Both of us looked toward the front of the house, and in that moment, I knew who it was.
Turning my head, I looked over Abby’s shoulder to the TV monitor that displayed the feeds from the security cameras. I had put up a few monitors throughout the house a couple of years ago so that Abby could see who was here if she was home alone and someone showed up unannounced.
My heart slammed in my chest and a rush of heat raced through my entire body.
I had totally forgotten that last week I’d invited Jax to bring Ashley by to roast marshmallows before they left to go back to Boston. Since we’d been getting more snow than normal, Jax had been called back to the city with the idea that she’d return in the spring to continue her research.
I stood and dropped my napkin on the table as I muttered, “Fuck.”
How in the hell was this going to work? I couldn’t hurt Ashley’s feelings, but what would Abby think if I invited them to stay?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Stay right here, Abby.”
I hurried to the front door, praying Abby wouldn’t look at the security cameras. When I got to the door, I flung it open.
“Bishop!” Ashley dove forward and hugged my legs. “I’m so excited to roast marshmallows!”
My stomach twisted. I leaned down to kiss her on the head, then looked up at Jax. My smile faded. “I forgot you were coming.”
She looked past me and into the house. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I turned to see Abby standing there staring at us.
“I see that,” Jax replied.
My mind spun trying to figure out a solution. “Let me grab my coat, and I can have Bryce start up a fire for you guys.”
Ashley tugged on my shirt. “Are you not roasting marshmallows with us, Bishop?”
The look of hurt in her eyes just about killed me, but I knew it would be nothing like the pain in Abby’s if I left.
“Hi!” Ashley said, looking behind me. “Who are you? You’re sure pretty!”
Abby softly chuckled as she stepped up next to me. “My name’s Abby.”
Ashely grinned up at her. “This is my mom, Jax.” Abby and Jax exchanged uncomfortable hellos. “Abby, are you making s’mores with us?” Ashley asked.
When I glanced at Jax, she was staring down at Ashley, clearly trying to come up with something to say.
“You know what, Ashley?” she said. “We’re not going to be able to do that after all. Let’s just say goodbye to Bishop and thank him for being so nice to us while we were here.”
Ashley let out a groan. “But you promised!”
“It’s fine,” Abby said as she smiled at Jax and Ashley. She forced herself to look at me. “I think we were done eating anyway. Go, enjoy yourself.”
I stared at her helplessly, seeing the hurt in her eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to speak, but nothing would come out. She probably thought I had done this on purpose to hurt her. Ah fuck, I’ve messed this up.
“It’s okay, Bishop. We can finish the conversation later.” Abby turned and gave Ashley and Jax a fake-as-hell smile. It didn’t reach her eyes one bit. “It was nice to meet you both. Have fun, Ashley.”
And before I could say a word, she spun on her heels and made her way back into the house.
Turning to look at Ashley, I sighed, grabbed a jacket from the hall closet, and headed outside. Once we got off the front porch, Jax turned to face me.
“Are you sure she won’t mind?”
I stared at her with a stunned expression. It wasn’t what I had expected her to say, but then again, I had invited them and then forgotten about it.
“Jax, I’m really sorry.” I looked down at Ashley and crouched down to look her in the eyes. “You know the lady you just met? Abby?”
Ashley nodded. “She’s pretty.”
“Yeah, she is. I used to be married to her, but we got in a really big fight and broke up.”
Ashely frowned. “Is that why you only like Mommy as a friend?”
I looked up at Jax. She smiled.
Focusing back on Ashley, I nodded. “Yes. I don’t want to go back on a promise, Ashley, especially to you. But if I go with you and your mommy right now, Abby’s feelings will be hurt, and I really don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
“Cause you love her?” Ashley asked.
Jax put her hands on Ashley’s shoulders and kissed her on top of the head.
A bubble of sadness filled my lungs, and I had a hard time breathing. “Yeah, sweetheart. I love her a whole lot.”
A wide smile grew over Ashley’s face. “Can we make s’mores when we come back to Boggy Creek in the spring?”
Relief washed through me, and I brought Ashley in for a quick hug. “Yeah, we for sure can.”