It hits me like an anvil, but I have to admit, I’m as surprised as Abby.

Deep down, as much as I hate the idea, I always assumed that Tasha had been with boys for a while.

I mean, she’s always had ‘em hanging around her.

I take a moment to let it sink in, slightly relieved that Abby’s kept our little rendezvous quiet.

I’d rather face my Tasha head-on with this honestly. She’s already going to be shocked as it is.

“Brad’s dad was away for the night and I wasn’t around to get in her way, so,” Abby says, shrugging and lifting her hands to the heavens.

“What can you do?” she sighs, but I can’t help feeling pissed.

I told that little shit.

“Turns out that Brad told Tasha he came around my house looking for her. And that’s when she realized he must really like her. Even though he’s a total jerk otherwise,” Abby chirps.

As if all the problems in the world have been solved because Brad had his end away with my daughter.

And you with somebody else’s daughter, Slade. Take a step back. Have a real hard look at things.

“I wonder if there’s anything else,” I add sarcastically, sensing there is and not surprised when Abby confesses the rest to me.

“My mom called too while you were in the shower. She wants me home like right now, says we ‘need to talk,’” she groans, making air quotations and rolling her eyes.

I feel the breakfast I just ate sitting a little heavier than I’d like, but I can’t pretend neither of us saw this coming.

If I’m gonna be with Abby, people have to know and now. Not all of them, including Tasha or Abby’s mom, are gonna be too thrilled about it.

“Okay,” I tell her, creasing a smile and telling her to come sit on my lap for a minute.

“I’ll run you home, but only once I’ve had a little more of you all to myself,” I growl, holding Abby close as we kiss.

Stroking her hair as I cradle her in my lap, believing her when she tells me that everything’s gonna work out just fine.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Abby

Slade’s taken the news about Tasha pretty well.

She was so excited about the whole her and Brad getting back together that it kinda slipped her mind to ask about me and her dad. She didn’t even ask about it other than making a passing comment.

I wasn’t lying when I said her dad came to me asking about her, or that he was trying to talk me out of getting inked.

I just kinda forgot to mention the part where her dad had me screaming his name all night, taking my virginity, and shaping our future life together.

Nothing major and I’m sure Tasha and I will have a talk about all that real soon.

Right after I deal with my mom.

She should be furious, but on the phone, she sounded so quiet. Quieter than I’ve ever heard her.

I wonder what she wants to talk about if it’s not me staying out all night.

Slade seems to be fielding calls from a lot more people as we head back to town from our adventure. His business is bigger than I thought and he has clients, staff as well as other things he needs to attend to.

But true to his word, he’s getting me home as quickly and as safely as time allows.

I try in between calls to tell him, to urge him not to cancel everything on my account.

But he only smiles and grips my thigh as he drives, telling me I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“I can see clearly now, Abby. I’ve spent twenty years working my tail off, wondering what it was all for. Now I know,” he says. Satisfied. Smug even, but I can’t help but feel the same.

Like both our lives have only been us waiting for each other.

I’m pretty certain my mom and Tasha aren’t gonna see it that way, but with Slade by my side, I feel like I could tackle anything right now.

Even my mom.

We drive straight through, reaching town in good time but I feel Slade’s car slow down long before we reach my mom’s place.

“What the hell?” he murmurs, and glancing up from my phone I feel my stomach drop.

The driveway is full of cars.

My mom’s and Tasha’s. But a couple of others I’ve never seen before, but Slade seems to know and he’s not happy about it.

“What is it?” I ask, not trying to hide the worry from my voice.

“It’s the truth, I guess,” he says, taking my hand in his and kissing it.

“Not for luck, but because we’re a team now. You and me. Remember that, Abby. No matter what happens in there.”

It should make me feel better, but my guts have turned into a butterfly farm in all of three seconds.

Tags: Flora Ferrari Romance
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