As I made my way to the bathroom to take a quick shower, Abby groaned and rolled over. I paused to see if she had woken up. When I didn’t hear her make any other sounds, I slipped into the bathroom, shut the door, and turned on the shower.
After a quick wash, I got dressed and went back into the bedroom. I stopped when I saw Abby asleep in the bed. Her light brown hair was spread out across the pillow, and her lips were arranged in a peaceful smile. She looked like Sleeping Beauty.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there staring before I forced myself to leave the bedroom. After searching for my phone, I finally found it and headed out to the garage. I pulled up Kyle’s number and hit it.
“Hey, how did lunch go with Abby?”
I looked back at the closed garage door. “Well, considering she’s asleep in my bed, I think it went well.”
“What? Dude, you slept with her? Are you…does this mean what I think it does?”
I couldn’t help the smile that grew across my face. “After a rough start and some honest talking, yeah. One thing led to another, and I asked her to move back in.”
“Holy shit. I thought maybe you guys would talk, hopefully make up…but this is great, Bishop! I mean, this is good, right?”
“Yeah, man, it’s good. Really good.”
“I’m really happy for you, dude. You two belong together—everyone knew it.”
I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Do you think we’re moving too fast? I mean…she’s not on the pill, and we just slept together twice with no protection.”
“Bishop, it’s not like the two of you just met. You’ve been miserable without Abby. And from what Greer tells me, Abby has been miserable without you. No, I don’t think you’re moving too fast. I mean, I thought maybe once you got back together, you’d want to spend some time with one another, but hey. Whatever happens will happen for a reason. The only two people who matter are the two of you. Hell, I’m surprised you didn’t haul her off to the Justice of the Peace to get remarried.”
I let out a strangled laugh. “I thought about it.”
“Listen, I say whatever makes the two of you happy, do it. Who gives a shit about anyone else?”
Smiling, I replied, “This is why I like you the best.”
A roar of laughter came through the phone.
I could feel my face fall as I realized how damn lucky I was to have Kyle in my life. I cleared my throat. “Seriously, thank you, Kyle. You’ve always been there for me, through the tough times and the good.”
“And I always will. You know what this means though. Hunter and I are the only two single ones left.”
“Did you see him with Arabella the other night at the girls’ little slumber party? The way the two of them looked at each other? You can’t tell me there aren’t still feelings there. If Abby hadn’t pulled Arabella away, they probably would have kissed.”
“I saw. Trust me, I saw. I think the issue goes a bit deeper on Arabella’s side.”
“What happened when you took the two of them hiking?”
Kyle remained silent on the phone. Then he said, “I can’t, dude. It’s not my place to say anything, and honestly, I don’t really know anything. But…I suspect something.”
“I know something bad happened to her in college. Abby knows, but she’s never told me.”
Kyle sighed. “Yeah, it’s something she needs to work out. I’ve already mentioned it to Aiden. I’m hoping maybe he can get her to open up to someone at his clinic.”
“The therapist Abby and I are gonna visit also works for Aiden.”
“Really? I’m glad Abby is open to going. I know you still go.”
“Yeah, I’m going to have to break the news to Callie that I’m seeing someone new.”
Kyle laughed. “I’m sure she’ll understand. Seriously though, Bishop, I’m happy you’re happy.”
“Thanks, Kyle.”
“Do you need anything for tonight?”
“Nope, just bring yourself. Are you bringing a date?”
He let out a cynical laugh. “Nah. I think I’m going to take a step back and focus on work for a bit. Women make my head hurt.”
I rolled my eyes. “Tell me about it. I’ll see you later.”
“See ya soon.”
After I hung up with Kyle, I made my way back into the house and started to clean up the kitchen.
I felt Abby’s presence before I even turned and saw her. She wrapped her warm arms around my waist, and I heard her take in a deep breath through her nose. God, this felt like old times. As if we’d simply picked up where we’d left off before she’d lost the baby.
“You smell so good,” she said. “Oh, how I’ve missed this smell. It’s like pine trees and spice mixed together in a delicious concoction.”