Living in eastern Washington means you get to experience four distinct seasons throughout the year. My SUV hadn’t had a chance to freeze over completely while we visited my parents, but as we left, I noticed plenty of other cars in the lot were well on their way. Knowing Abby’s asleep also made my decision easier to keep her from slipping on our sloped driveway.
When I turn off the engine, Abby stirs. At first, she startles, but when I squeeze her hand in reassurance, a beautiful smile forms. “Hey,” she whispers. Her voice, thick with sleep.
“Hey yourself, Angel. We’re here. Want me to get your bag? I’ll give you a quick tour and let you get some rest. You look exhausted.”
“Sounds great,” she says in a yawn as she unbuckles and stretches before opening the door. Her dark-brown hair has fallen out of the ponytail she’d secured it in at the beginning of our trip, and she couldn’t look more adorable if she tried.
We make quick work of gathering our things and getting into the house. Once inside, another wave of emotion from the day hits me like a ton of bricks. Not having them here to greet me is beyond surreal. My throat tightens, and my eyes prick as I blink away my emotions. Of course, Abby picks up on my shift in mood. She’s like a lifeline I never knew I needed as she instinctively wraps her arms around me in a hug. The strength and solace I feel from her helps me relax into her.
“They’re fine. You’ve seen it for yourself,” she assures me. As if she knows exactly what I need, Abby squeezes harder to prove her confidence. “If anything changes, you’ll be the first to know. Let’s get you settled, so you can finally get some rest.”
I chuckle at her sudden protectiveness. “I thought that was supposed to be my line.”
Abby pulls back but doesn’t release her hold on me and smirks. “Give me the CliffsNotes version of a tour. All I need for tonight are the essentials—bathroom and where I’ll be sleeping. I’m sure I can figure out everything else in the morning.”
I walk her to what used to be my sister’s room, which my parents have long ago turned into a guest bedroom/office space for themselves. Since money was tight with Summer’s medical bills, we downgraded our home after she was in remission. Summer only stayed in the room less than a year before returning to the hospital. For the longest time, it just sat empty but eventually they chose to move forward. One summer, I returned home to find it renovated into what it is today.
“Here’s your room. My parents just redecorated this, so you should be comfortable.” We walk in, and she looks around at the queen-sized bed and the desk that takes up the entire wall to the left of it. “They still use it as an office, so excuse the mess.”
“This is perfect, thanks.” Abby spots the pocket door to the bathroom she and I will share and arches a brow.
Before she can ask, I offer, “Through there, you’ll find a Jack and Jill bathroom. My room’s off the other side. When my parents bought the house, Summer used to joke about having a bathroom like the Brady Bunch. Apparently, while in the hospital, one of the late-night networks had all the reruns in syndication, and she was a huge fan,” I offer in explanation and smile at the memory.
“Sounds good. I won’t need but a few minutes, then it’ll be all yours.”
Not knowing what to do or say next, I roll on the balls of my feet back and forth a few times, as Abby pulls the things she needs out of her carry-on suitcase. She retrieves a small black bag and a wad of clothes that I assume are her pajamas. “I… I’ll… just be in my room should you need anything,” I hastily say before bolting out of the room.
Instead of walking through the bathroom, I exit out into the main hall, in search of a glass of water and my own bag from the family room.
By the time I enter my room, I hear the water running and the toilet flush. I quickly pull out a pair of basketball shorts to sleep in. Usually I sleep in only my boxers, but with company, I’d rather not chance it. I quickly shuck off my shirt and grab my toiletry bag to use the bathroom when she finishes.
A soft knock at the door, and Abby’s voice startles me, even though I know she’s there. “I’m finished. The bathroom’s all yours.”
Instinctually, I stride over to open the door. “Thanks. I’ll only be a few minutes…” I start to say but stop as I watch Abby’s mouth drop open, and her eyes roam over every inch of my body.
Hmmm. Interesting. Apparently, I’m not the only one affected.
I’m a guy. Of course, I look her over, too. Though I won’t act upon it. I do have some self-control. Unfortunately, as I take in her sexy sleep shorts… my body gets other ideas.
Damn—she’s beautiful. Her long, toned legs tell me she must work out regularly.
Wait… is that… cats I see on her sexy sleep shorts? And does her black tank really say Feline Warm and Cozy?
“Boy, Angel…” I chuckle. “Should I worry about you turning into a crazy cat lady, later in life? Just how many cats do you have?”
Abby lets out a loud huff, as if she’s irritated that I forced her to lose concentration.
It’s adorable.
Her eyes narrow, and frustration leaks through in her tone. “No… thank you very much. They happen to be a gift from Chloe. Since she helped pack, I’m sure she had something to do with these being in here.”
I hold up my hands in defense. “Hey… No judgement here. I happen to think the whole ensemble’s adorable. Though I’ll never understand the whole matching pajamas thing. I’m a ‘sleep in my boxers’ type of guy—though I settle for gym shorts in the presence of company.”
What the hell? Why did I just tell her I sleep in my underwear?
I watch Abby’s eyes widen as she blatantly looks me over from head to toe. Her eyes linger on my pecs and my biceps as her lips part. She obviously likes what she sees, and I’m only human when I grin with pride.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my body. But with her appreciation, I need to think dark and depressing thoughts to keep my body in check. Basketball shorts leave nothing to the imagination, and I’m not about to show her firsthand the effects of her perusal.
“I… Uh… will have to take your word for it.” She suddenly looks everywhere but at me. It’s almost comical. Apparently, my Angel’s a shy one. I could get used to that.
What? My Angel? Where did that come from?
To keep from making a fool of myself, I step to the sink and put some toothpaste on my toothbrush. “I’ll just brush my teeth and be on my way to bed.” I turn on the water and begin brushing, like it’s my only job in life. She quickly excuses herself, shutting the door behind her.
Once I’m finished in the bathroom, my gut tells me I should make sure she’s all right. Through the mirror, I saw her face flush.
God, I hope I didn’t just make things awkward.
Hell. Who am I kidding? I’d give just about anything to see her again. And I’m not too proud to use this weak excuse.
I knock quietly on the door and wait for her reply.
I faintly hear her say, “Come in.” So, I do.
She’s already in bed and has the main light off. A bedside lamp illuminates her beautiful skin. Her dark-brown hair looks mussed as it flows around her shoulders. Damn. She’s beautiful. As my eyes roam over her body, I notice she’s removed her bra. Her boobs are fucking gorgeous. Full, round, with perfect tips poking through her shirt.
Instantly, my dick’s begging to salute and have her full attention.
Fuck, I inwardly groan. Why did I have to notice?
Get it together, Jacobs, I scold myself as I look anywhere but at her perfect breasts.
“Drew?” She stares in my direction.
Fuck. What did I come in here for?
Or what am I willing to admit to her, is the better question.
“I… Um… Just… Want to make sure you didn’t need anything.”
“I’m good, thanks,” she says as she scoots further down the bed, adjusting the pillow behind her.
Well, this just got awkward.
&n
bsp; I sigh at my ridiculousness and lean against the door frame, to keep from joining her in the guest bed. “Since I can’t work out in a gym, I’m going for a run when I wake up. If I’m not here, just make yourself at home. I can’t imagine Mom doesn’t have the fridge stocked. If you don’t find anything you like, there’s bound to be something in the pantry.”
“Uh… how far do you typically run?” she asks, throwing me off guard even further.
“Just a couple of miles, but I’ll throw in sprints along the way.”
“Would you be up for some company? I’m not much of a sprinter, but I’m good for a few miles.” She shrugs as she fans out her dark-brown hair on the pillow, which makes my dick twitch again.
Damn, Abby’s beautiful.
“Sure… uh… no problem,” I practically stammer. What am I, twelve? I don’t even remember the last time I was remotely tongue tied around a girl. Fuck, Jacobs—Get it together.
“Just wake me when you get up.”
“Will do,” I quickly agree. Needing to get out of this room before I do or say anything stupid, I quickly add, “Have a good night. Sleep well, Angel.”
With my endearment, I swear I hear a faint gasp as Abby’s eyes widen, then quickly return to normal. If I hadn’t been watching her every move, I would’ve missed it. “Night, Drew. See you in the morning.”
When I call the hospital first thing in the morning, the nurse who’s replaced Janice encourages me to take my time, as both my parents are still resting soundly, but on the mend. My rigid body loosens at this news, and I finally take the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
Abby must’ve heard me talking because the next thing I know, she’s standing before me in yoga pants, a sweatshirt, and a pair of sneakers, ready to run. Just as I hang up the phone, her knowing grin calms me as she states, “You look like you’re ready to get out of here.”
When I meet her expectant eyes, it’s clear she gets my need to work off this nervous energy. We take a few minutes to stretch, and I fill her in on the state of my parents. It gives me unexpected comfort when she lets out an audible sigh of her own. She visibly relaxes as if she’s been shouldering this burden with me all along.
I must stare at her in wonder for longer than socially acceptable because she’s suddenly cocking her head to the side as her features fill with concern. “Drew? Everything okay?”
“Uh… Yeah…” I shake my head to clear my thoughts and focus on the task at hand. “You ready to run?”
She beams in my direction a smile that lights up her entire face. “Ready if you are.”
As we finish our workout, I almost feel bad. She goes through my full regimen because she insists on keeping to my normal routine. When I reach the end of the block before her and turn to see her struggling, I feel the need to cheer her on in support.
“Come on! You can do it, only fifty more feet,” I holler encouragingly as she finishes the sprint. When she reaches me, she bends over and sucks in air heavily, trying to catch her breath.
She’s a fucking trooper to endure this, without building up to it. I admire and am in awe of her strength.
“Is your trainer pure evil?” she says between deep pants. “Do you really do this type of thing daily? I thought for sure I’d easily be able to keep up with you, but you can kick my ass from here to Sunday with those legs.” More deep pants. Then a sigh as she wipes the sweat from her forehead. “Not all of us are freaking giants, ya know.”
Great. She thinks I’m a sadist.
I laugh and shake my head at the notion, then do my best to explain, “I’ve been at this for years. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re doing great,” I encourage.
“Let’s just finish, so we can visit your parents,” she pants out as her breathing returns closer to normal.
“Just another couple of blocks,” I assure her as we slowly jog the rest of the way.
“Good,” she says between deep breaths. “I may run regularly, but I should know better than to go against a giant D-1 athlete. Your leg span alone is three times mine.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if you’re short,” I tease, hoping to get a rise out of her.
She doesn’t disappoint. “Hey, for your information, five-eight is a respectable height. You’re the one with the giant genes, Jacobs.”
She earns a deep belly laugh with that. Damn, this girl is something else.
When we reach my house, an unfamiliar car’s in the driveway, which pulls Abby and me up short.
Before Abby can ask the question clearly written across her features, I quickly explain, “It seems my mom’s sister has arrived.”
As soon as she sees us coming up the sidewalk, Kathy rushes out of her car and pulls me into a hug. I try to keep my distance, knowing I stink, but she won’t have it. “Come here, you,” she practically commands, so I bend down and hug her fiercely. As I pull back, she brushes her palm along my face. “I’m so glad they’re all right. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
“Me neither,” I agree. Kathy looks to Abby, and I quickly make introductions.
“Kathy, this is Abby. She was gracious enough to drive me home yesterday. We called the hospital this morning and found Mom and Dad are still out of it but on the mend. If you give us a chance to clean up, I’d be happy to drive you to see them.”
Kathy reaches out to Abby and pulls her in for a hug as well. “It’s so nice of you to bring our dear Andrew home. I can’t imagine what went through his head when he got the news. No one could reach me until they were out of surgery—and even then—knowing they were okay, it still scared the life out me.” She looks to me. “I was so worried. I came straight here, figuring you might be sleeping…” She shakes her head, then mumbles, “I should’ve known better.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her, with a side-arm hug before ushering her inside. Feeling Kathy relax in my arms shows me the stress she’s been under. I love her even more for coming to check on me first, though I know neither of us will completely relax until this entire mess is behind us. She’s the only family I have left.
13
Drew
When Abby, Kathy, and I enter my parents’ hospital room, I’m relieved to see both of my parents alert and most importantly, alive. Even though I was assured they were okay, I’ve been preparing for the other shoe to drop. My heart soars when their faces light up with smiles to greet us.
“Drew,” Mom gasps as an arm reaches for me. My heart aches at the possibility of never being able to hold her again. I reach out and squeeze the hand she’s extended, then lean down and kiss her cheek.
“I love you, Mom,” I greet her, my voice gruff. Even though I know she’s all right, I’m assaulted with an unexpected wave of emotion. My throat tightens and tears prick at the back of my eyes, as I take her in.
Thank God, she’s all right.
Her bright blue eyes have dark circles under them, though I’m not sure if it’s from the accident or exhaustion. Her normally straight brown hair, is in disarray from the events of the past twenty-four hours. Her other arm rests across at her waist and has a cast up to her elbow. She must’ve broken her radius closer to her wrist, than elbow—or it would be a full-arm cast.
“Love you, too, Drew. I’m sorry we worried you. You must’ve been a wreck when you got the call.” Her eyes shine as if she’s on the verge of crying, and my gut twists.
I do my best to put her at ease. “I’ve had better days, that’s for sure. But I’m much better knowing you’re both all right. Besides, Abby took charge and made all the arrangements to get here. I hardly had anything to worry about.”
“Abby?” Mom looks in her direction, her face fills with gratitude. “Your dad mentioned a friend being with you. Is this her?”
Abby steps forward, with one hand grasping her other elbow and a nervous expression on her face. Her eyes had been downcast toward the floor before Mom mentioned her name, as if she didn’t want any accolades for helping. “Yes, ma’am. But it was no probl
em. Drew would’ve done the same for me. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Mom lets go of me and reaches her good hand out to Abby. “Thank you so much for taking care of our Drew. He’s good under pressure, but I’d been worried about the hospital being too much for him.”
Geesh, Mom. Way to lay it all out there.
“Uh… I’m standing right here,” I remind them, but it lands on deaf ears.
Abby squeezes Mom’s hand and quickly comes to my defense. “He’s a trooper. Sure… There was some initial shock, but when it was all said and done, his only concern was to get here to you.” That’s not how I recall the last twenty-four hours, but who am I to argue?
“I’m just thankful you’re both okay,” I say to get the focus off me as I look to Dad. “How are you feeling?”
“Oh…” He releases a breath slowly. “I’m still a bit winded, but I’ll heal in time.”
“What about your leg?” I ask and all eyes go to the leg that’s laying out of the covers on his bed. There’s a cast to just below his knee, and a sock over the end, most likely to keep his toes warm.
“Right now, my lungs hurt way worse than my leg,” he surprisingly admits. “Though…” he lets out a breathy sigh, “when I’m no longer on pain meds, that may change.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” Kathy says as she squeezes my dad’s hand. “I didn’t get the message until nearly midnight, when I got off the plane.”
“How was the conference in Tallahassee? I hope you went sightseeing, while you were there.” Mom shakes her head and grimaces. “I’m just glad you didn’t have to cut your trip short.”
Kathy lets out a huff at my mother’s selflessness. “I would’ve come the minute I found out either way. There’s only so much you can learn at an agricultural conference after being so many years in the business.”
Kathy’s been working for the same food transportation company, for as long as I can remember. Mom says she’s close to retiring. But I’ll believe it when I see it. Ever since her husband died about fifteen years ago, she’s thrown herself into her work and never lets up.
Drew: Book One of the Perfectly Independent Series Page 10