“You didn’t plan to meet up?” I ask, not sure if I believe them. They both nod their heads.
“You can even call Mandy, and she will tell you.”
I sigh, I’m tired of not talking to my best friends and know it’s time to let it go. “If you say so, but I hate that you didn’t even think to call me when you started talking about the trip. I don’t know any of the details.” I say as I put the celery and onions on the cutting board to start making the stuffing.
“Can we discuss it tomorrow night? My mom wants me to help her with the baking and cooking. You guys could still come with me if you want.”
“Thanks but Abby and I need some time together, especially after this past week,” Max tells her as he checks the pantry to see if we need anything from the store before it closes.
“Give our love to your parents,” I tell her as I hug her again.
“I’m just glad that we’re talking again. I’ve missed you.” My cell phone chimes right at that moment and I smile. “I’ll say goodbye now so you can talk to Cash. See you tomorrow.”
Cash: Save me from this insanity!
Me: Rethinking the Thanksgiving dinner? What are you going to be like come New Year’s Eve?
Cash: *facepalm* Shit! I forgot about that, thanks for reminding me.
I laugh out loud, and Max kisses the top of my head as he leaves the kitchen.
Me: Sorry? lol
Cash: Call you later. Another emergency that needs my attention.
I make my way into the living room where Max is sitting. “You didn’t have to leave.”
“I didn’t know if he was going to call or not. I wanted to give you some privacy. Did the two of you talk a lot this week?”
“Yeah, he called me Saturday night and wouldn’t leave me alone until I caved. I think we’re growing close. It scares me.” I admit as I sit on the couch next to him. Our living room is my favorite place in the house. It’s a big room with three black leather recliners plus a matching couch for when we have company, which we usually have quite a lot of during football season. The walls are lined with bookcases that don’t fit into the office area. Max has every game system out there, and we have tournaments during the spring. While looking for a TV, we all agreed since the entertaining is always here, that we needed to go big. The five of us chipped in to get a seventy-five -inch flat screen.
“Scared about what?” he questions me as he puts the TV on mute.
I’m about to answer Max’s question when his phone goes off, interrupting us. “Oh joy, it’s Dad,” he mutters. “Hey, Dad how are you?” Max answers.
“I need to find Abby. She needs to help me at the diner, and she isn’t answering her phone. I bet she’s out eating because that’s all she does.” I gasp as I overhear him. My dad isn’t a quiet man when he talks on the phone.
“ Dad, she doesn’t always eat. We’ve been running in the evenings and working out in our home gym. If you ever paid attention to her, you’d know that she’s lost weight. Why does what she looks like matter so much?” Max is always defending me.
“I care because she’s my daughter and an embarrassment. I’m surprised you go out in public with her. Anyway, tell Abby to get to the diner,” he barks.
“No.” Max refuses and hangs up the phone. “I really can’t stand him.”
“Welcome to my world,” I mumble.
“What are we going to do about you meeting Cash? Have you told him that you want to meet face to face?” Max continues interrogating me.
“No, I haven’t because I don’t know when it could happen, or if he wants to see me. I think after we get back, I’ll bring it up to him.”
“You better or I’ll do it myself.”
“Do it and you will be Maxine!” I kick him, and he pretends like I hurt him.
My phone starts ringing, and I groan. “It’s Mom calling. I should send her to voicemail.”
“Answer it. Put her on speaker phone.” Max orders as he hits the green button.
“Hello?” I put her on speakerphone so Max can hear how I get treated.
“Abigail, you are needed in the diner. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”
“Mom, Max told Dad that I can’t do it.” I’m getting annoyed with the two of them not listening to what I say.
“I expect Max to have plans but you, really? You have no life or friends other than Max, Sarah, and those two boys,” she says ‘boys’ with such distaste.
“Mom, I’m not doing it. I’m sorry.”
“Abigail Elizabeth Stephens, I will see you in thirty minutes.” She disconnects without waiting for a reply.
“I guess I’m heading to work.” I sigh and get to my feet.
“No, we have plans. You’re an adult; you can make your own decisions, and you said no. Let’s rent some movies and grab something quick for dinner since we’ll be cooking up a storm tonight and tomorrow.” Max suggests as he pushes me out the door to his truck.
CASH
I look at the calendar and can’t believe its December 22nd already. It seems like it was just Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving dinner, several weddings, Christmas parties and Sweet Sixteen parties went as well as can be expected. Only three staff members quit in the past month; I think it’s some new record. Two weeks to go and I can take a nap. I hear a knock on the door just as I’m about to sit down, I pull it open to reveal Robin standing there smiling, holding up a coffee.
“What do you want, Robin?” I’m tired and not in the mood to deal with her. She saunters in and places the coffee on the desk. Robin jumps onto my desk, leaning forward, so her breasts are in my eye view as she moves her fingers up and down my jawline.
“I thought I would stop by to see what you were doing for Christmas. I’d like to invite you to spend the day with my family.”
“Robin, you’re engaged to be married and the last time I checked, it’s not to me. So no, I won’t be spending the day with you or your family.” I tell her as I remove her from my desk and lead her to the door. She’s now face-to-face with me and not happy at all.
“You don’t have to be so rude about it,” she huffs.
“I’m not being rude. You’re the one who’s being inconsiderate to your fiancé, because if he finds out that you invited your ex to a family function while he’s out of town, he’s not going to be happy with you.”
“How did you know that he was out of town?” She seems shocked that I know so much about her fiancé.
“I ran into him a couple of days ago. Please go away and don’t come back here until your wedding day. If you have anything that needs to be said, say it through your wedding planner.” I motion for her to leave. She slams my door shut.
I hit the intercom button. “Jenny? Come here, please?” I don’t wait to hear her response. She knocks on the door and comes in a few minutes later.
“Did you need something?” She looks exhausted. We’ve been coming in at seven a.m. and staying until almost nine at night for the last three weeks.
“Were you not at your desk about two minutes ago?” I ask her, irritated.
“No I went to the bathroom,” she answers, her face forming a puzzled frown.
“Robin was just here. She had the audacity to invite me to spend Christmas with her while the fiancé is out of town.” I scoff, remembering her reaction to my response.
“I wish you would have told her no when she first came here.”
“I should’ve, but I wanted her to see that I don’t still carry a torch for her.”
“Speaking of moving on, have you talked to Abby lately?”
“I haven’t talked to her this evening. It’s been hard with the way we’ve been working, and she’s been crazy with school. She’s got the school break coming up, and her vacation.”
“Does she know where she’s going?”
I start laughing knowing it was driving Abby nuts because they won’t give her the details. “No. All she knows is it’s somewhere south of Pennsylvania. I think she threatened to hurt them s
everely if they don’t tell her.”
“How does she know what to pack?”
“Sarah’s packing for her.”
“I’d be going crazy if I didn’t know where I was spending my vacation.”
“I think it’ll be good for her. She needs to trust them after that fight they had just before Thanksgiving. We did make a promise to keep in contact.” My phone starts ringing, speak of the devil. “I was just talking about you to Jenny,” I answer with a smile on my face.
“Uh oh, all good I hope,” she replies, giggling.
“Is there anything but good things to talk about when it comes to you?”
“Bullshit!” she coughs.
“Oh, I like her!” Jenny burst out, thrilled that I have the call on speakerphone.
“Did you hear what Jenny said?”
“No I didn’t, am I on speakerphone?” she asks with an annoyed tone. She hates being put on speakerphone for some reason.
“Sorry about that, I need to keep working if I want to get out of here early. She says that she likes you.”
“Oh, why what did I do to earn that?” she asks laughing. I get lost in it. I think if any of my friends heard the thoughts in my head when it comes to Abby, my man card would be revoked, burned; flushed down the toilet.
“She likes how you give me shit for things and don’t back down from me.”
“I don’t plan to let you get away with anything. How’s your day going?”
“Long. I want to crawl into bed and sleep for two weeks.” I say with a yawn. “I need more coffee.”
“Are all of your parties planned so you can relax for a little bit?” she asks.
“January 1st is when I can relax. We’re just too busy.”
“I’m almost to my parent’s house to do Christmas. We’re doing it early since we leave tomorrow. We have some stops along the way and check in at the hotel on Christmas Eve.”
“I’m working the front desk on Christmas. My normal girl who works, her husband just got back from deployment. It’s their first Christmas together, and I don’t want her to work.”
“Wait a second. You mean to tell me, “Mr.-I-Am-Never-Getting-Married” is a romantic underneath it all?” she chortles at me.
“Will you keep it down; I don’t want to lose my reputation for being an asshole.”
“I promise that no one will ever know you’re a romantic guy.” She’s chuckling now.
“Will you stop saying that? I have you on speaker and people are walking by my office.”
“I’ll stop for now because my mother is staring out the living room window watching me. Max is already inside, and I don’t want to deal with her twenty questions. I think you should go home and get some rest. Tell Jenny to take the day off tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Abby, I just might do that,” Jenny calls out from the doorway.
“Of course, you walk into my office at that time.” I shake my head. “Bye, Abby. Call me when you’re done with your parents. Good luck with your mom.” We say our goodbyes and hang up.
“I’m heading out. I’m falling asleep sitting there, and I still have presents to wrap,” Jenny informs me.
“I need to finish up these emails and then I’ll be leaving too. I can’t believe we have that big party in a week. I hope it’s a success.”
“It will be. You, Sally, and the rest of the staff are going to make it amazing. The guests aren’t going to know what hit them. Who knows, we just might be the premier spot for all kinds of parties after this.”
“I hope so, but get out of here.”
“Goodnight, boss.”
My phone beeping startles me awake. I peer at it blearily, noting the time is 3:30 a.m. The flashing on the screen indicates I have a voicemail from Abby.
“Hey, Cash. I’m sure you’re sleeping. It’s almost midnight, and I’m just getting home. My mom had twenty questions which I avoided. I hope you take some time to relax and recharge yourself. Text me tomorrow when you get a chance. Goodnight. “
I lay back down with a smile on my face and the next thing I know; my alarm is going off. I look at the time; six a.m. and my head is pounding. I hit the snooze button until the very last possible minute. It’s the day before Christmas Eve, but you couldn’t tell by my apartment. No presents wrapped and no decorations. I figure I’m only here to sleep so why bother? Plus, I’m staying at the hotel for the next week until the ball is over. I might even be able to sleep later. I grab my shower and coffee then head out the door. I call Abby on the way, and when she answers sounding groggy, I feel bad.
“Hello?” she mumbles.
“Hi, Abby, you were sleeping weren’t you?”
“What time is it?” I hear her moving around.
“It is 6:45, hon. I’ll call you later so go back to sleep,” I say with a yawn.
“I was getting up at 7:00 anyway. You sound exhausted.”
“I think I got like four hours asleep.” I yawn again.
“Will you be able to rest at all in the next couple of weeks?”
“I’m taking a couple of mornings off, but that’s about it. Can you hang on a second, I’m ordering some coffees for Jenny and I”? She’s silent while I place the order. “Excited for your adventure?”
“I just want to know where we’re going. Sarah packed for me while I was with my parents. I guess there are a few surprises up their sleeves.”
“I hope you get to enjoy the trip.” I thank the barista and head to work. “I can’t wait to find out where. Hey, it’s going to be warm so that must be nice this time of year, no snow.”
“I’m happy about the no snow part of this trip. They won’t let me drive so I have my Kindle charged, and I bought some new books too. I’m going to be all set.”
“I just hope you can relax. Uh oh.”
“What?” she asks.
“I just pulled up to the hotel. Jenny has her clipboard and Sally looks frazzled.”
“Did they spot you? Can you run and hide?” She’s giggling, and I can’t help but laugh with her.
“I’ve been spotted. I come bringing coffee!” I yell at them, and Abby laughs again. “I don’t want to say goodbye, but I better handle things. You guys be safe driving.”
“Have a good day. I’ll text you, but you call when you can so I don’t interrupt.”
“You could never interrupt, but I appreciate it.”
“Bye, Cash.” I think she’s blushing as she says goodbye.
“Did you not get my text messages?” Jenny asks frantically.
“No, I was on the phone with Abby. What’s going on?” Jenny runs down the list of problems and I know that I should have stayed in my bed. “Jenny, breathe. We’ll tackle the list one item at a time, see what’s important now and go from there. What has you so frazzled, sis?”
“Robin,” Sally says through clenched teeth. This is going to be a long day and it’s not even 8 a.m. I walk to my office and run my hands over my face as I groan. This is going to be a long ass day.
ABBY
After I shower and finish getting ready, I head downstairs to see Max, Rob, and Aaron mapping out our trip. They don’t notice me right away as they’re standing with their backs to me, map on the island. I walk over to the boys and push my way through them to try to get a glimpse. “Do I get to see the road trip map or is that a need to know as well?” Aaron lays himself across the counter to block it from my view. “I take that as a no,” I say with a laugh as I grab myself a cup of coffee.
“Sorry, baby girl but this is a surprise,” Rob says as he bats his eyes at me. I kiss him on the cheek.
“There’s this invention called GPS,” I inform them, looking for something for breakfast. The plan is to eat here and stop for lunch somewhere on the way.
“I want to do this trip the old-fashioned way since it’s a surprise.” Max tells me as he steals the banana I’m getting ready to cut up for my bowl of Cheerios. I grab another one then throw my banana peel at him.
“You know; you don�
��t have to keep it a surprise. You can tell me.” I tilt my head, trying to appear innocent.
“We feel bad for not including you in that dinner, so we just want to do something to surprise you.”
I start to protest. “But why? That’s not necessary.”
“Sarah decided, and we agreed. Trust us, baby girl.” I sigh, giving in.
“I will, but if it sucks, you’ll regret it.” We talk a little bit longer about Christmas and getting out of the cold. “When do we load up the car?”
“I’m going to wait until Sarah is out of the shower, or we could do it now. She already ate breakfast so we can leave as soon as she’s done.”
“Okay, I am going to gather up my Kindle and chargers. Do you have your chargers, Max?”
“Yep. In my bag.” I run into Sarah in the hall on my way to my room. She looks like she’s going to throw up.
“Sarah, you okay?” I hug her, and when we break apart, she starts expressing her concerns.
“I’m just nervous about this trip. What if you hate it? What if Max and I fight?” I give her hand a squeeze in reassurance.
“That’s a lot of what-if’s to be worried about so why don’t we just try to enjoy ourselves.” Max comes up to the top of the stairs to grab our bags from Sarah’s room and stops to look at us.
“You two okay?” We both nod as he grabs the rest of the bags, telling us to get a move on. Our neighbors must think we’re weird. We all wore shorts and t-shirts even though the temperature is ten degrees and snowing.
“Let the vacation begin!” Max calls out as he takes a picture of the five of us in his truck. He pulls down his shades, turns the tunes on and drives away from our house. Sarah, Aaron and I are in the back, singing, dancing and taking selfies. My phone starts ringing in my hand, and Sarah groans out loud when she sees who is calling. I know I shouldn’t, but I hit the green button to find out what my mother wants.
“Hello?” I answer as I lean into the front seat to turn down the music. Max swats my hand away, and I stick my tongue out to him.
Love Me Like You Do (Love Me Book 1) Page 7
