Suzy hugged Pryce then pulled Abby towards him. Pryce looked at her and felt his heart leap into his chest. He didn’t think he would ever see those beautiful grey eyes. As he looked over her joy crept in his eyes. He wondered if this woman in front of him really was his long lost love or was she merely a look alike there to torment him? Staring at her all he wanted to do was pull her to him in a long awaited embrace.
Suzy smiled widely as Abby stood next to her silently.
“Abigail this is my brother. PJ this is my best friend and Briston’s lady love which I have learned to be ok with. It was weird at first but he makes her happy so I can’t be too grossed out.”
Abby stared at Pryce still at a loss of words. Pryce felt a lump grow in his throat.
“Abby?”
He wanted to say something but he was struck with heartache. There she stood in front of him and couldn’t help but feel like he was given a second chance. Wondering if this time he would get it right. Briston looked from Abby to Pryce.
“Abby?” he asked. “How do you know her nickname?”
Pryce stepped closer to her as she stepped back not wanting him near her. While emotions of love surged through Pryce, hatred hit her hard. Abby began to feel anger rise up in her as she over looked that man who stood in front of her, the one who broke her heart, who broker her sister’s heart, the father of her niece and nephew, the man who left her sister Shelby with nothing but pain and left Abby with an empty void.
He smiled at her obviously happy to see her. “What are you doing here?”
Abby wanted to knock that smile off his face and that is exactly what she did. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face. The sound of her heavy hand hitting his face left everyone in shock, as another smack landed across Pryce’s face, he grabbed her wrist. The group of kids ran back into the room as Abby broke free of his grip and lifted her hand to strike him again. Before her hand could land on his face Briston pulled her back.
“Whoa down girl what are you doing that’s my brother?”
“Hold up.” Jackie said as she moved closer to Abby but Pryce held up his hands.
“It’s ok I deserved that.” He rubbed his face. “The second one not so much.” Pryce looked back to Abby.
“I know you’re angry.”
Abby squirmed in Briston’s arms. “Oh do you know that Pryce are you a freaking mind reader now?”
Briston held her tighter. “Baby calm down the kids are in the room.”
Briston turned her face towards his and looked into her eyes. He saw the tears brimming and her eyes softening. Abby looked away from him and at the kids and frowned but calmed down. There was no need to lose control in front of the kids. Pryce frowned still rubbing his now burning face. He decided to take advantage of the kids being in the room.
“So Abby it’s been a while huh it’s been what ten years? How are you? How is Shelby?”
She glared tears filling her eyes as he continued to talk. “Ten years is a long time to hate someone but I see you still do.”
She continued to stare at him angrily. Words were lost to her as all she wanted to do was make him feel as much pain as she had to endure. Briston tried to hug her as Pryce sighed. “So what are you doing here? Like in this house? I mean are you maybe stalking me?”
Pryce smirked knowing how to get to her, as Abby lunged forward to him “Bout ready to kick your-”
Briston covered her mouth and cut her off. “She is here for dad they are pretty close. He calls her his long lost daughter. I think he’s hoping I’ll make an honest woman of her. As you see I would have my hands full if I did.”
Briston removed his hand from her mouth as Suzy laughed nervously at Briston’s attempt to lighten the mood. Megan looked at them both.
“So I am going to take a wild guess and say you two know each other?
Pryce looked at Abby as Briston whispered something into her ear. Abby placed her hair behind her ears as Briston loosened his grip on her. Abby cleared her throat and responded to Megan.
“I thought we did but it turned out I was wrong and he is a-” she looked at the kids and second guess what she was going to say. “Jerk.” Pryce laughed angrily.
“I was just asking a question you don’t need to get mad at me. I didn’t do anything wrong.” Suzy looked at Pryce.
“Wait how do you know each other?”
Abby moved closer to him fuming, he wanted to talk and she was ready to give him an earful. “Oh I'm not mad I am pissed how could you leave her like she was nothing. How could you lie to me about sleeping with her! You took advantage of me.”
Briston piped up. “What is going here?”
Pryce raised his voice to match her tone as Briston’s voice trailed off.
“I told you I was sorry. You waited so long to be with me I didn’t want to ruin what we could have had.”
“What we could have had? You used me you lying-”
Pryce yelled at her cutting her off. “That is a load of bull if I ever heard any. I loved you. What we shared.”
She cut him off angrily. “Was nothing but a lie. You tricked me into your bed and I can never forgive your for taking something that I could never get back.”
Briston whistled loudly. “When were you in bed together just wondering for my files?”
Abby moved closer to him but Briston pulled her back. She shook her head and folded her arms. “You are nothing more than a player who finally got caught up in his game but the cherry on top of your big fat lying game was that you hurt not one but two people.”
Briston turned her towards him. “Am I suddenly invisible? You can’t miss me I’m 6’2 standing here wondering why my brother and my girl are fighting with each other.”
Gaby stepped in front of Abby. “You can’t talk to my mom like that.”
Abby pulled her back but she struggled free and kicked Pryce in the shin.
“Gaby!”
She looked at her mom then turned back towards Pryce. “You make her cry I’ll make you cry.”
She kicked him again as Pryce stumbled back and Briston picked Gaby up. Pryce was so focused on Abby he forgot anyone was in the room.
“Your mom?” he asked rubbing his shin.
Kathrynne grabbed the kids. “Guys how about we all go into the kitchen and I will get you some cookies.” Jr. stepped up.
“Yeah I think I will join you too sweetie. I don’t need to be here to see your brother get beat up.” Abby looked at Gaby.
“Go ahead I am going to be fine.”
Gaby stared at Pryce. She folded her arms. Abby looked at her.
“Gabriella Rodgers you take yourself in that kitchen now!” Gaby stood firm. Briston bent down to her.
“Gaby I will make sure he doesn’t yell at her again.”
“You promise?”
He crossed his heart. “Promise go ahead and get something to eat it will be ok.”
She eyed Pryce as she walked out the room mumbling “You better not yell at my mom again.”
Jackie looked at the sadness and anger in Pryce‘s eyes and asked the question on everyone‘s mind.
“Pryce what is going on here?” Pryce moved over to Jackie.
“I met Abby when I was at Emory University.”
Briston threw his hands up. “Oh you can answer the street walker but not your own brother? That’s just rude.”
Suzy sat on the chair as Abby leaned against the wall with her arms folded which anyone who knew her knew if she didn’t calm down it was a sign that she was ready to explode. Pryce who was still staring at her and her him was standing opposite her next to the Brown and Tan Zebra print ottoman in the room. Briston walked closer to Abby.
“Pryce I’m going to need you to stop eyeing my girl.”
Suzy shook her head. “Bris now is not the time for jokes.”
“Who is joking I know we family but this whole situation is leaving a sour taste in my mouth. I don’t like nor have I ever seen Abby this upset and I am scared for h
im because I don’t think I can keep holding her back. It’s hazardous to my health and good looks.”
Suzy shook her head. “Briston stop…Now Abby I thought you went to the Culinary Institute not Emory?”
Abby shrugged her crossed arms. “I did.”
“So how could you have known him in college?”
Megan gasped. “I knew the first day Suzy brought you home there was something familiar about you.”
Abby stared at her as her eyes widened. “You were the one in the apartment?”
Suzy stood. “Ok I am confused.”
Briston rubbed his temple. “I am confused to what apartment?”
Megan moved closer to them. “Briston you remember when we went to visit Pryce and his I don’t really know what they were but they got into a fight and then you guys went after her?”
Briston shook his head. “No it’s not the same girl it can’t be she does not look like the girl Pryce dated. She was, and don’t take this the wrong way baby because I love your body and everything about you but she was small and kind of bratty. The other one now she had a bad attitude too cussed this dude out and I haven’t even seen you so much as tell anyone off that didn’t deserve it.”
Briston stopped as she eyed him. He cleared his throat. “Just saying she didn’t look like you.”
Abby wiped the falling tears from her eyes. “I was there with my sister.” Briston looked like he was thinking for a minute then looked at Pryce.
“You mean to tell me the girl you left was Abby?”
Pryce nodded. “And her sister Shelby.”
Briston shook his head. “Damn it’s no wonder she smacked the taste out your mouth.”
Suzy held up her hand as Abby turned away from them trying to stop the tears from falling.
“Abby if you weren’t in school how did you meet in college?”
Abby walked over to her wiping her eyes. “My sister and I took some college course when we met Pryce but because I was focused on school I wasn’t really into dating him so he and my sister started to date and.” she looked at Pryce and frowned. “It didn’t work.”
Pryce glowered it was fine when she slapped him because he deserved it but there was no way he was going to let her turn his family against him.
“Yeah well whose fault was that?”
Abby turned to him she had about enough of him. “And why would you say that?”
“You could have been with me you just chose not to.”
Abby frowned, “It‘s not like you made it easy when we came to you it was clear you had moved on.”
Pryce threw his hands in the air. “Oh of course I am the one to blame.”
“Yes you are the one to blame at least I agree with you on that.”
He moved closer to her so they were face to face despite Briston's attempt to pull him away from her.
“Oh really that’s how you feel? Don’t hold back on me I mean we were supposed to be friends right? Pretending we didn’t love each other. Pretending not to have any other feelings other than that? I was open with you made you realize that I love you so much.”
Briston held his finger up as if he were an usher in a church. “If I can interject can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”
Abby felt her eyes begin to water. “I did have feelings for you back then but by the time I realized it you and Shelby were together and I couldn’t hurt her. But I did.” She said silently.
“Bull shit and you know it.” He yelled at her. “You and your sister were both crazy.”
Abby lunged at him. “Don’t you ever talk about her!”
Briston held Abby as he and Megan stood between them.
“Guys calm down. What is going on?”
Abby wiped her eyes. “You are the one who changed your number and email you are the one who let it go she loved you so much and you betrayed her.”
“At least one of you did.”
Abby moved closer glaring at Pryce. “I loved you too and that was the worst mistake I ever made.”
Pryce turned away from her. “I don’t want you in this house.”
Briston piped up. “I do.”
Abby stood tall putting her hands on her hips and cut her eyes at him. If there was one thing Pryce knew is that he was about to get Abby’s verbal beating and he didn’t know if he was ready for it.
“That is it! Look here you dumbass fool if you think you have some sort right to tell me what to do in your parents’ home then you are sadly mistaken. I have earned my right to be here. And I have been here for almost 7 years my kids love your parents as much as I do and where have you been? Because if you were such a good son we would have met before now but no you were too busy worrying about yourself and your girl than your parents! They had to call you to tell you your dad had a minor heart attack I was here standing next to him and with him all the way to the hospital. Yes a long time ago we were friends who has some feelings for each other but that was then and this is now!
Now if I hadn’t promised the kids they could stay till your mom came home we would be gone by now, but since I did promise them and I cannot stand being near you another second I am going out for some air.”
Abby walked outside without giving him a second look mumbling jackass and dummy while she left. Briston laughed to himself.
“Oh yeah there she goes. I guess she is the same girl. Damn.” He stood to follow her but Suzy waved him off.
“I think right now she needs some air.
Briston nodded smiling. Pryce folded his arms.
“Stop smiling it’s not funny.”
“Oh this situation is plenty funny.” Jackie held Pryce.
“I have half a mind to go after that girl she can’t talk to you like that.” Pryce shook his head.
“I wouldn’t do that.”
Briston looked at her.
“No let her I would love to see Abby put you in your place too. I mean she tore Pryce a new one and she used to love him.”
Suzy frowned. “Pryce I really think you need to apologize to her.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Suzy saw anger in Pryce’s eyes. She looked at Briston.
“Talk to him. I am not going to let him treat her like this. She has been through so much already.”
Pryce shoved his hands in his pockets. “Why do you care so much about someone like her?”
Suzy turned towards him. “She is my best friend. And she saved my life. What about you?”
“What?”
“What did she do to you that was so bad?”
“I am done talking about this.”
Pryce got up and walked out the room. Jackie followed him. Suzy turned towards Briston.
“He was wrong and you know it.”
“Regardless what I know. We all know Pryce is stubborn.”
“Why is he being like this?”
Briston looked at Suzy and Megan. “He broke her heart and he never forgave himself.”
Suzy sighed. “What do you mean?”
“He was dating her sister but in love with Abby. She told him that…”
Briston trailed off. He looked at Megan and she looked at him. Suzy looked at both of them.
“What? What did she tell him?”
“That she was pregnant.”
“Wait what? Who Abby?”
“No her sister.”
“But how old would they be?”
Briston thought for a moment.
“About the twin’s age.”
Suzy inhaled. “Wait her sister passed away.”
Suzy looked at Briston. “So what you’re telling me is that either she and Pryce had twins or the twins are not hers.”
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A Passion Rekindled Page 33