Chapter 2 #2
She didn’t seem to mind talking about Max, but he also wasn’t going to bring the other man up and hurt her if he didn’t need to.
“The place looks great, Abby. I like what you’ve done with it, and it looks like a perfect home for Julia. You’ve done well.”
She smiled then, her eyes a little brighter. “I’ve tried. I’m not home that much, not as much as I should be. Between work and making sure Julia gets to see more than just the inside of these walls, I haven’t been able to really put the rest of my mark on it.”
He snorted. At Abby’s look, he explained what he was thinking. “If you could see my place, you’d see why what you just said is hilarious.”
“A bachelor pad?”
“Maybe. Or maybe I’m just not good at the whole decorating thing. I’m good with art when it comes to tattoos, but not so much when it comes to my walls.”
“You know, one of the Montgomerys would probably help you with that. They’re all really good at decorating their houses.”
“I’ve noticed that. But you’re pretty great, too.”
“Are you offering me a job to decorate your house?”
He just shook his head, smiling. “You never know. In case you have time between tea and Julia and having a life, you may want to decorate a four-bedroom house with way too much space and white walls.”
Abby’s eyes widened as she led him into the kitchen. “Four bedrooms? Just for you?”
“Yeah, it’s ridiculous. I got the house because there was some damage from the last forest fire.
The people foreclosed on it before it was even in the middle of that.
So I got it at a steal because no one wanted to deal with it.
I didn’t mind doing the rebuilding because I liked the place and the views.
But it’s a little too big for me. I probably should just sell it and get something smaller. But I can’t quite say goodbye to it.”
Abby shook her head as she started melting some chocolate and peppermint bark right into a pan and pulled out the milk. He’d never seen someone actually make hot cocoa that way outside of a movie. His stomach rumbled, and he knew he would have to eat something when he got home.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll make it your place. Or you’ll sell it if you find that you want to. Or maybe you can rent it out to a family that needs it.”
“Maybe. I just don’t know yet. But the house works for me.”
Abby poured out their hot cocoas and handed him a mug.
He could scent the peppermint and chocolate, and he licked his lips in anticipation.
But he didn’t take a sip, knowing it would be too hot.
“When my parents passed, they left me some money, and I didn’t want to just look at it and not have anything to show for what they worked so hard for.
I used most of it for investments, but when I saw this place, I had to have it.
I donated a lot of the money, but the house? The house is mine, I guess.”
“I’m sorry about your parents.”
Abby reached out and gripped his arm, giving it a squeeze. He looked down at where she touched him, wondering what it meant. Wondering why he wanted that touch so much. He knew he should leave, knew he’d already overstayed his welcome. But he couldn’t go. Not yet.
“They passed a few years ago. The big house may seem like a waste, but it spoke to me. And even though I need to do better about making sure it feels like a home, I think your place is giving me ideas.”
She smiled. “Really? It’s a two bedroom, but it feels like a one and a half bedroom.
Julia has the little half-bedroom that I think used to be an office for someone.
I don’t know why they made a house this small in this neighborhood, but I think they wanted a little bit of everybody here.
Which is good in the long run, but they didn’t really think the layout of the house through well.
I don’t mind it. It’s a good starter home for us.
Once the business has been up and running for a couple more years, and I feel a little more stable and in the black, I think we’ll move.
Julia’s going to need some space. She’s so tiny right now, it’s okay, but soon, we’re going to be walking all over each other. ”
“Maybe, but the place still suits you guys pretty well right now.”
“Thank you. I love it.” They both took sips of their hot chocolates, and he had to hold back an audible moan. He did close his eyes though, and when she let out a soft laugh, he had a feeling she knew exactly what he was thinking.
Well, maybe not exactly since he was thinking about more than the cocoa. He was imagining kissing those lips of hers.
And that’s when he knew he had to go.
“This tastes amazing. Thank you.”
“Thank you for being there. And thank you for staying. And just…for staying. I know I probably could have handled it on my own, but I’m learning to lean on others, and maybe realizing I don’t have to handle everything myself.”
They continued drinking their hot cocoa in the kitchen, not even sitting down. He had a feeling if he planned to stay longer, they would have moved into her small living room to talk. But standing in the kitchen felt safer. Safer from what, he didn’t know, but just…safer.
He put his empty mug in the sink, filling it up with water to soak.
Abby had said she would wash it herself since they weren’t dishwasher safe.
He didn’t understand why things weren’t dishwasher safe, but then again, he wasn’t going to question it.
He’d just had the best peppermint hot cocoa of his life, and with a beautiful woman at that.
He couldn’t really complain.
Abby walked him out after explaining to him that she was going to call the Montgomerys and ask for a ride in the morning. It was probably for the best. He didn’t work the morning shift, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to help out.
But he would have if she’d asked.
And that worried him.
Because he already knew that he wanted to get to know Abby better. And that wasn’t good for anyone.
Especially her.
“Thank you for being there, Ryan,” she whispered, looking up at him with those big eyes of hers.
He nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t reach out and touch her. “I’d say anytime, but I don’t really mean anytime.”
She smiled again, and he said goodbye, knowing that things would get awkward if he stayed any longer.
By the time he got home, he was exhausted and starving. He could heat up some leftovers from the fridge but knew he should probably cook something since he wanted those leftovers for lunch the next day. He was way too tired for that, though.
He had to work with a few clients at Montgomery Ink Too tomorrow, but then he needed to go to his old shop and try to get his final paycheck.
The damn manager hadn’t paid him for the last two months he worked there.
And it sucked. That was the reason Ryan had quit—well, one of the many reasons.
The fact that he got to work with some of the best artists in the country at Montgomery Ink Too now was something big.
But the whole non-payment thing with his old boss, even when he had money now, really pissed him the fuck off.
Ryan hadn’t always had money. When he left his parents’ place, he’d had nothing but the shirt on his back and whatever he had been able to stuff into his bag.
They hadn’t liked the fact that he didn’t want to go to a real college.
He wanted to go to art school and eventually become a tattoo artist. When he turned eighteen and got his first tattoo—at least waiting until it was legal—his parents had thrown a fit.
They kicked him out, called him names, and then blamed him for his twin.
Ryan didn’t need the guilt trip from his parents regarding Michael. He already blamed himself enough.
And if he really thought about it, Ryan knew that his twin would fuck things up again.
His brother was the reason Ryan had been fired from three of his last four jobs.
The only reason he hadn’t been fired from his previous one was because he quit before that happened.
Ryan knew that if Michael had shown up there, he would have ended up losing that position just like he had lost everything else.
So now, the only things Ryan had were this house, his new job with the Montgomerys, and the money his parents had left him out of guilt.
They had tried to get ahold of him, tried to be in his life again, but it had always been on their terms, following their rules, and for their needs.
They hadn’t liked his decisions. Didn’t seem to like him.
But in the end, they hadn’t liked Michael even more.
And though they had loved Michael, and though they had put all of their attention into making sure Michael was cared for and loved, they had made mistakes.
And that was how Michael ended up the way he was now.
And that was why Ryan was the way he was.
Ryan quickly heated up his food, knowing he would just go to the bakery the next day for his lunch, and tried to let the stress from the day drain from him.
He didn’t like thinking about his family.
Honestly, he didn’t like thinking about most things that hurt.
He had his empty house with its bare walls and knew that would have to be enough for now.
There was no use thinking about Abby and her warm home or the little girl that made him smile.
He was just about to wash his dishes when someone knocked on the front door.
No one really knew where he lived. Those at Montgomery Ink Too had his address on file, but knowing his day, Ryan had a feeling he knew exactly who was on the other side of the door.
And exactly what they wanted.
So, when he opened the door and found his twin there, he didn’t sigh. He wasn’t even surprised.
Michael was back.
And that meant things were about to get fucked up.
Again.