Love Me Like You Do (Love Me Book 1)

by Jaime Russell

  “Abby, glad I got you on the phone. Your father needs you to work the diner this week so here is your work schedule.”

  “Mom, that’s going to be hard since I’m not going to be in the state.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “We’re taking a trip,” I tell her.

  “I think I would have remembered that, Abigail. Who are we?”

  “Max, Sarah, Aaron and Rob.” She abruptly disconnects.

  “Sarah and Max, expect calls.”

  “My mom knows that we’re going. She helped plan the trip.”

  “Let me think on this to see if I can guess where we’re going.” I tap my chin as I tilt my head pretending to think. After several unsuccessful attempts, I give up.

  “We’re stopping for the night to give us a chance to rest. It won’t take us long to get there, but we’re on vacation.”

  “Why don’t we drive until dinner then get a room for the night?” I suggest to Max

  “We can do that. I don’t think I could sit for thirteen hours. My butt is numb.” Rob rubs his ass.

  “I can help with that, baby.” Aaron reaches over to rub it. My phone chimes and I look down and smile.

  “Cash,” everyone says as we all laugh.

  Cash: Do you know where you’re going?

  Me: No

  Cash: How many times did you threaten to kill, maim, and torture each one of them?

  Me: Only a few times not too bad.

  Cash: I bet you’re going to love where they’re taking you. Do you know where you are?

  Me: Some town in Virginia. I promised them that I wouldn’t Google anything.

  Cash: Very cool. Having fun, though?

  Me: I am. We’ve danced and sang in the car, laughed, and are just being weird. The pictures we’ve taken are crazy.

  Cash: Maybe someday I will see them.

  His comment shocks me. “What’s the matter, squirt?”

  “I’m texting Cash, told him about the crazy pictures we took, and he said maybe someday he will see them. Maybe I should I send him a—” Before I even finish my sentence about sending him a picture, everyone is yelling out a yes.

  “I can’t believe you two haven’t exchanged pictures yet,” Rob says staring at me. He’s heard me cry so many times about my self-esteem issues and my trouble with guys, he knows how hard putting myself out there is on me.

  “I’m afraid that he’ll stop talking to me,” I answer him honestly.

  “You’re so beautiful.” Max murmurs and I scoff at him.

  “Let me tell you something, baby girl, you’re so sexy. You turn heads. I hear them talk about how pretty you are, and girls are always talking about how they want your boobs or your ass. You always have a smile on your face no matter what’s going on. You need to start believing how beautiful you are.” I tear up at Rob’s words. It’s so damn hard to believe him, as much as I want to.

  Sarah snatches my phone and scrolls through the pictures. “We need to find the perfect one to send him.”

  “Are we going to send him a picture?” I’m leaning over to see what picture she’s thinking about sending Cash.

  “Yes. You’re going to put yourself out there more and enjoy life.” I roll my eyes, and then I hear her say, “Sent!”

  “What?” I grab the phone to see if she’s joking.

  My heart beats out of my chest. It’s been a year and a half since we first “met” and now he’s going to see what I look like. Sarah chose one of me smiling and laughing at something Aaron had said. It’s one of my favorites. I’m dying to know what he thinks of me. I let out a scream when I hear Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire playing. I made it his ringtone after finding out it’s his favorite song. I just stare at the phone, unable to pick up the call.

  “You better answer it or I will,” Sarah threatens as she reaches for the phone. I quickly obey before it gets sent to voicemail.

  “Hello?” I answer, apprehensive.

  “You’re nothing like I imagined.”

  “What?” I squeak. A tear slips out and tracks down my cheek his words. Max starts to reach for the phone, but I wave him off.

  “Abby, you’re more beautiful than I could dream up.” I smile and give the thumbs up to everyone. “Now, I’m giving you ten seconds to look at the message that was just sent to you. Hurry and come back to the phone,” he demands.

  The phone chimes again, and it’s a picture message. The caption reads, just took this, don’t mind the bags under my eyes.

  “Holy Mother of God!” Sarah shrieks in my ear as she peers over my shoulder. I tilt my phone towards her, and she starts to fan herself. “I think I need to start playing that computer game of yours,” she mutters, and I laugh.

  The man that’s staring back at me has the most beautiful brown eyes, short brown hair, and a smile that reaches his eyes. I can tell that he’s tall from the position of the camera. “What do I say to him? I don’t have a clue.” I’d put the phone on my chest to muffle the conversation.

  “You tell him, Holy Mother of God,” Max repeats Sarah’s words in a mocking tone, earning him a glare.

  “Fuck you.” I retort as Aaron clears his voice to get my attention.

  “You just tell him what you think,” he tells me. Aaron is the romantic, sentimental one of the group. I smile at him and take a deep breath before putting the phone up to my ear.

  “Sorry about that,” I begin to apologize until I hear Cash’s laughter. “You heard our conversation didn’t you?”

  “I did. It was very sweet. I heard, I’m assuming it’s Sarah, tell me what she thinks, but I don’t care about her opinion. What did you think?”

  “You look tired and very sexy,” I reply as I blush.

  “Why thank you, Abby but I think I’m the lucky one. I got the smoking hot babe talking to me.” I can’t help but chuckle. “Abby, I hate doing this, but Jenny is standing in the doorway with her clipboard. I’m burning that damn thing once the holidays are over,” he grumbles.

  “When we stop for the night, I’ll give you a call. Text me when you can. Bye, Cash.”

  “Bye, beautiful.” We hang up the phone, and I just sit there with a smile on my face. Where do Cash and I go from here now that we know what the other person looks like? I’m a nervous wreck because this is going to change our entire relationship.

  CASH

  I can’t believe that I can now look at Abby. She’s so beautiful. I need to see her and after the first of the year, I’m making that happen I keep staring at her photo and smiling.

  “Here are those files you wanted,” Jenny says as she comes into my office with Sally was right behind her. “What are you looking at that’s putting that goofy look on your face?”

  “Abby sent me a picture of herself. She’s so beautiful.” I hand the phone to Jenny.

  “Wow, she is beautiful. Did you send one back?” I nod and replay the response from her and her friends.

  “So are you going to meet her?” Sally asks.

  “After the first of the year, I’m going to go to Pennsylvania. I need to see her, touch her and be with her.”

  “Slow down, Cash. You don’t even know if she wants that and you’re already talking about rearranging things.”

  “Rearranging what? I’m not moving there. I’m just taking time off to meet her. Why can’t you ever support my decisions that mean something to me and not this damn hotel?” I get up, grab my phone and storm out. I hear Sally call my name, and I turn to look at her.

  “So this is it, every time I voice my opinion, you just walk away?”

  “No it isn’t that, every time you tell me that I can’t do something or say what I’m thinking and feeling is wrong, then yes, I will walk away from you. You have your life; I didn’t tell you who to marry or give my opinion when you were dating Matt so butt out of my life. I’m so sick of it.”

  “Fine! Then walk away from me, but remember, one of these days, I just might not be here.”

  “Why does i
t have to be all or nothing with you? Why can’t you just let me live my life and if I make a mistake or get my heart broken, then be there for me to help pick up the pieces? You’re my big sister, and I love you, Sally, you have to let me breathe.”

  “I can’t do that. I’m sorry.”

  “Then I guess we have nothing to say to each other right now. I’ll see you tomorrow night for Christmas Eve dinner. I love you.” I kiss her cheek and go to my room to wrap presents.

  I keep replaying the argument with Sally over in my head. I notice my phone beeping. I plopped onto the bed to look at it.

  Abby: Stopping for the night. I think I know where we’re going.

  Me: Oh where?

  Abby: Hey! I thought you might have been asleep.

  Me: Nah, just got done playing Xbox with Shawn

  Me: So where are you and where do you think you’re going.

  Abby: I’m glad that you were a good boy.

  Abby: North Carolina and Florida

  Me: Oh you will love Florida. It’s been hot lately. Do you know what part?

  “Please say Miami,” I say to myself out loud.

  Abby: That part is still hidden.

  Me: Are you excited?

  Abby: I am! I can’t wait to get on the beach and dance the night away. I need this vacation.

  Me: I need one too.

  Abby: Yes, you do

  I’m going to call it a night, Sarah wants to watch a movie before we crash. Goodnight.

  I hit the call button. “Hi, there!” Abby seems happy to hear from me.

  “I haven’t heard your voice since this morning, and I wanted to hear it again.”

  “Cash, you keep saying things like this and the whole asshole reputation you have is going to go down in flames.”

  I laugh. “Well depending on who you talk to; I’ll always be the asshole. You just bring out that sweet side of me.”

  “I guess I’m lucky that I get to see both sides then. Are you ready for Christmas Eve with the family?”

  “Not really, Sally and I got into it.”

  “You two have been doing a lot of that lately. What about now?”

  “Oh the usual, she wants to tell me what to do. I told her that I need her to let me make my own mistakes, and she told me that she couldn’t let me do it.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m thankful that Max lets me make the mistakes, and learn from them.” I yawn, and Abby laughs. “Go to bed and I will talk to you in the morning.”

  “Sweet dreams my, Abby girl.”

  “Good night, Cash.”

  I hang up the phone and smile as I crawl into bed. Abby is coming to Florida, now I wonder what part of Florida and can I sneak away to see her?

  ABBY

  “Do you think she’ll kill us when she finds out? I’m worried but excited at the same time. No, she’s still sleeping. I’ll start waking her up so we can get on the road. Yeah, bye.”

  I’m laying here, awake and listening to Sarah talk to someone that I assume is Max. What don’t they want me to find out and what did they do?

  “Abby, it’s time to wake up. The guys want to do breakfast before we get on the road.”

  “Do I have time to shower?” I fake waking up, so she doesn’t catch on that I overheard her.

  “Of course, you do. We don’t have to check out until eleven.”

  “You can tell I’m on vacation mode; I slept an extra three hours than I normally do,” laughing as I start to rummage through my bag. I turn to look at her. “Am I allowed in my bag or do you have my outfit picked out already?”

  She gives me a look. “Let me pick something out, if that is okay?”

  “Sure just please make it comfortable.”

  “Okay, get a shower, and I’ll have it ready for you.” When I come back out, there’s a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt waiting for me. I throw my hair up into a ponytail and go hunting down my friends.

  “There she is! You look relaxed.” Rob says over to me and kissing me on the cheek.

  “I can’t believe how relaxed I am. I did wake up to a couple of voicemails from my parents, but I just deleted them. I’m not going to let them ruin this vacation for us. I’m starving, let’s eat.”

  “A girl after my own heart. Did you know that Max snores and talks in his sleep?” Aaron tells us, and Sarah, and I answer yes.

  “Where are we going to eat?” I ask as my stomach growls.

  “I figure we can drive around the area and find something because the hotel breakfast is closed. We missed it.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Sarah ushers us all out the door and into the car.

  Max pulls into a local diner for us to grab some breakfast. I try again to get some idea of where we’re going, but they wouldn’t budge. “Are you going to blindfold me so I can’t see?” I laugh, and Sarah tilts her head and taps her lips, considering. I roll my eyes and throw my napkin at her. I paid the check since it’s my turn, and then we get back on the road.

  We finally hit Florida and pull over, deciding to take goofy pictures at the Florida sign. The whole tone of the trip is excitement, fun, and just us being ourselves. I sit up front with Max as he drives, thankful for the quality time with my brother. Looking around the SUV, I smile seeing Aaron, Rob, and Sarah asleep. These people are my family, and I’m so lucky to have them in my life. “What is that smile for, squirt?”

  “I’m just thinking about how this is our family. I felt so at peace and loved with everyone in the car. I don’t have to pretend to be someone that I’m not. You don’t have to worry about your past. Aaron and Rob can be themselves without judgment and Sarah can let loose. She’s been so worried about her dad not approving of what she does that she can’t be free to be herself.”

  “I guess that’s why you two are best friends, you both have parents that disapprove of you, and you both hide who you are.”

  “I wish he didn’t have so much power over me. I do, but how do I get him out of my head?”

  “You need to take control of your life.” Max answers and I sit silently, thinking about what he said. He’s right. It’s time I stop letting what everyone else thinks dictate how I live my life.

  We decide to take a break to get some lunch when we’re about two hours away from the hotel. We stop at a diner that reminds me of Mama’s Diner. After we all order, I can no longer stand it.

  “Okay, can I know where we’re going now?”

  “Yes, we’re heading to Miami!”

  “I’ve always wanted to go to Miami. Is this a trip that everyone wanted or was it for me?”

  Sarah laughs. “My mom always talked about how fabulous it is, so I knew that’s where I wanted to go, it’s just a bonus that this is on your ‘To-Go List.’” On cloud nine, I hug her tightly around the neck. I can’t believe I’m in the same state as Cash. I wonder briefly if I should message him, but put that thought out of my mind when our food arrives. We were able to talk openly about our plans before leaving lunch and stopping at the local supermarket. Sarah tells us that our rooms are all connected so we can share the food. We grab junk food, soda, water, and alcohol. I can’t believe that the five of us who are from a small town in Pennsylvania are in shorts, and flip flops on Christmas Eve.

  “Are we doing presents in the morning before or after breakfast?” Max asks.

  “Most hotels serve breakfast to a certain point, so we might need to eat first then do presents. What are we doing about Christmas dinner?”

  “The hotel is providing a dinner, but we’re on our own for lunch, so I figure that we’d just stock up on food from here.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Sarah and I head off to pick up some healthy foods since I’m not a big fan of junk all the time. We arrive at the hotel, and I’m in awe. It’s so beautiful. “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” We all laugh at Aaron.

  “I feel underdressed here. I think I left my diamonds in my other coat pocket.” I follow Sarah in to check in while the guys were unloading the car.
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br />   “Hello! We’re checking in. Here is the hotel confirmation number.”

  “Hello, and welcome to Hawthorne’s. Are you here for the holiday?”

  “Yes, we’re here for the next week.”

  “Will you be here for the New Year’s Eve ball?”

  “Yes, we will and can’t wait for it. This place looks so magical.”

  “This place is fantastic to visit and even work here. The owners are pleasant. Here are your room keys. The pool is open both indoor and outdoor. Do you need help with your bags?”

  “No thank you, we brought our own servants with us,” Sarah says, pointing to the three guys wondering in looking around. “Do we look like tourists?”

  Stacy, according to her nametag, smiles warmly at us. “Yes but it’s okay. A lot of our guests, in a day or two, just walk in and out not stopping to look at anything.”

  “Thank you so much for your help.”

  “Enjoy your stay at Hawthorne’s.”

  We start walking towards the elevator. Sarah whispers something to Max, and he looks back at the reception desk. I start to look back, but they call my name.

  “Abby, you and I are sharing a room. I know you want your own room, but I don’t want that. Max is going to bounce between rooms. When the happy couple wants to get it on, he’s with us.”

  “We want to get it on all the time, but we’ll behave ourselves.”

  I get into the elevator, and Max is standing right in front of me so I can’t see out the door. They’re up to something, and I don’t like it.

  “It’s your Christmas present. We had to ask them to keep it for us. It isn’t wrapped.”

  “Oh. Then why didn’t you say so?” I roll my eyes; I can tell he’s lying.

  Our room is to die for. We both have queen size beds. The bedding is a beautiful light green and not those ugly flower ones that we had last night. The view is amazingly breathtaking. I step out on our private balcony to get a better look. I’ve never seen the beach before and inhaling deep; I decide that I love the smell of the ocean. I can’t wait to put my feet on the sand. I walk back into the room and see Sarah laying on the bed looking very relaxed.