Bait

She never looks away, not once.

I sigh when I finally slip into the driver’s seat. The dawn is breaking over the hills as we’re finally ready to roll.

I’ve spoken to Serena on the phone, and she’s already got Jake’s whereabouts.

They’ll keep us updated and all that jazz.

Which means it’s time for Sarah’s grandma’s special recipe, as Abigail keeps telling me.

She takes my hand as I start up the ignition. I feel thoroughly ridiculous in a blanket with my clothes in a disposable bag on the backseat, but I don’t give a fuck.

“You said we would get married tomorrow.” She laughs. “I think it’s technically tomorrow now.”

I smile back at her in the shadows. “You really wanna get married today?”

She shakes her head, but her smile is bright. “Maybe six months? Give me time to get to know Cameron. See if he’s okay with it.”

“Six months sounds fair,” I agree. “And you’ll be okay?” I dare to ask. “With Cam, I mean…”

Her smile sets my world on fire. “I know I’m going to love him,” she tells me. “Because he’s a part of you. I can’t think of anything better.”

I pull her close and breathe in her hair, and despite everything she still smells like coconut, and fear on the wind, and the woman I’m going to marry.

“I’m fucking starving,” I tell her, and she laughs.

“Me, too. Not gonna lie, I’m not feeling overly optimistic about that lasagne right now.”

But I am.

I just know it’s gonna be the best fucking meal in the world.

And if not, she’ll just have to eat the chocolate I bought her, maybe the flowers, too.

And me?

Well…

I’m just happy to eat her.EpilogueBlack as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.

Charles Maurice de TalleyrandAbigailIt takes three months for me to meet Cameron.

Three months of Leo dropping my name into conversations. Three months until Abigail becomes a normal word around the house.

I watch Cam often, snippets of videos here and there from Leo’s phone. Getting to know him slowly, even though we’ve never been in the same room.

I almost feel like I know him already. Almost.

But my belly is still thick with nerves as I pull my coat a little bit tighter against the chill and walk up to the duck pond.

I see them in the distance. Leo crouching up ahead as Cameron points at something on the water.

Our eyes meet over the boy’s head and Leo nods. So far so good. Everything going to plan.

Leo’s smile makes my soul sing, more now than ever. More and more each day.

I just pray his son likes me half as much as he does.

“Hey, champ,” he says as I get a little closer. “Look who it is, bud. This is Abigail.”

I hope my smile is bright enough as I look down at the little guy with the biggest brown eyes in the universe. I hope he likes my silly wave as I say hello.

Oh God, I hope he fucking likes me.

Please, please fucking like me.

My prayer is a grimace inside, but outside I think I keep on rocking it.

I’ve been planning this. Hoping for this. Dreading this at the same time.

But as Cameron waves up at me with his sweet little fingers, I know it’ll all be worth it. Whatever the cost.

The kid is totally adorable, just like his daddy.

“Abigail,” he says, and grins.

Leo smiles at him. “That’s right, Cam. You’ve heard all about Abigail, right?” Cam nods. Looks so proud of himself. “We’ve seen her pictures too, haven’t we?” Another nod.

I keep on smiling as Leo keeps on talking.

“And what did we bring for Abigail, just in case we got to see her today? Can you remember?”

Cam’s eyes light up so bright. He’s digging in his dad’s pocket with glee as Daddy gives me a wink.

“That’s it, you got it, champ!”

It takes my breath to see the folded piece of coloured card in Cameron’s hand.

There’s a stick picture of me. It’s definitely me. I’d recognise myself even in wax crayon. Also, I recognise the colour of my dress from the summer barbecue. Plus, the stick figure at my side on the drawing is a real giveaway.

Leo even looks hot as a stick man. I flash him the eye as I point to the drawing.

He raises an eyebrow, and I know he’s digging it, too.

“Did you do this?” I ask, and Cameron nods.

“Daddy,” he says and points to the tall brooding one. “Abigail,” he says after.

My heart soars. Bursts.

My heart belongs to that little boy just as soon as he’s uttered those words.

“Told you he was cute, didn’t I?” Leo breathes, and I nod. Oh hell, how I know.

I thank Cameron for my picture, and I guess I really do okay at this introduction crap, because no sooner have I thanked him than he’s holding his little hand up for mine and pulling me along to feed the ducks with him.