9. Evan
9
EVAN
I t’s been almost two hours. When is she coming home?
I’m wearing a hole into the floor as I pace back and forth in the living room, waiting for Abby to arrive. I’ve typed out a thousand messages in the last hour, only to delete them and start pacing again. Being patient is not my strong suit, and I’m trying to give her space like she asked, but this is fucking killing me and I’m going out of my mind.
She has every right to be mad at me, and I’m pissed at myself for being such an asshole. I was so jealous, seeing that jerk there, holding her hand, touching what doesn’t belong to him. She doesn’t belong to me either and I can’t stand it.
She’s mine. Her daughter is mine. My girls. And it’s time I made sure she knows that.
I run my hand through my hair, then start typing out another text. Before I can finish, the front door opens and in walks my whole world. I rush forward, taking Abby’s hands in mine before she barely has a chance to step inside. I nudge the door closed with my hip and stare into her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Sunshine. I know that arguing with you isn’t good for the baby. And I was a jerk, and?—”
She giggles and it eases some of the ache in my chest. “Slow down, Evan. Let me sit down first.”
I scoop her into my arms, causing her to yelp, and carry her to the couch. “Are you okay? How’s the baby?” My gaze roams over her body, looking for any signs of distress.
“I feel fine. The baby’s fine. Relax.”
“You’ve been gone for two hours, Abby, pregnant and alone. How am I supposed to relax? What if something happened to you or to the little nugget?”
She tilts her head and stares at me. “You really love this baby, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do.” I place my hand on her stomach, loving the feeling of her warm belly beneath my palm, especially when our little girl moves. “I love you too, you know.”
Her eyes go wide and I swear she stops breathing. “You do? Like as a friend, or…”
I cup her face in my hands and kiss her lips. “Like a friend who’s in love with you. Like head over heels, crazy about you. Like marry you and make more babies with you.”
Her mouth opens and closes like a fish, and I refrain from laughing at how adorable she is.
“I’m in love with you, Abby. I always have been, but I was too blind to see it until now.”
She buries her face in her hands and starts to cry, making my heart sink into my shoes.
“Fuck, you don’t feel the same way.” The thought guts me.
Abby’s head whips up and she looks at me. “No! That’s… That’s not it!”
I turn my body toward hers and gently wipe away her tears. “Then what is it? You can tell me anything, even if you need to tell me you don’t love me.” It’ll kill me, but I’ll accept it.
She releases a shuddering breath and throws her arms around my neck. “I love you so much, Evan. I knew it months ago, but was afraid to say anything,” she cries.
Well, aren’t we a fucking pair?
“I knew it the first time we had sex. I just wasn’t sure you felt the same,” I confess. “And when this little nugget is born…” I return my hand to her belly. “I want to be her dad. I understand Davis might be in the picture, but we’ll figure it out. As long as he keeps his hands off you, or I’ll break them.” I scowl, thinking about him touching her.
“I doubt he wants anything to do with me or the baby. I don’t think we have to worry about him.”
That might be the best news I’ve heard all week.
“So you forgive me then? I really am sorry about what I said.” I’m still kicking myself about earlier.
“You know I can never stay mad at you, even when you deserve it.” She pinches her lips together, but the corners twitch as she suppresses a smile. “So… how do you plan to make it up to me?”
I lift her in a bridal carry and run toward our bedroom as she giggles.
“Oh my God! What are you doing?”
“I’m making it up to you with my big dick. You seem to like it.” I smirk, and Abby hides her pretty face in my chest while she laughs.
It’s been two weeks since Abby and I made our relationship official. Which also makes it the most blissful two weeks of my life. Being able to openly kiss her anytime and anywhere I want feels amazing, and the sex has never been better. I’d read that some women experience an increased sex drive when pregnant, but Abby’s has been off the charts. She practically demands it whenever we get five seconds alone. Not that I’m complaining. I just hope it continues even after the baby is born.
She’s working her last shift at the jewelry store and I’m headed that way to pick her up. It’s nearing the end of her pregnancy, so Dr. Cadigan urged Abby to get off her feet and rest as much as possible. Her boss has been great and even encouraged her to start her maternity leave early. Abby was resistant at first, not wanting to leave the store short-handed, but Jill assured her they’d be fine.
When I pull up to the curb, fury floods my veins at what I see happening through the front window. I fly out of my truck, almost forgetting to close the door as I stomp inside, headed straight for my girl.
“Abby, just listen. I know you talked to Lucy, but she’s a liar. She’s jealous and trying to keep us apart.”
I can’t believe Davis has the balls to show his face around here again.
“You’re a real piece of work.” There’s nothing but disgust in Abby’s tone, and it makes my chest puff with pride.
“I want to start over. No wife, no baby, nothing to come between us. We can be together, just the two of us.”
What a load of bullshit.
Abby notices me approaching and her eyes go wide with shock. She knows what I’m about to do, but nothing will stop me from giving this asshole what he deserves.
Clamping a hand down onto Davis’s shoulder, I spin him around and smash my fist into his face. There’s a satisfying crunch before blood spews from his broken nose. He screams in pain and slumps against the display counter, clutching his swelling face.
“Fuck, that felt good,” I admit before tugging Abby behind me.
“I’m calling the police! This is assault!”
He’s lucky I only hit him once.
Jill and Cici are rushing out of the back to see what the commotion is about when the doorbell chimes, signaling a new customer. Guilt courses through me for having caused such a scene.
“What’s going on out here?” Jill asks, her gaze darting back and forth between a wounded Davis, and me and Abby.
“I’m sorry. I—” I’m cut off by a feminine voice coming from the door.
“It’s not his fault. That’s my husband. The one with the broken nose.” This must be the infamous Lucy Abby was telling me about.
Davis’s eyes widen in horror as he watches his wife approach him. “W-wh-what are you doing here?”
She slips her hands into the pockets of her designer wide-leg slacks. “I’m taking you home… dear . Seems you’ve caused quite enough trouble for one day.”
He straightens to his full height and attempts to regain some of his composure. “I-I-I can explain. It’s not what it looks like. I swear.” Beads of sweat form on his brow as he stumbles for words.
“Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like, and I know all about it.” She shakes her head with a satisfied smile on her face. “Why don’t you tell me some more lies on the way home? Before I call my attorney and tell her everything you’ve been up to.”
Davis’s face loses all color when his wife hooks her arm into the crook of his elbow. She appears calm, but when her gaze meets mine over his shoulder, I see the storm swirling in her eyes.
“You’ve been a very bad boy, Davis. Let’s go.” She drags him out of the store as he wears an expression of disbelief, and I have a feeling I won’t see him again anytime soon.
Jill comes over with a nervous smile on her face, filling me with relief that she’s not too upset with me. “You certainly bring the excitement whenever you stop by. How about you take our girl home and let her start her leave now?”
I laugh, knowing she’s ready to not see my face around here for a while. “You heard the lady.” I turn to Abby with a mischievous grin. “Time to get you home and in bed.”
She narrows her gaze at me. “She said take me home. She didn’t say anything about being in bed.”
“Eh, it’s where we always seem to end up anyway.” I chuckle before sweeping Abby into my arms, relishing how good it feels to hold her.
I don’t want to do it now, because she’ll question my motives. But someday soon, I’m going to ask this girl to marry me.