by Conn, Claudy
“Of course I’m going to the funeral. It’s just that—” Abbie’s speech trailed off as she concentrated on maneuvering through the snow covered streets.
“Just what?”
“Never mind, you’ll think it’s silly.”
“Geez, woman, would you just spill it already?” Jason stared at her, tapping his finger impatiently, waiting for her response.
“Trust me, I’ve imagined what it would be like to see Dylan after all these years. More times than I care to admit. You, of all people, know that. What I didn’t imagine was me in uniform, looking and feeling like death warmed over. Not to mention, I have the whole Rudolph thing going on with the red nose.”
It wasn’t like Abbie normally looked like crap, she had been too worn out to care what she looked like when she left the house. Emmie was up all night last night with a fever, cough, sore throat, and stuffy nose.
“I had no idea kids were such germ magnets,” Abbie pouted. She knew she was running a fever, but she wasn’t coughing like her daughter was. Her body ached, and she would kill right about now for some ibuprofen.
“You look fine. Maybe a little sick, but it’s not that bad.”
Abbie winced at her appearance as she glanced in the rearview mirror. “You’re such a bad liar, Jason.”
“I know. I was just trying to make you feel better.”
“Yeah, just be lucky you’re a guy and can get away with not having to look your best every time you leave the house. Try being a woman for once and see what we go through just to impress your species.”
“I’ll pass if it’s all the same to you. Besides, I like being the one in a relationship with a—well, lil Jason.”
“Lil Jason? Really? God, I wish I could un-hear that. It’s something I never, ever needed to know. You still don’t understand the concept of TMI, do you?”
“Please, you act like you haven’t been around me just about every day for the last twenty-five years. You should expect these things by now. Besides, it’s not like you haven’t had the chance to test drive lil Jason. It’s not my fault you’ve stuck me solidly in the friend zone…for life.”
“Jason, we’ve had this conversation before. You’re like the brother I never had, and never wanted. Remember the one time we kissed? Even you have to admit, it was weird as hell.”
Jason sighed, “You’re killin’ me, Abbs. You’re basing everything on a kiss that happened at a school dance in the sixth grade. Of course it was weird, for the love of God, woman, we were twelve. And if I remember correctly, you dumped me the very next day. You were the vixen who crushed my pre-teen heart, scarred me for life.”
Abbie rolled her eyes at Jason’s argument. She’d heard it a million and one times by now. Each retelling grew a bit more elaborate than the last. “Please, you moved on to Andrea Kingsman the next day. I hardly think your heart was broken.”
“For the record, I only moved on to Andrea because her name came next alphabetically in the class, and I wanted to make you jealous. But I’ll have you know, you were my first true love. What I offer now is much more experience. I’ve had years of practice and upped my game. Besides, maybe I was hoping for a little MILF action.” Jason couldn’t help but laugh at their usual banter.
“Really, Jason!” Abbie shook her head at his latest antics. “Okay, someone needs to get out more. And no more late night porn surfing for you!”
Abbie and Jason joked around for the remainder of the short trip to Parker’s. The laughter helped to lighten the mood. They quickly fell into their normal, comfortable routine. Jason had always been there for Abbie, no matter what. There were times when she didn’t know what she would have done without him by her side. Abbie loved Jason with all of her heart—as a brother. She truly counted him as her best friend, even if she was oblivious to the fact that he wanted more.
Once they arrived, Jason called in their location and they exited the car. Abbie moved slower than normal, dreading the thought of seeing Dylan. Maybe she would luck out and he’d be home with his mom. A girl could pray, right? Deep down, Abbie knew her prayer had no hope of being answered. She knew Mrs. Parker would be at the pub, where she was every single day of the week. She wasn’t the type to stay home and mourn.
Jason reached for the door when it suddenly flung open. He jumped back just in time to avoid being hit by an airborne drunk. Abbie’s heart stopped at that very moment. She didn’t care if it ever started to beat again. Oblivious to the chaos that brought her here, her eyes were fixed to the towering hunk of a man filling the doorway.
Her mind tried to form a cohesive sentence, but all logic was lost. “Oh hell,” was all that managed to escape from her mouth.
Chapter Three
Dylan had always been handsome and tall, but Abbie remembered him much differently. She still pictured Dylan in his scrawny teenage years. When he left, he was but a boy, tall and slim. Now…whew, Lord almighty. It didn’t matter one iota that she wanted to hate him. Rope after rope of solid muscle lined his tall frame. His dark hair was cropped short in a standard military style, and it looked good—so good. Her eyes roamed over his thick neck, remembering how many times her lips traversed the same terrain. His black T-shirt stretched over his chest, showcasing tattoos that peeked out from under his short sleeves. Oh God, she wanted to lick them.
An assembly of spectators gathered. All eyes were on her, anxiously waiting for her reaction to Dylan’s arrival. And she couldn’t have cared less. Nothing could interrupt Abbie’s slow perusal of the specimen before her.
If Abbie hadn’t been so sick, her ovaries would have cheered for joy…maybe even danced a bit in celebration. Raw need wanted to course through her body, but feeling like death shut that shit down in a flash.
When her eyes ever so slowly made their way back up to Dylan’s, Abbie didn’t have to work hard to feign indifference. Maybe if she had felt better, it would be an entirely different story…nah, probably not. As far as she was concerned, her indifference was a good thing. No doubt his stay in Cedar Lake would be a short one. There was no way in hell she was going to give him the opportunity to break her heart, not again. If she could just maintain her anger around him, about what he put her through, she’d be good to go.
Jason was the first to break the awkward silence. “Dylan, my man! It’s great to see you!” Jason shook Dylan’s hand, giving him the typical bromance hug, a handshake given with a firm pat on the shoulder.
“Hey Jason, good to see you and Abbs. I had no idea the two of you were part of Cedar Lake’s finest boys…and girls, in blue.”
Butterflies danced in Abbie’s stomach, and not the good ones. Please don’t ask me for a hug…or wait…please ask me for a hug…no, don’t! She wasn’t sure what she wanted Dylan’s reaction to be.
Dylan didn’t keep her waiting long. As soon as he broke free from Jason, he wrapped her in the tightest bear hug possible.
It was all she could do to bite her tongue through the pain his hug inflicted. Seeing Dylan again, hugging him again, was something she dreamed about, every day, ten times a day since he left. But right now, as much as she hated to, she knew for sure she’d throw up on him if she didn’t let go.
“You look great, Abbs,” Dylan whispered in her ear, sending shivers over her body with each warm breath.
“Uhh, thanks,” Abbie backed away from Dylan. “I’m really sorry to hear about your dad.” Abbie took a deep breath, trying to breathe through the pain that suddenly shot through her stomach.
This is not going to turn out well. She leaned against the patrol car, using it to prop herself up, hoping Jason didn’t notice she had taken a turn for the worse. The last thing she wanted was a big production about how she should have listened to him and stayed home. Time to wrap up this little reunion, Abbie thought. Switching to business mode, the standard spiel flew from her mouth.
“We’re responding to a call about a fight. The caller said things had gotten out of hand, something about chairs being smashed?”
&
nbsp; “I wouldn’t say outta hand, Abbs. More like, we had a small disturbance that’s been handled.” Dylan motioned to the drunk sprawled on the sidewalk. It was the same one he’d tossed from the establishment just moments before.
Jason hauled the drunk up off the ground. “Outta hand, huh? I haven’t seen anyone thrown out of Parker’s in years.” Jason walked the man to the police car, seating him gently in the back. “You better not throw up in there. Got it?”
The man barely nodded as his head dropped forward and he began to snore. Jason wrapped the seatbelt around the man before closing the door tightly.
“Yeah, well, he deserved it.” Dylan shrugged his shoulders in an effort to act innocent—mostly.
“Are you the new bouncer?” Jason joked.
“Nah, just helping my mom out a bit,” Dylan explained.
Not wanting to lose her cookies, Abbie quickly began to lose her patience with the men in front of her. “So, what happened?”
“Mom refused to serve him after we found him passed out in the men’s room. He didn’t like it and flipped over a table, breaking one of the chairs when it crashed to the floor. That’s when I grabbed him and gave him the boot.”
“Does Mrs. Parker want to press charges?” Jason asked.
“No, but he’s banned for life. I’m assuming you’ll let him know, after he sobers up,” Dylan’s reply was sure and swift. The drunkard would have no hope for reentry to the pub, not even if it was the last place in town serving a hot meal and a glass of water.
Did someone turn up the heat? Abbie looked around at the snowflakes falling all around her and wondered how she could be so damn hot when it was literally freezing outside. Feeling like she was ready to pass out, Abbie unzipped her heavy winter jacket. She prayed for some sort of relief as she sucked in one deep breath after another.
When the freezing air failed to cool her down quick enough, Abbie removed her jacket and tossed it on the hood of the car.
“You okay, Abbie?” Jason looked puzzled.
“I’m just really hot. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“I have that effect on women.” Dylan winked.
Abbie and Jason rolled their eyes in unison.
Jason was the first to reply. “Same ole Dylan, as cocky and arrogant as ever.”
Abbie couldn’t help but notice the grin that spread across Dylan’s full lips.
“I’m not cocky. I’m confident.”
“He just upgraded to a fancy new wrapper.” Abbie unbuttoned the top two buttons of her top. Oh my god, if I don’t cool down soon, I’m gonna end up stripping in the damn street.
Never one to mince words, Dylan’s reply was as sweet as honey. His hands slowly swept over his torso to his hips. “You know, Abbs, you’re more than welcome to check out the package under all this wrapping.”
“Ugh, really? Been there, done that. I think I’d rather—” Oh no. Please, Lord, keep me from throwing up in front of Dylan, Abbie prayed in her mind, over and over again. Knowing it was doing no good, she made her way to the back of the car.
“You’d rather what? Hey, where are you going?” Dylan looked on, perplexed, as Abbie walked away.
“Yo, Abbie, you okay?” Jason jogged to her side.
Abbie could only shake her head. If she opened her mouth, it wasn’t going to be a pretty scene.
Jason reached for her as her head started to spin. To her utter dismay, there would be no holding it in as another round of pain shot through her stomach. Abbie tried to warn Jason to back up, but as soon as her lips parted, there was no stopping the flow.
Jason jumped back as the warm spray coated his legs.
Dylan’s face cringed at the sight before him. “I’m going to grab some towels. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Good idea. Can you grab a bottle of water for Abbie, maybe a couple of wet towels, too?”
“You got it.” Dylan sprinted back inside the pub.
Within a few minutes Abbie had it under control, she hoped. Dylan handed her a towel and a bottle of water.
“Thanks, Dylan.”
The look on Abbie’s face was one of mortification when she glanced over at Jason. “I am so sorry, Jason.”
Jason tried to shrug it off. “You have a real knack for this, Abbs. I do have to ask, is it just me that you like to throw up on? Or am I always in the wrong spot at the wrong time?”
Abbie could only offer a weak smile.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Jason teased, “I think it’s time to get you home.”
Abbie tried to laugh, but the cramping in her stomach returned. A soft moan escaped her lips. She bent over the trunk of the car, placing her arms under her head.
“I think Dylan broke me with his hug,” Abbie joked in misery.
“What? I did no such thing!” Dylan bit back a chuckle.
Abbie needed to go home, plain and simple. She wanted nothing more than her bed, pillows, and a giant bottle of Motrin.
“You have the drunk in the back to contend with. I’ll call my mom.” Abbie fumbled with her phone. The touch screen looked bleary and uneven. Her head spun again. “Why am I so damn hot?”
Jason placed his hand on her forehead. “Abbs, you’re burning up. We need to get you to the hospital.”
“No. I’ll be fine. I just need to lay down. I’ll call my mom and she’ll come get me.”
“I’ll take her,” Dylan volunteered.
“I don’t want to be sick in your car,” Abbie protested.
“It’s a rental. I’m not worried about it.”
“You sure?” Jason asked.
“Yep. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her.”
Abbie had one more round of vomiting before they finally helped her into Dylan’s car.
“It’s okay, Abb’s. Dylan will take you to get checked out. I’ll call your mom and let her know what’s going on.”
“What about Emmie?” Abbie needed to make sure the sitter knew what was going on.
“I’ll call your mom and take care of it, sweetheart. Don’t worry.”
Abbie nodded in response as Jason backed away. He would take care of it for her. No matter what, he was always there for her.
Chapter Four
Dylan tried to take it easy on the drive, but the snow covered roads made it damn near impossible. Abbie moaned with each bump, swerve, and jerk of the car.
Her eyes flew open when his fingers laced with hers. He could see the worry on her face. “Hey, Abbs. You’re gonna be fine. Just try to relax if you can, we’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes.”
Abbie nodded before closing her eyes again.
This definitely wasn’t what he had in mind when he saw her for the first time. His vision of the way it would go down included: laughing, joking, maybe a little stroking. Yeah right!
Okay, so maybe that last part had been more of a fantasy. A guy could dream, right?
Bottom line was, he expected a chilly reception from most of the town, especially Abbie.
There were so many things he wanted—needed to say to her. Screw ups he needed to beg forgiveness for, but now was not the time.
Just because he was gone for the last six years didn’t mean Abbie was gone from his heart. She was his first everything, he would always love her, no matter how great the distance between them.
He glanced down at their hands, seeing them twined together, not remembering the last time he’d held hands with a woman.
When they arrived at the hospital, there was a team waiting for Abbie. Jason had obviously called to notify the hospital of her arrival. From the response, he must have told them there was an injured police officer en route.
Doctors and nurses swarmed the car as he got her into a wheelchair. Dylan followed closely behind until they reached a corridor marked: No visitors beyond this point. One of the nurses quickly spun around, halting Dylan in his tracks.
“Sir, if you’ll have a seat in the waiting room, we’ll let you know when we have an update.”
> “As soon as you have an update,” Dylan hesitantly agreed. “Take good care of her.”
“She’s one of our own, and in the best possible hands. I know it’s tough, but try to relax.”
He paced back and forth, the blare of the television in the background driving him insane. He pulled his cellphone from his pocket, his fingers flying across the touchscreen. He sent a text message to his mom, letting her know what was going on and that he’d be waiting for Abbie.
Guilt swept over him once again, he’d spent a few hours with his mom and knew she was holding up, considering the situation.
For whatever reason, Dylan needed Abbie to know he was there for her.
Seeing Abbie, for the first time in years, brought back a landslide of memories. Holding her in his arms, at last, was a dream come true. She felt so damn good, smelled so damn good. He never wanted to let go of her, it was everything else he needed to escape from. And he still couldn’t figure out a way to explain it to her without sounding like a jerk.
A loud commotion drew Dylan from his trip down memory lane. Abbie’s mom was in his face before he knew it. Anger seeped from her pores, clogging the air around them.
“What did you do to her this time, Parker?”
Tammy’s hostility toward Dylan was uncalled for. In fact, he’d never seen Tammy so upset in his life. Hell, he had spent more time at Abbie’s house growing up than he did his own.
“Tammy, I didn’t do anything to her. I swear. Mom called the police to deal with a drunk. I was surprised when she and Jason pulled up. I didn’t even know she was a cop. We were standing there talking, and the next thing I know, she’s throwing up all over the place.”
If looks could kill, Dylan would have died right there on the spot from the daggers Tammy shot at him. “Why are you here now?”
“I didn’t want Abbie to be alone, someone—I needed to be with her.” Dylan’s words were unwavering. He wasn’t about to explain himself to a woman that clearly didn’t like him.
