His solid frame was slumped in the most casual position, his long, thick legs stretched out to show their magnitude. He kept his attention on the fire, ignoring my standoffishness.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
He acted like he was confused by the question. "Taking a much needed vacation?"
"Edwin, be serious. Don't act like nothing happened today. We need to talk about this."
"What's there to talk about?" He was seriously oblivious.
"Eddie. We made love to each other today. Not just that, but I told you I'm not on birth control anymore. We didn't use protection. I told you I loved you."
"Yeah." He was still not following.
"Ugh!" I squealed, then paced to the kitchen out of frustration. I was a little wobbly at first, but quickly steadied myself, then spun around to face Edwin again. "You've said all of two words to me since I told you I love you. You took off right after sex, without telling me where you were going, and now you have nothing to say to me? Forgive me if I’m a little off balance."
“I never took off, Abs. You must have fallen asleep the second you laid down.” Edwin got up and walked toward me with his arms extended out to me.
"Don't," I snapped, stepping away from him. I didn’t know what to believe.
Unexpectedly, Edwin dropped his arms down, as though he were the innocent victim in this episode. "Fine," he said. "Be upset with me. But I won't let you push me away. I thought you already knew how I felt. It hasn’t exactly been a secret all this time."
I stood there motionless for a moment, replaying the events in my mind. Now I was the one not following. Edwin briskly stepped toward me and swung me around to face him. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were brushing over mine, and I was dipped backwards.
He had my full attention now.
"I love you, Abs. You must know that." He nuzzled near my ear and my heart leapt from my chest as his tongue drew my earlobe into his mouth. His soft lips trailed kisses down my neck and, when his warm breath reached my lips, our eyes met again. “You may be crazy like a fox, but I’m still crazy about you.”
A trickle of excitement rushed through my veins as he stroked me with one of his big hands and held me with the other. I turned my eyes away, with a blush on my cheeks. Now I felt guilty for being so distrustful.
"Hey!" Edwin warned. "No more doom and gloom. I just told you I love you too. Shouldn't you be swinging from the ceiling beams or something?"
I smiled really big, teeth and all, and Edwin couldn't resist dipping down for an intimate, smiling kiss. He returned me to my feet and linked his fingers with mine.
"I thought for sure you knew that I wanted to be with you," he stated, like it was a crime that I didn’t know.
"I knew you wanted to have sex with me. But how could I be sure you wanted anything more?"
"Abs, I would never do that to you. You know better than that. You know me."
He was right. I did know him. He was my best friend.
"It just felt like you were really quiet after we did what we did, and I worried that it didn’t mean anything to you. I worried that we had made a huge mistake."
"That was a big decision for me to make,” Edwin admitted. “But I wanted to prove to you that I’m all in."
The fear that had been overpowering me all day, morphed into extreme giddiness. I threw myself into his arms and he wrapped me into them again while we kissed. Saying I had overreacted was an understatement, and the fact that Edwin hadn't brought up my crazy nightmare again was such a relief.
"I'm sorry. I can't believe how I twisted this."
"It's all good," he said, with a teasing grin. “I still love you."
I nudged him playfully and he tossed me down on the couch to kiss me some more. Edwin pressed his nose into my hair and I felt so incredibly close to him. When I reached for his hand, I accidentally pulled up his shirt, exposing his rock hard abs. We both froze in place, absorbing the energy shimmering in the air. I brushed my cool fingers across his warm, rigid abs and then pulled his shirt back down.
"You want more of my sex pistol?" Edwin growled.
"What the hell did you just call it?" I couldn't stop giggling.
"You heard me," he said, stabbing me with his erection. "Want to play Russian roulette?"
"You're shooting blanks now, are you?" I teased.
"No way, baby. I'm high test all day."
I giggled some more before turning more serious. "As much as I'd like to get pregnant, Eddie, you know as well as I do that first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage." I smirked. "One step at a time. I don't want to rush it."
He covered my mouth with his smiling lips. "You could've fooled me.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NIGHT WAS FALLING UPON us quickly, as we passed our neighbours’ houses. It was messy and cold outside, but to me it felt as though I was returning from my honeymoon. I looked to Edwin and smiled sweetly. “Isn’t it kind of weird returning back to reality together?”
Edwin smiled at me. “I honestly didn’t think my plan was going to work out quite this brilliantly. But look at us now. It’s like you never broke my heart last year.”
I took extreme offence to that, but I snapped at him, playfully. "All I wanted was for you to tell me you’d be my baby daddy."
Edwin chuckled. “You caught me off guard. Real romantic, by the way."
I slapped at him, as he turned his truck into our driveway.
“I have to admit, Abs. It wasn’t a great feeling when you gave me that ultimatum. It was like you ripped my heart out of my chest and ran off with it.”
“Eddie, I’m so sorry.” And I meant it. But he just kept talking.
“I said I needed time and you left me. I didn't cry at my grandmother's funeral. I don't cry. When you left me that night, I almost cried,” he admitted. “I wanted to. Because it hurt that much." He pulled his keys from the ignition and cupped his warm hand over mine.
My voice was raspy when I answered him. "You could’ve saved both of us the grief and just said yes in the first place."
Edwin’s smirk sliced through the seriousness of the conversation. "I knew you couldn't resist me forever." Edwin leaned into me for a comforting smooch, then pushed open his door and jumped down from his truck.
While he pulled our bags out of the back of the truck, I walked up the dark driveway and paused at door to dig out my keys. Something was amiss and, despite the fear rushing into my hollow lungs, I unlocked the house and let myself in. One step in the door and the eerie feeling only intensified. I froze, waiting for the uneasiness to go away, but the inexplicable dread did not fade.
I looked back at Edwin. He was still lugging our bags out of his truck. I considered waiting for him, but knew I was just letting my nerves get the best of me. I ran my hand along the wall, blindly searching for the light switch. Before I could find it, my eyes zeroed in on the two red orbs staring back at me from the living room.
"Ahhh!" I screamed, the horrifying screech belting from the top of my lungs.
Edwin dropped all of our bags in the snow and sprinted to my rescue. He instantly crowded over me and hit the light switch.
"What is it?" he asked, his eyes scanning over the empty living room. He looked like he was ready to strike, his blood pumping to every agile muscle.
I pointed a trembling finger in the direction of the demon that had set out to ruin my life, but I couldn't look.
Edwin spoke firmly, cautious and alert. "Is there someone in the house?"
"She was right there." I pointed hard, animated with terror.
"There's no one there, Abs. Who did you see? Is she still in the house?"
Edwin seemed so confused. So was I.
"Jenny," I shrieked, as my knees grew weak. I crumbled, my body collapsing into itself.
Edwin managed to catch my elbow before I crashed completely onto the floor. Then he pulled me into his arms and rocked me, the cold wind blasting throug
h the open door. Edwin kissed my forehead and cupped my face in his hands.
"I'm here, baby. It's okay." The growing concern in his glistening eyes slammed through me.
I had to pull myself together, if not for my own sake, for his. "I'm okay," I croaked, my eyes darting to the living room.
"You think you saw Jenny again?"
"What do you mean again?" There’s no way he knew I’d been seeing Jenny lately.
"I've seen your reactions enough to know when it's happening. First she comes to you in your nightmares and then you start to see her. It's happening again isn't it."
I nodded, apprehensively. Edwin helped me to my feet and I glanced to where she had been standing, only inches from the mantle in my living room. I squinted as I noted the two red lights glowing on the flat-screen television mounted on the wall. It couldn't be. But it was.
A humourless giggle erupted from my chest. "I'm seriously losing it. I was so sure it was her. It was only the TV."
"I thought that you had found a dead body or something from your blood-curdling scream. I wouldn't be surprised if the neighbours called the police."
Still not letting go of me, Edwin tugged me outside with him to grab our bags, then dropped them inside the doorway. I closed the door behind us to keep some of the heat in.
"You're okay then?" Edwin asked, searching my eyes. He would think I was mental if I told him about the delusions I'd been having lately.
My lashes fluttered away. "It was nothing," I insisted. But it was not nothing. I could’ve sworn Jenny came to me. But why was I being haunted by my dead sister?
"If you say so.” Edwin flicked another light switch, flooding golden light into our living room.
Even in the fully lit house I could sense Jenny lingering nearby, but Edwin was determined to debunk my fears. He took my hand and led me to the living room. I sank down onto the sofa next to him.
"What did Cam think about the red-eyed monster?" Edwin asked, out of nowhere.
I really don't want to talk about the red-eyed monster right now, and I never want to talk to Edwin about Cameron. "I never told him," I answered, bluntly.
"You were with him for all those months and it never came up? He didn't figure it out for himself? Some litigator he is."
"Honestly, it didn't come up. Now that I think about it, most of my episodes seem to happen the closer I get to you."
Edwin puckered his lips and grabbed onto his chin. "That's strange. I must stir up some old memories; arouse something deep inside you.” He smirked. He was only joking. But I think he might be onto something.
***
EDWIN DROPPED ME OFF at the front doors of our office building, only minutes from 9:00 a.m., so I ran inside. I gave Taylor her greetings and bustled to my desk, rushing past Cam's office without a glance. The pain of missing Cameron hadn't vanished. It was just waiting there for me.
"Oh, you're back," Owen said to me, as I shuffled through the papers on my desk. "I take it you had a good time," he added, suggestively.
"Not you too," I whined. Not five minutes in the office and the whole place had already learned that Edwin and I were an item again.
"You should know by now, you can't get anything past these critics."
"Ugh. Who told you?" I knew the first day back at work was going to be incredibly trying, but right when I thought things couldn't get worse, Wesley Carver walked around the corner.
Owen smiled up at him. “Good morning."
"Is it?" Wesley asked, flashing me a sideways glance.
"You're still here?" I asked, snarling.
"Good morning to you too, buttercup," he answered, with a smile.
Owen looked at me with concern in his eyes. "Now Abby, Cam agreed to turn over the reins to Wes this week. I trust you'll help him do the same."
Wesley chuckled, amused by my distress.
"You must be kidding," I said, feeling more than a little flustered. I stared up to the ceiling. "This is going to be the longest week of my life."
"Play nice, Abby," Owen said, then stalked off to his desk.
Wesley lingered by the door.
Not again. "What do you want?"
"Ooh, if this is you playing nice, I can't wait to see you being nasty."
At that very moment, Cameron and Edwin approached my door from different directions. All three men stood in a line blocking my exit. Cameron and Edwin were both fixated angrily at Wes, and he couldn’t seem to decide who was more of a threat to him.
Wesley smirked. "Hey, I'm just the new guy."
Cam was the first to nudge him aside. "Is this guy bothering you?"
Edwin shoved Wes out of the picture entirely and glared at Cameron. "That's really not your concern anymore," he said, through gritted teeth.
"I'm not looking for trouble," Cameron said, like I wasn't worth his time. "Let's go." Cam turned away and left without making any eye contact with me. Wesley followed after him, not daring to provoke Edwin further.
"You’d better watch your back," Edwin threatened.
I hoped that comment was meant for Wes, but the rage burning in Edwin's eyes told me it wasn’t. When Edwin finally looked back to me, he seemed to have regained some composure.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I can handle myself. I'm a big girl."
"Yeah, well, you shouldn’t have to handle yourself here and you won't have to once I’m done with them."
"Please leave Cam out of this. He didn't do anything."
"Don't defend him like that. He's still protective of you and that's dangerous."
I stood from my chair and tried to keep professional, but I had to show Edwin that I cared. "Calm down.” I flattened my hand on his chest and patted one over his shoulder and down his arm. He was sweltering through his suit jacket.
“If you want to have a talk with Wesley, that's fine, but I prefer that he leave that meeting with all of his teeth."
Edwin’s smile rendered him speechless, so I took took the opportunity to take his right hand into both of mine and shake it firmly.
"It's a deal now. You shook on it," I teased, as I pushed him out of my cubicle.
Before long, noon hour rolled around and Aliah took me to the café down the road to get the goods. I took the seat across from her and she instantly leaned in for the gossip.
"Cut the crap. Tell me. Are the rumours true?"
I picked up my mug and blew on it slowly. "Rumours? What rumours?"
Her eyes turned mean and green as she glowered at me. "Don't be dense. It's written all over your face. That smile didn’t get there by itself."
I shrugged my shoulders to tease her.
"You could've called. Why didn't you call me?"
"I was busy doing other things," I said, smirking.
"I knew it!" she cut in. "You're totally doing him again. I can hear it in your voice."
"Ally, you cannot."
"Are you sleeping with him again?"
"Well, yeah."
“How did it happen this time?"
"It started with an incident in the pool. Then we took things to the pool house. Then-."
"No, horn dog, how did you fall back into Edwin’s love trap?"
"Well, there is the attraction factor, and he is very persistent," I explained.
"I’d bet that's why you caved. I can't believe you! Well I sort of can." Aliah snickered. "You certainly didn't waste any time."
"I do feel guilty for moving on so quickly. Am I a bad person?" I needed her moral support.
"If Cameron didn't make you happy, then you have to find someone who will."
"That’s the thing, Cam did make me happy, until I started laying down the rules."
"Stop worrying about it. Cam came into your life for a reason. He’s served his purpose already."
"Ally, I really don’t want to leave this one up to the stars."
"Whatevs. I take it Edwin’s plan worked. He swept you off your feet and you fell madly in love with him?" she said, her voice fil
led with drama.
I smirked and took a sip from my piping hot drink. "Something like that."
"Don't sound so excited."
"I’ve been here before. I hate to run on a high, because the fall is that much harder when it does happen." I let out the sigh that I had been holding in since I had walked in the front door of the office this morning.
"Forget about the fall. Enjoy it while it lasts. Moving right along. Did you hear Miller finally found a girl to cover Maddie's maternity leave?"
"Who is she?"
“Remember Maddie’s friend, Samantha?”
“Um, yeah. She has the hots for Edwin. As if having Wesley Carver in the office isn't hell enough for me.” I rested my elbows on the table and settled my chin into my hands.
"I know. I still can't believe Owen hired your ex-lover's look alike."
"Aliah!" I screeched, mostly because I couldn’t believe she saw it too. "Wesley Carver is a loose cannon. I don't think anyone in their right mind would bring this guy on."
"He's not that bad. I've actually heard that he's a really good litigator. Give the guy a chance. You might like him."
"Oh, no. He's all bad. I just have that feeling. He's trouble."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I STARED AT MY computer screen, wondering how I was going to get through the next few weeks unscathed. Rumours about Edwin and I were running rampant around the office and it made it difficult to concentrate on work. Hell. They weren't rumours. It was all true.
I had already had the it's not what you think talk with Cameron before the March break, and I didn't have it in me to lie to him now. If he asked, I would have to come clean.
"Abby, could you come here for a minute?" Maddie called, when she heard me just outside the copier room.
I headed inside, only to find that Maddie had a sidekick with her. Samantha Harper. Maddie was looking seriously pregnant, and though she had a beautiful glow to her skin, she only made Samantha look that much more tiny standing next to her. Samantha’s fashion sense complimented her long, suspiciously thin frame and flawless, pale skin.
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