“You know,” continued Levi, “to be completely honest, I wasn’t sure about going out with you tonight. Jessica is stunning, so I was sure good looks run in the family. I was a little intimidated by that. But Jessica made it out like we would get along. And I don’t know how to say no to her. She’s persuasive.”
“Well, Jessica is right that we’d get along because we already do have something in common. We both have a problem in saying no to my sister.”
Levi laughed. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Then Abby said something she never expected to say first.
“Should we go on our date?” she asked him. She caught the way his body relaxed when she made it clear she was okay with continuing with the evening.
“Let’s go,” Levi said, offering her his arm. She linked arms with him, and they walked towards the dining area of the restaurant.
An hour into the date, Abby was bored out of her mind as she sat across from Levi. He was chowing down on his meal while he talked all about how he hadn’t been out with someone in four months, since his break up with his girlfriend.
No one liked to hear about the ex on a first date, but Abby didn’t have the heart to tell Levi what she was thinking.
“I’m boring you aren’t I?”
His question took Abby by surprise. It was like he read her mind. She was a little embarrassed and hoping she hadn’t given off clear negative signals.
“I’m sorry?” Abby blinked.
“I am.” Levi frowned, looking down at the table. “I’m sorry. Where are my manners? I’m usually much better at dates. You don’t want to hear me harping on about my ex-girlfriend.”
Abby reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. There was no warm, tingly feeling there when their skin came into contact with each other.
Nada. Nothing. Zilch.
Abby wasn’t surprised, though. She didn’t expect to feel something for Levi. Not when her thoughts were on someone, she shouldn’t and didn’t want to be thinking about.
“It’s okay. You’re not alone. I haven’t been on a date in a while. If you don’t mind me saying, I don’t think your heart is in it because you’re not quite over your ex.” The truth had to be said, or Levi would never admit it himself. His expression told her that she had hit the mark. She gave him a kind smile. “If there’s still a spark between the two of you and there’s a chance of rekindling it, then you have to try, or you’re only going to regret it later.”
“Wow!”
“Is that a good wow or a bad wow?” Abby asked him.
“No one has ever been so upfront before, and I kind of like that you had the courage to speak your mind.” Levi chuckled in amazement, then said in a confiding tone. “I think you’re probably right. I don’t think I am over Jennifer, and maybe that’s why I haven’t been in a relationship since her.”
Abby smiled. Levi seemed like a genuinely nice guy. “Thank you for dinner. Despite everything, I have had enjoyed your company. You’re a sweet man, and I do hope that you can make amends with your ex.”
The check was paid, and they parted ways. They both agreed that it was a nice evening even if it didn’t end in a blossoming romance.
Sitting outside the restaurant in the heart of Sydney, Sam spotted her as she stepped outside into the spring night air. Wasn’t she supposed to be on her date right now? She appeared to be leaving. Why so early?
He was tempted to walk over, but he didn’t want to look as though he was prying into her personal business. She was his future sister-in-law’s sister. And they’d had a drunken one-night stand. That’s it. After the wedding, they would probably never see each other again.
So why was he so hooked on the brunette beauty?
Abby spotted him, her pretty face showing an expression he couldn’t read. Sam thought she was going to avoid him altogether. Until she began taking long steps toward him, a half-grin was curving on her lips.
Could it be?
Was she happy to see him right now?
“Abby.”
“Sam.”
“Where’s your date?” he blurted out. He hadn’t meant to ask, but it had been on the tip of his tongue, and now he couldn’t take it back. He cleared his throat and hoped she didn’t catch onto the anticipation in his tone. He didn’t want to seem like he was too eager to hear that her date had ended in frustration.
“I suspect home.”
Sam winced. “Wow. Was he that boring?”
Abby chuckled and shook her head, running her fingers through her hair, a sign of nervousness Sam had seen from her before.
She shrugged. “It was a nice dinner together, but that’s it. I’m going to leave it at that.”
She didn’t look eager to divulge details, so Sam decided to leave it alone.
“Do you want to get an ice cream cone with me?” His question surprised even him. Ice cream? Who went for ice cream anymore? Sam hadn’t gone out for ice cream for years. He bet Abby hadn’t either. Totally impulsive and probably silly, but he couldn’t take it back now, and if he was honest, he didn’t want to.
All he knew was that he couldn’t let her walk away from him again. He tried to tell himself that what happened between them was just one night, but for some strange reason, Sam couldn’t stop thinking about that one night they shared. He wanted more of her.
But she didn’t want him. She had already made it clear that their night together had been a mistake.
Abby looked stunned. “Ice cream? Does anyone still eat ice cream anymore?”
Sam shrugged, tucking his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Yeah, I know. I don’t even know why I said it. But I did, so would you like to have an ice cream with me? We can be trendsetters. Make eating ice cream cool again.”
Her laugh tickled his senses, and he relaxed a bit. At least she thought he was funny. That was more than he could say about India.
Then she amazed him once more when she replied, “Okay.”
Fifteen minutes later after Sam had talked Abby into grabbing some ice cream together, they were waiting to be handed their ice creams at one of the many ice cream shops still open along the Harbourside.
For the first time in a long time that Abby could recall, she was having fun.
Who knew it was going to be with Sam? She certainly didn’t.
“So what do they call this?” Sam asked when the cashier handed them their ice creams in a plastic tub.
“Milo in cream. It’s seriously the best and something that I miss when I’m living in the States. Australia has some of the best food. I’m fortunate that Jessica and Steven send me care packages of all my favourite foods so that I don’t miss them altogether.”
“I have to admit. It isn’t half bad,” Sam said as Abby watched him swallow a mouthful of ice cream with remaining cream smeared around your face.
“Mm, yeah, I can see that you like it. There’s evidence of that all around your mouth. Can’t take you anywhere.” Abby laughed.
Sam attempted to wipe his mouth. “Did I get it?” he asked.
Abby shook her head. “Here, let me do it for you,” she said, standing tall to reach him as she used the serviettes they were given to wipe the ice cream around his mouth.
She could feel her heart beating, almost as though it was going to beat out of her chest. Abby didn’t know why Sam made her feel this way. She liked the feeling but at the same time, it also scared the shit out of her.
Sam dipped his head towards Abby. “Thanks,” he said.
His breath was warm against her cheeks as he whispered one word of gratitude. For a second, Abby could have sworn that Sam was going to lean in and kiss her lips, and she almost wished he did.
Except that he didn’t kiss her and once again, Abby’s heart did a little flip-flop out of disappointment.
He wrapped his arm not holding his ice cream around her waist when she shivered against the night air and she did her best to try not to fall into his embrace, but it was
all she felt like doing.
“Are you cold?”
“I’m okay. I should have worn a warmer jacket. It’s my fault. I know what the nights can be like sometimes.”
Abby was now cursing the black cardigan she had borrowed from Jessica. It was more for style rather than comfort.
“We can all make assumptions about the weather sometimes. I think you look pretty,” Sam murmured, taking a strand of her hair and pushing it out of her face. She quivered at his warm touch.
“What are we doing?” Abby blurted out.
“What are we doing?” Sam repeated her words. He clearly didn’t understand what she meant by that question. “We’re eating ice cream together aren’t we? I enjoy your company, and I thought you were starting to enjoy my company as well.”
“I am enjoying your company as long as you know that I can’t see us being together—”
“I know,” Sam cut in, forcing Abby to stop her train of thought. “We’re not getting married. I’ll leave that to Justin and Jessica, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t hang out with each other while we’re in Sydney. This isn’t about us being together. We’re eating ice cream together. That’s all. I’m not ready to be in another relationship so soon after my divorce. I’m simply enjoying the company of people other than myself.”
Abby realised she had assumed something about Sam that she was wrong to assume. She had to stop doing that.
And she had to end the night before she said something else she’d regret too.
“I’m sorry. I have to go,” she said quickly, stepping backwards.
“Oh, okay. I’ll take you home.” Sam was apparently confused by Abby’s sudden need to leave. His expression said it all.
Abby shook her head. “No. It’s okay. Your hotel is a short walk from here. I’ll be okay. I can hail a taxi to take me home. Thanks for tonight. I had fun.”
And she had had fun with Sam. Up until the part where she was blessed with foot in mouth disease.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
One-word racing through her mind to describe her impulsive actions to speak before she thought rather than just to take the night in her stride.
“Me too.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“You will. Our siblings are getting married. I’m the best man. You’re the maid of honour. We’re going to see each other again.”
Abby could sense that he was trying to lift the mood a little bit.
Abby and Sam said goodbye to each other, going their separate ways.
And Abby was determined to forget this part of the night.
She didn’t want to be with Sam any more than Sam wanted to be in a relationship.
So why did his words hurt more than she would have liked?
Abby came home expecting to find her sister still up. Sure enough, Jessica was watching television with her fiancé. She knew there was no way she was going to be able to get upstairs without Jessica seeing her or avoid the inevitable questions.
“How was your night?” Jessica probed, leaning against a worn-out Justin.
Abby sank into the chair opposite her. “It was okay.”
She refused to go into detail.
“That’s it? Just okay? You have to give me more than okay.”
Abby wanted to see her sister sweat just a little bit more. She could be just as tenacious as Jessica.
“I don’t know.” Abby drew out her words in an attempt to irritate her a little bit. After all, that’s what sisters were for. “Levi’s nice and all, but he’s also still in love with his ex-girlfriend. I’m not going to be somebody’s rebound girl.”
Jessica’s face fell, and she sighed. “Well, that explains why he’s gorgeous and single. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. But there’s plenty of fish in the sea. I will make sure that my matchmaking skills are better next time.”
Abby didn’t want another round of her playing matchmaker. It was more than she could handle right now.
“No, that won’t be necessary, Jessica. While your heart is in the right place, and I get that you’re so in love you just want to see those around you in love as well. But I’m not that desperate to find love, and I think you should continue studying to become a teacher rather than play matchmaker. Besides, tonight wasn’t that bad. I had a lovely evening afterwards with Sam, who was dining alone at the same restaurant.”
Jessica raised her pinkie finger as a promising signal to her sister. “Okay, I promise I won’t play matchmaker for you anymore.”
Jessica kissed her fiancé on the cheek before standing up and walking upstairs.
“So you spent your evening with Sam, huh?”
For one brief moment, Abby almost forgot Justin was still sitting there.
The way he spoke his brother’s name made Abby wonder if perhaps he knew more than she was comfortable with.
Had Sam confided in his brother about their one night of passion? What if Justin had shared that secret with Jessica? She had to know.
“Do you know about…?” Abby asked sheepishly.
Her face was serious but reserved at the same time.
He nodded. “I do know, but I’m also not going to divulge anything about you and Sam to Jessica. I wouldn’t dishonour the bro code. I promised Sam I wouldn’t say anything, and I don’t make a promise if I’m going to break it.”
His words made Abby feel a little better. She let out the breath she was holding. Maybe she could trust him, after all.
“Thank you. You’re a good person, Justin.”
Justin smiled and got up to leave. “He’s a good guy, too. Sam, I mean. His heart has been broken. He’s just now beginning to piece it back together.”
Then Justin said good night and walked out the front door, leaving Abby feeling more puzzled than ever.
A couple of days later, it was an unusually hot day for August in Sydney and Abby was making the most of the weather by spending the day at Luna Park with her family.
They had already been there half the day, and so far Abby had managed to enjoy herself and the company she was surrounded by.
It was after midday, and they were finally sitting down to some hot chips on a nice patch of grass after a morning of walking around the park and channeling their younger selves on the rides.
“This has been fun,” Jessica said as Abby watched her sister lean back against Justin, shielding the sun out of her eyes.
“I agree. While I was a little unsure about how much fun I could have with my sisters when you told me about this day, it has been a lot more fun than I was anticipating. I didn’t realise that you could be this fun. To be honest, I can’t recall the last time that we spent the day together having fun,” Steven grinned, popping a hot chip into his mouth.
Abby tried to think back as to when the last time she, Jessica and Steven all spent the day together doing something fun.
She couldn’t remember, but it had been a while considering her memory of their last real day together had consisted of planning funeral arrangements for their parents and then ultimately saying goodbye to them at a somber gathering.
Steven was right. Today had been fun. And not nearly as boring as Abby expected it to be.
Abby watched Sam get to his feet, rubbing his hands together.
“Alright, who’s coming on the drop tower ride with me?”
Sam was apparently looking for participants to go with him but no one seemed eager to say yes to his invitation.
“If you’re talking about the Hair Raiser ride then you’re on your own for that one,” Jessica said. “I’m much too comfortable here. Although, I’m sure Steven might take you up on the offer.”
Steven shook his head. “I don’t think so. I learned my lesson the first time we came here. I’m going to wait at least an hour before going on rides after consuming food. I won’t be smelling of vomit this time.”
“Aw, you’re no fun. I was looking forward to making fun of you again,” Jessica said.
“Not this time, little s
ister.”
Then Abby said something she didn’t expect herself to say.
“I’ll go,” she said, shocking both her brother and sister.
They obviously didn’t expect their dependable and responsible older sister to say yes to a ride she wouldn’t normally go on.
This was the new and improved Abby Carter.
She just hoped she didn’t end up regretting her decision later.
“So this is going to be fun,” Sam said, making small talk as he and Abby were ushered to an available chair by the ride attendant.
“Uh-huh,” Abby responded, bracing the seat belt tight around her.
“Thanks for coming with me.”
“It’s okay. I suppose I could have allowed you to come by yourself, but then I wouldn’t be conquering my fear of heights, and I promised myself that I would be daring and try something new out of my comfort zone.”
Sam watched her hands grip the safety bars she pulled over her head, her knuckles going as white as snow.
“You sure? You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. There’s still time to back out.”
But Abby shook her head. “No, I’m okay. I’ll be fine. We’re conquering our fears together,” she murmured.
Sam held out his hand, and Abby placed her hand in his.
At this moment, Sam knew that there was a connection between the two of them, and it had nothing to do with Jessica and Justin getting married.
But while he and Abby shared a connection with each other, he didn’t know if it would be enough to start something together.
As of right now, Sam was living in the moment, and if that meant spending time to get to know Abby, then he was going to do it. That would have to be enough.
One month soared by so quickly.
And in that time, the wedding had gradually come together piece by piece. Dresses and tuxedoes were done. Flowers had been selected. Music was chosen.
Back to Me without you (Sibling Love Book 1) Page 11