Chapter 35 Abby
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Abby
Tugging my hat down over my ears, I walk down the porch steps. I feel proud of myself for having the proper winter gear on before walking outside this afternoon.
It’s a nice day, but it’s still winter in Aspen Springs, so the gear is needed for the walk to Mav’s school.
The school is close enough that I can sometimes walk over there to get him if I have time. Maybe he will get enough of his wiggles out on the walk back so that he will be a little calmer tonight.
Ha… doubtful. One can only try, though.
“Zeus,” Leah yells.
I barely have time to turn in the direction of her house before a big white dog with brown spots is jumping up on me.
“Zeus, get down,” Leah yells again, running toward us.
He’s a big dog, but I ease him back to the ground. His little stub of a tail is wagging so quickly it’s moving his whole body.
“Hey buddy,” I say, rubbing my hands over the top of his head and down his back.
“I’m so sorry,” Leah says, out of breath by the time she reaches us.
“No worries,” I say, smiling up at her. My smile only grows when I realize she doesn’t even have any shoes on.
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I wasn’t planning on running around. I was just grabbing the mail.” Her eyes travel down to Zeus with a mixture of frustration and love. “This guy just barreled through the door.”
“So, he’s yours now?” I ask.
She smiles, looking down at him. “Yeah. We’ve had some growing pains, but I love him.”
I couldn’t be happier for her. She deserves to have this spot of happiness in her days. “I’m so glad.”
We talk for a few more minutes about her coming over with Zeus, so Mav can play with him. Zeus trots dutifully at Leah’s side like a love-struck fool as she makes her way back into her house.
I’m shaking my head and smiling as I head down the street. They’re just so cute together.
I really should have thought of bringing some headphones with me, so I could listen to a podcast or something. I don’t mind the quiet, but it leaves a lot of time for my mind to wander.
I try to keep it busy with thoughts of the stir-fry I’m going to make tonight or the load of laundry in the dryer that needs to be folded. It’s no use, though.
There’s only one thing my mind wants to ruminate on. I guess it’s three things, three very handsome things.
I haven’t been able to get any of them out of my head since I walked out their front door days ago. I thought it was bad before.
Now, it’s a problem that’s bleeding into my every waking hour—and the sleeping ones too, if I’m being honest.
That night didn’t get a single thing out of my system. It opened the door for them to burrow even deeper into… every part of me.
“Abby.” My name snaps me out of my all-consuming thoughts. The world around me comes back into focus.
I was so lost in my head, I hadn’t realized how far I’d walked. Thank goodness I didn’t get hit by a car. Small mercies, I guess.
I’m only a few blocks away from the school. Sienna and Hadley are on the sidewalk just ahead of me. Cash is between them on a leash Hadley is holding.
“Hey,” I say, closing the distance.
“You okay?” Hadley asks.
I let out a heavy breath. “Just lost in my thoughts,” I say, leaning down to run a hand over Cash’s fur. It’s so different from Zeus’s short fur.
“Oh no… I know that look,” Sienna says with a smirk.
“What look?” I say, standing up all the way. Cash isn’t happy that I’m not petting him anymore, but Sienna is waiting to answer me.
“The look that screams… I’m falling for not one but three guys, and I don’t know what the fuck to do about it,” she says with a grin plastered on her face.
“What happened since the last time we talked?” Hadley asks. “You left with Wyatt that night.”
I’m suddenly very grateful for the amazing friend Riley is. She must have had many opportunities to spill all my secrets to the group, but she didn’t.
I start walking, and they fall in step beside me. I need to keep moving, or I’m not going to be able to get all of this out.
I briefly run through everything that’s happened, ending with the night.
Sienna fans her face. “I’m getting hot and bothered just hearing about all of this.”
She isn’t lying about the hot part. Every part of what happened that night and all the weeks leading to it were hot as hell.
It was more than that, though. That’s the part that scares me but terrifies me to let go of.
Hadley’s face softens as she turns to look at me. “You are falling for them, huh?”
I nod, biting my bottom lip.
“That week you were at their house changed things,” Hadley continues. “Not just the sex but everything else.”
Again, I nod because I have no idea what to say. Existing in the same space as them for that week made me feel connected to all of them in a way I’ve never experienced before.
If only for that brief chunk of time, we felt like a family, like we could be something more. Something that could last.
Reality came crashing down quickly, smashing those fantasies to dust.
They’re both looking at me with sympathy in their stares. Even Cash must sense my turbulent emotions because he rubs his head against my hand that’s dangling at my side.
“I wish…” I start, but the emotion clogging my throat makes it hard to get the words out. “I wish we could find a way to make it work. I can’t do that to Oliver, though.”
I might not know him that well, but hearing him speak to Mav made tears well in my eyes. He deserves the chance to rebuild his life in a stable environment with the people he trusts.
He doesn’t need anything rocking the boat when he’s finally settling in and healing from the loss of his mom. I wouldn’t take that away from any kid, but especially not one I’m growing to care about.
They both nod in solemn understanding. The noise from all the other parents waiting outside the school reaches my ears. We walk in silence the rest of the way, finding a section of the fence to lean against while we wait for Mav, Jackson, and Evelyn.
“How’s Kane doing?” Sienna asks. “The fire department was called to the accident, so my guys were there.”
“His arm is still in the cast, but everything else is healing. I think he’s been in more pain than he lets on at times, but he’s okay.”
“Okay enough to have sex,” Hadley says, bumping her shoulder into mine.
I huff out a small laugh that turns into a shiver at the thought of the accident. “It could have been a lot worse. He’s really lucky.”
The bell from inside the school rings, and groups of kids start to file out from the different doors.
Hadley rests her hand on my forearm. “We’re here if you need to talk or get your mind off of all of it.” Her tone is gentle, and her words are sincere.
“Thanks,” I say, setting my hand over hers and giving it a squeeze.
I really am lucky to have fallen into this group of friends. These women are girls’ girls to their core, and there’s no one better to have in your corner as a woman.
“Falling in love with three guys at the same time isn’t easy,” Sienna says. Her eyes are swimming with kindness and understanding.
“That’s the thing,” I say, running my hand over my face. “Falling for them has been one of the easiest things I’ve ever done. Everything else surrounding it might be complicated as hell, but falling for them has been as easy as breathing.”
Their gazes are gentle as I drag in a deep breath.
How can something that feels so right not be what’s meant to be?