Message received.
Loud and clear.
Thankfully, I’d taken the house keys out with me.
I dunked my head under the water and surfaced again, wiping my face and looking skyward as if I’d find an answer somewhere there. I took a few deep breaths. The night was beautiful, a warm breeze danced through the yard, the sound of the ocean crashing on the shore in the distance.
It beat my window view out of my apartment, with no stars, gray clouds, snow falling. I’d take this view any night. Except for the fact Abbie had decided to run off.
I swam a couple laps, back and forth, waiting for her to maybe reappear. Maybe she just needed a little time to herself, to cool down, to think…to breathe.
I could understand that.
This, whatever it was, between us was decidedly new...
I didn’t want to mess it up, and I had a feeling she was thinking the same way. That’s why she’d taken off. Maybe it was too quick, too sudden. But that kiss, I’d let out every emotion in that kiss, and when her fingers wove through my hair, I’d found my…
Way to go, Lucas, I told myself.Scare her off before you can even really tell her how you feel.
After a dozen more laps, I climbed up out of the water and grabbed a towel I’d brought down, wrapping it around my waist. The night air was still a little warm. I debated staying there in a lounger for the night, but looking back to her bedroom window, I decided against it.
I didn’t want her thinking I was waiting there for her. I turned and headed back inside, tiptoeing back up to my room. I pushed my balcony door open to let the calming night air in, then took a seat on the edge of the bed.
Abbie was perplexing. It’s not that we’d ever been overly flirty with one another. That had never really been our thing.
We’d met and gone straight into good friends, best friends, and now...
Now tiptoeing over a line neither of us really understood.
But she’d kissed me back. I could pick up the longing that had been hiding there behind her for so long. As long as mine? I sighed and fell back on the bed with a groan.
Maybe telling Abbie I needed her…that had been the tipping point.
I should just have stayed silent. There would have been time for talking after…but then…argh. I dragged my hand across my face. Too much thinking was going to do us in. I closed my eyes. Maybe it would make sense in the morning.
***
I was up before six the next morning and woke to a silent house. Abbie was never a morning person—it’s why she always took the night shift at Jimmy’s. That let her sleep in, and the day was her own to get her photography work done...or at least, that’s how it used to be.
