Chapter 64
CHAPTER 64
ABIGAIL
I ’m seeing my sisters today!
The thought broke through the sleepy fog in my brain and I sat bolt upright in bed, instantly wide awake and super excited.
Stretching my arms above my head, I smiled into the dim light in my room. The sky outside my window was only just starting to turn gray, prompting me to drop right back down with my head on my pillow.
Really, brain? It’s not even dawn yet. Thanks for that.
After the last couple days, I would have thought I might sleep in a bit, but no such luck. I burrowed my face into my pillow, closing my eyes and wondering if I might manage even a few more minutes, but only seconds later, I was bored as heck.
Ah, well. I tried.
Rolling out of bed, I quickly turned around to make it, pulling the corners extra tight and smoothing out my comforter before I took a step back to examine my handiwork. Perfect .
Satisfied that I wouldn’t be leaving my bedroom in a state, I padded across the carpeted floor to the bathroom, opening the faucet in my shower and waiting until steam was billowing out the top before I climbed in. The hot spray rained down on me like sizzling drops of lava and I groaned, tilting my head back before rolling out my neck. It was like I could feel all the tension melting out of my muscles, the warmth of the water simultaneously triggering a release of endorphins that made me feel like I was on top of the world.
In many ways, I was. One of two still in the race for arguably the largest client of the year. Rekindling with an old flame who’d always held my heart in his hands. On my way to Texas to see my sisters and spend some time out in nature on my brother-in-law’s ranch.
This trip was exactly what I needed right now, some time with Simon away from the general drone of our daily lives while getting to wake up to gorgeous sunrises, days filled with my sisters, and nights under the stars around a Texan campfire. I honestly couldn’t imagine anything better while we prepared for the homestretch of the Fit Gal race.
It’d been a tough couple months, juggling the demands of competing for the client with the stress of running a huge branch of our firm. After lathering up and washing my body and my hair, I rinsed off and climbed out of the shower feeling a lot less tense and tight than I had climbing in.
I could feel my cheeks glowing as I dried off and strode naked to my closet, donning a pair of jeans and the boots I’d gotten from Liv and Charlie. I paired it with a light blue tee and a brown leather jacket, already looking a lot less like myself than I had yesterday.
The seahorse bracelet was still on my wrist and I smiled when I caught a glimpse of it while I brushed my hair, getting ready with daydreams of the next few days in Texas with Simon on my mind. We were making it a whole group trip with London and Liam flying back down there with us as well.
I’d gotten a text from my sister last night saying they’d been here yesterday for a meeting with Dad and asking me to pick them up from our parents’ place on our way to the airport this morning. I was looking forward to seeing Simon interact with them, as well as with Olivia and Charlie once we got to Texas.
My sisters were some of the most important people in my life and I wanted them to get to know Simon for who he was now. I was also eager to hear Charlie’s take on the guy, see if he thought Simon was genuine or playing me.
Once I was ready, I headed back to my closet to grab a few last minute things I needed to throw in my bag. I was looking for a nightdress I’d bought years ago but had never worn because I’d bought it on a whim while thinking about how much Simon would’ve liked it. I caught a glimpse of the time capsule again.
The more I saw it, the more I wanted to know what was inside it. Temporarily forgetting about the nightdress, I picked up the small capsule and took a few seconds trying to open it. I’d done this a few times over the years, but it’d never worked. There was a small hole on the side similar to those matching the round keyholes on teenage journals, and when I failed once again in my mission, I decided to ask Simon if he still had the key.
It’d been years of wondering what was in this thing, and I was about ready to finally find out. Sliding it back underneath the stack of clothes it lived in, I finally tracked down the nightdress and a few other things, and then I was ready to head downstairs.
I took my suitcase with me, wheeling it to the door before I went to collect August and everything she’d need for her stay with my neighbor. She smiled up at me, tongue rolling out when I opened the front door.
Golden tail wagging, she bounded out into the front yard, waiting for me to catch up when she neared the sidewalk. I chuckled, stroking my fingers through her silky coat as I fell into step beside her. “You’re such a good girl, baby. I’m going to be back in a few days, okay? Auntie Olivia needs my help in Texas, but Ron is going to take good care of you.”
She yapped happily at the sound of my elderly neighbor’s name and I chuckled again, the bag I’d packed for her last night on one shoulder while I kept my free hand stroking through her fur as we walked. When we reached his yard, her tail started wagging again and she trotted up the stairs, sitting down and patiently waiting for me to join her.
At least the sun was out by this point and I’d warned Ron we’d be here early. He loved August. I hadn’t even rung the doorbell when he opened up for us. Milky blue eyes smiling as they met mine, he lowered himself to his haunches to hug my dog first.
“Good morning, beautiful ladies,” he cooed as he wrapped his thin arms around her. “You and I are going for a walk to buy the paper soon, girl. Let’s just say bye bye to Mommy.”
I smiled. “The paper, Ron? You know you can get the news on your phone these days, right?”
“Yes, and I can also see pictures of coffee there, my darling. That’s not quite the same as drinking some, now is it?”
“Fair enough.” I laughed as I carried her bag into his townhouse. “Let me know if you guys need anything, okay?”
“We’ll be fine.” He waved me off, shutting the door behind him and chuckling at something my dog must’ve been doing.
Happy that she was in good hands while I’d be gone, I walked back to my house to discover Simon pulling up to the curb. He climbed out of his car, smirking at me as he pretended to tip a hat in my direction.
“Howdy, pardner,” I joked, eyes on his forest greens and the relaxed expression in them.
He laughed. “Oh, lord. What have I gotten myself into this time?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” I said easily, waiting until he joined me on the sidewalk before I took his hand and led him up to my front door. “I just need to grab my things and then we can go pick up London and Liam.”
“Let me take that for you.” He reached for my suitcase after we’d walked inside and I let him take it, grabbing my purse and the hat I’d gotten in Texas a while back. Simon let out a wolf whistle when I popped it onto my head, grinning as he opened the door for me. “You look good as a cowgirl, baby. I’m suddenly really looking forward to this trip.”
I winked at him as I locked up behind us. “Watch this space. You’re going to come home as a cowboy.”
“I highly doubt that.” He slid a pair of fashionable black Aviators onto his face. “You can take the boy out of the city, but I’m not sure you can ever take the city out of the boy.”
“You’ll see,” I said confidently, following him to his car and climbing in while he stowed my things away in the trunk. When he was sitting next to me and merging into the traffic, I smirked. “A few days on the Anderson ranch and you’ll be singing a whole different tune.”
“Is it a country tune?” he teased. “Maybe something about cold beer, pickup trucks, and how country I am?”
I laughed. “That’s not all they sing about.”
“It’s mostly what they sing about, how country they are.” He chuckled. “Hey, I’m not bashing it, but that doesn’t make it untrue.”
“They also sing about heartbreak, hard work, and love, and that’s just off the top of my head.”
“Have you ever heard a metal band singing about how metal they are?”
I pretended to gag. “No, but that’s because they don’t sing. They kind of just scream and growl. There’s a difference.”
I turned in my seat, leaning a shoulder against the buttery soft leather as I watched him drumming a tune on the steering wheel with his thumbs. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Do you still have the key for the time capsule?”
“Maybe,” he said before he grinned. “Maybe not. Why?”
“Because I want to open it,” I said slowly. “What else would anyone want a key for?”
“When the time is right, maybe we can talk about the key.”
“I’m so confused.” I frowned. “It’s been ten years. How is the time not right?”
He shrugged. “You’ll see.”
When we arrived at my parents’ place, I was still confused, but my sister and our friend were waiting outside, evidently already not speaking to each other today. London stood in front of our folks’ metal gates with her back to Liam and her arms crossed over her chest, her lips pouty, and a pair of huge sunglasses covering her eyes.
Liam wasn’t looking at her either, sitting casually on top of his suitcase with his own cowboy boots already on his feet, his hat on his head, and strangely, chewing a piece of grass sticking out of his mouth. I sighed. “This would be the time for your comment before.”
“What comment?”
“Oh, lord.” I grinned at him as he pulled up. Then he jumped out to help Liam with their bags while London dramatically collapsed into the backseat and buckled up.
“God, he’s impossible,” she snapped, but the complaint lacked her usual fire. “Absolutely impossible.”
“Want to tell me what happened this time?”
She sighed. “Later.”
Liam jumped into the car too and Simon was chuckling as he climbed back in. “You two living together now, or what?”
Liam cracked up in response. “Nah, man. We could never live together. London would kill me in my sleep. I just stayed over here last night because we were in that meeting with Nathan until late.”
“Sure,” Simon said, not sounding like he believed Liam at all. “Whatever you say.”
“He’s not wrong,” she said immediately. “I really would smother him in his sleep. I know which pillow I would use and everything.”
Yet, as I glanced at my sister over my shoulder, she had a secret smile on her face, which made me wonder what was really going on between them. I’d ask her again once we were alone, though. For now, I settled in while the guys made small talk. Then I got caught up with them both on the plane.
Simon sat next to me all the way, his fingers across my own every so often and his arm tucked tightly against mine. I saw London noticing it, but she must’ve decided to wait until later to ask too.
A few hours later, we finally touched down in Houston and Olivia and Charlie were waiting for us at the airport. London and I both broke out into a flat run, fighting over who got the first hug from Liv. I won, since it’d been longer since I’d last seen her.
London had only left Texas the night before last. Liv looped her arm through mine, leaving the guys to bring up the rear. I could feel Simon’s presence behind us though, and my heart was all aflutter about it. We were going to have so much fun out here together.
The air was crisp as we walked out of the terminal, the sky blue, and the scent of spring on every breath I inhaled. I could seriously see why Olivia loved it so much here, and with Simon at my side this time, I had a feeling I was going to love it so much more than ever before.