Back to Me without you (Sibling Love Book 1) (17 page)

“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?”