Back to Me without you (Sibling Love Book 1) (21 page)

The slow music finished, and an upbeat tune started playing over the speakers. Sam took the opportunity to take Abby aside and talk to her.

He hoped no one would notice them gone for a little while. Half the guests had made their way to the dance floor, joining in with Jessica and Justin’s dancing.

He led her outside onto a patio through glass doors. Abby hugged her bare arms.

“You cold?” Sam asked, and before Abby could object, he gave her his tuxedo jacket to cover her shoulders.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

Their eyes met. Sam was unable to look away and he could swear that Abby felt the same. She couldn’t deny whatever it was that was pushing the two of them together.

What was it about Abby that had him so infatuated with her? He wanted more of her.

Abby shifted nervously. “So, um, what are we doing out here? I don’t want to sound mean, but I don’t want to miss out on something important that might be happening inside.”

“I—I like you,” Sam blurted out in a rush. He didn’t mean to be so forward and he usually wasn’t, but it just slipped out before he could do anything about it.

Maybe it was better to be candid and honest than keep his feelings hidden below the surface.

“Well, I like you too,” Abby responded. “You’re not as bad as I first thought you were.”

It was true. Abby was beginning to like Sam. A lot.

“That’s not what I mean.”

Abby folded her arms over her body, biting her lower lip. “So what do you mean then?”

Sam ran a hand through his hair, something he often did when he was making every effort to find the right words. “Maybe when we get back to New York City, we can go out sometime?”

“Like on a date? I don’t know. My sister made it clear that if we went out, it would be weird.”

Sam raised one of eyebrow. “I didn’t take you for someone who would listen to their little sister.”

“Well, it’s not just that, of course. I may as well be frank. I’m not looking for something casual. I want what my sister has found with your brother. I want love in an actual relationship with a man who wants the same. Last time I checked, you told me you didn’t know if you could be in another relationship. So tell me something, Sam. What is it that you want?”

Sam couldn’t answer that question because he didn’t have a clue. “I don’t know what I want.”

“I thought that you might say that.” Abby removed his jacket, handing it back to him. She patted his shoulder. “Then you can understand why I do not think it would be a good idea if we saw each other in New York City. We want different things. Good bye, Sam.”

“I’
m going to miss you so much. Are you sure you can’t stay any longer?” Jessica asked as she hugged Abby. They stood in the terminal of Abby’s gate at Sydney International Airport.

Abby was leaving to go home to New York City. As much as she would have liked to stay longer, she couldn’t. She had a job to get back to, even though she was working away from her home office. She also needed to get back to her cat. Her elderly neighbour had cared him for him while she was gone, so he was fine, but she missed him.

“You know I would stay longer if I could, but I have meetings with my editor in regards to my next book release. I can’t put it off.” She peered around her sister to see her new brother-in-law standing behind her. “Besides, you won’t miss me that much. You’re married now and you have a honeymoon to go on.”

“Oh, don’t remind me.” Jessica frowned. Her sister wasn’t thrilled to be camping in the countryside with Justin. Jessica’s idea of a holiday was a five star resort somewhere with lots of shopping and the beach. Of course, Justin hadn’t been able to take too much time away from applying for internships. So a few days away in the country was all they could manage for now.

“I still can’t believe you’re even going camping,” Steven chimed in with a laugh. “You hated it when we were kids.”

“Tell me about it. The things you do when you’re in love,” Jessica sighed while falling into her husband’s arms. They were smitten with each other, as all newlyweds were.

Abby smiled. “You all don’t have to wait around here. My flight doesn’t leave for another hour. I’ve got my iPod and iPad to keep me company.”

“That’s good because I wasn’t planning to stay,” Steven joked, causing a slap on his back from Jessica.

Abby rolled her eyes. She loved her brother and his snarky comments. They were usually the highlight of her otherwise dull and boring life. “Bye, Steven. Be good.”

“I’m always good.”

“Yeah, well that might change now that you won’t be living with Jessica. So take care and be safe,” Abby cautioned her younger brother, pointing her finger at him.

“Yes, Mum,” Steven noted. “But last time I checked, you were not my mother. As my older sister, I’m ordering you to have a little more fun too.”

“Don’t worry, Sis,” Jessica intervened. “I may not be living with Steven anymore but I’ll pop in so much that he’ll get sick of me.”

“Just as long as you call before coming over. I might be busy entertaining, if you know exactly what I mean,” Steven replied.

“Well, this has been great, but I’m going to say bye now.” Abby turned to Steven with a stern expression. “Remember I’m just a phone call, e-mail or video chat away. Talk to me any time. I’m usually up most hours plugging away at my writing.”

Steven embraced Abby. “I know, but you know what I’m like. I’m not much of a talker unless you have to drag it out of me. Although for you, I’ll try.” He winked.

“That’s all I ask.” Abby then turned to face Justin. She hadn’t expected to like him as much as she did. She had just assumed her sister didn’t know what she was getting into when she got engaged. But he turned out to be the best thing for Jessica. And Abby could see just how much the two of them were in love with each other.

She embraced him with a hug much the same as she did with Steven, welcoming him into their family.

Last was Jessica, where the hug between sisters seemed to go on and on forever. They had an unbreakable bond. Abby was glad she hadn’t been able to talk Jessica out of marrying Justin. She had thought Jessica was marrying too soon and for all the wrong reasons. But now she realized she had been wrong to jump to conclusions.

After saying good-bye, Abby watched her brother, sister and brother-in-law leave. She sank into an empty chair, pushing her hair out of her face and fighting the urge to cry. It wasn’t working. And it hadn’t helped when she saw Jessica start to cry.

In no time, she would be on the plane going home to New York City where everything would be as normal as it used to be.

Abby boarded the plane, settling into her seat with her glasses on and iPad and phone in front of her, ready to do some work. She checked her messages, sending quick ones to Steven and Jessica to say good bye again, and that she’d message them later.

Then Abby mentally prepared herself for the next twenty hours. It was a long flight. She slipped her earbuds in her ears ready to get some writing done.

Abby detected someone take their seat beside her, and she couldn’t help but hope it wasn’t a man. She didn’t know if she would be able to cope with male company for the rest of the flight.

Luckily, when Abby looked out of the corner of the eye, she found a young woman about her sister’s age. She too was wearing headphones. At least Abby could count on one good thing this time: Her journey home would be better than the unpleasant trip travelling to Sydney.

Sam was sitting in the café of the hotel enjoying one last coffee in Sydney before he headed to the airport to go home. His thoughts were running over time as he thought about his time spent with Abby.

He couldn’t get her out of his head, but what else could he do? Abby was probably already on her way back to New York City by now. As strong as his feelings for Abby were, he didn’t know if he could get past all the heartbreak in his life to start fresh with someone new.

Sam didn’t notice when Jessica and Justin pulled up two chairs opposite him.

“Hello, big brother. Come back to me. You look like you were miles away from here.”

“I guess I was,” Sam said, shaking off his thoughts as he came back to the presence, catching his brother and his brother’s new bride in sitting in front of him. “You’re up early. I would have thoughts you’d be making the most of the day after your wedding and spending it in your hotel room.”

“Oh we have the rest of our lives to spend together,” Justin said, taking Jessica’s hand in his and Sam could tell by the expression they were sharing with each other that they were very much in love with each other.

“Aw, baby,” Jessica cooed, resting her head on Justin’s shoulder. “We probably would still be in our hotel room but we were saying goodbye to Abby.”

“Abby’s gone?”

“She left this morning. Said something about getting back for a book tour or to finish a book,” Jessica explained.

“What were you thinking about?” Justin asked his brother.

“Nothing,” Sam muttered, staring out at the spectacular view of the harbour. While this trip had brought him nothing but time to revisit his feelings and questions he had about love and heartbreak, seeing the sights of Sydney Harbour had definitely been worth seeing.

“It’s not nothing. I know you. I know when something is up with you.”

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m simply taking in the breathtaking view that surrounds us. Truly amazing.”

“While my city is amazing, that’s not it. You’re thinking about my sister,” Jessica blurted out. Before Sam could respond to her, Jessica opened her mouth to speak again. “Abby can have the same kind of effect on people as I did on your brother. We’re that darn irresistible,” she said with a cheeky grin.

“How do you know I couldn’t stop thinking about you?” Justin interrupted.

Jessica leaned in towards Justin. “Because you married me,” she said before turning her attention back to Sam. “Follow your heart.”

“New York City is a big city we run in different circles. I’m a doctor. She’s a writer. We’re too different to be together.”

“You don’t know how it’s going to turn out unless you give it a go. Chances are, she may surprise you. You can’t base the rest of your life on one bad relationship. You can’t let it define you. If you do, you’re going to miss out on what may be the best damn thing you’ll ever have, because you are too scared to let it happen. It’ll pass you by and for the rest of your life, you’ll only regret your ill actions.”