Love Me: The Complete Series (29 page)

“Wait. Here. Take these with you.” She shoved a vase his way—stuffed full of no less than twenty stalks of bluebonnets. “They won’t last long, but Abby will love them. Wait! Why don’t we pick some more and you can take some to the kid. He can give them to
his
mom and return the favor. That’d be nice, right?”

His throat went dry.
You mean go out there and pick them? By the dock? Carley’s dock?
Hell, no. No, not nice at all.

He balked. “No time, Mom.”

“Take the time. It’s a nice thing to do and cheerful. He’ll appreciate it and so will Abby. How is she, by the way?” She didn’t wait for an answer but strode toward the door and worked her way down the stairs. While she was moving well, stairs appeared to be more difficult.

“I haven’t seen her in a while. Not since we were here last.”

“Why not?”

He shrugged.
Because she deceived me from day one.
“No reason. Mom. We’re not … together.”

“Not now maybe, but don’t tell me you weren’t at some point. I may be old, but I’m not stupid. That look on your face was pretty transparent.”

What look?
“I got her confused with Jackson and it was all a mistake.”

She hitched a brow. “You trying to convince me of that? Or yourself? I seriously doubt you confused her with that beanpole friend of yours. I know you’re not that dense.”

She had a point there because he actually hadn’t
missed
Jackson. Abby, on the other hand, had been torturing his thoughts. He hated unfinished business. What the hell had Roger said about her partner? It was like reading a book and stopping on the next to the last page. It burned in your head until you completed whatever needed completion. You needed to close the book.

“Mom, just leave it. Okay?”

“Okay, but maybe you need to just let go of the past and live the life you have now. Things work out on their own if you let them.”

Carter helped her pick the damned bluebonnets and even tied some crazy lacy ribbon around it from her sewing kit before he slid behind the wheel of his car. He returned home to an empty apartment, after leaving the flowers at Trent’s doorstep. Like a kid would do. He chatted for three hours with
She Hearts Dogs
before he fell asleep.

You can bullshit the rest of the world, but there isn’t any B or S in family.
Jason had used that phrase frequently when they were teenagers as a reminder he was always one step behind her, or ahead, depending on the issue. Why was she surprised when her brother walked in the shop door on a Tuesday morning?

“I thought you said you were too busy to drive all the way into the city,” she admonished when he approached her side.

He scratched the scruffy facial hair lining his chin. “I am, but you’re making quite a commotion on the Internet and I wanted to see for myself.” He darted a glance around the crowded shop. Abby was thankful Caroline’s marketing gimmicks had created a steady flow of customers. “I thought I’d warn you the rest of our clan is coming this weekend. They wanted to surprise you, and I know how you hate family surprises.”

Great. Just what she needed—more lectures from her parents. “Crap, why?”

He tapped a finger against his chin. “Hmmm, I don’t know … maybe because you haven’t answered your phone in weeks?” He came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing the knot she hadn’t noticed. “Everything okay, Abs? Everybody’s a little worried. I’m worried.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine. Just busy. The shop’s open every day, so I don’t have a lot of spare time. Besides, the last thing I want is another ‘why would you want to do that’ lecture from Dad. Or a ‘you know it would be easier if you just let me fix you up with Scott Crankston’ from Mom. Between the two of them, one would think I don’t have enough brain cells to take care of myself
or
find my own social life.” Which was true, though she’d not admit any such comment.

He snickered, but the look on his face was agreement mixed with amusement. Still, he apparently knew not to poke the bear. “Have you been following the Astros this year?”

They spent the next half hour chitchatting between customers as he followed her around the shop. When a lull in business quieted the room, Jason suggested they meet for lunch and left. Why had he driven so far just to check on her?

They met for lunch at the nearby café.

“So, what gives? I know you didn’t just happen my way. Something’s up.”

Jason glanced toward the door, a dead give-away she’d delved into deep water. He shrugged. “Nothing. Just wanted to stop in and see how the new business is doing. And tell you I’m proud of you.”

Huh, what? She gulped. Proud of her? No one in her family had ever said that. Was he sick or did he need something? “Need I repeat myself? What gives?”

He grinned. “Honestly? A friend of yours made it very clear we’ve been less than supportive of you on something that’s real important to you. Come on, don’t say you haven’t seen it.”

“Seen what?”

“Your blog. You’ve got quite a following.”

“Do I look like I have time for blogging and social media? Besides, whatever is there was put up by Caroline for advertising purposes. It’s worked well, so I’ve left it to her literary skills since she’s the one with the background in that. Are you telling me she’s posting my personal business there too? I’ve had enough miscommunication via electronics for one lifetime. Don’t need any more.”

“She’s good. And judging by the number of people that came through the shop today, effective. Listen, remember when we went over to Europe and Dad nearly panicked when he couldn’t get in touch?”

“I didn’t know he panicked, but I do remember about ten different missed calls in two hours while we were on the bicycle trip in the vineyards. It was one of the greatest experiences
ever.
Why?”

“Well, he called me at least
twenty
times. Then he left a message at the hotel desk and when I called, he screamed. I mean like never before. I heard words I didn’t know he could even say … or knew. Bottom line, he was worried sick I’d led you down a path of danger and destruction. That I’d corrupted you. He was about five minutes away from jumping a plane when I called him back. He worries about you, Abs.”

“All parents worry about their kids. That’s normal.”

“There’s nothing normal about us. You know that. I mean, look at Jerrick. He’s living on some farm in Montana and looks like a frickin’ mountain man.”

“He’s developing a new strain of hybrid wheat to feed three times what a normal crop will. He’s a genius.”

“He’s a hippie. And a genius. And me, I don’t exactly fit the mold of perfect kid.”

“You’re kidding, right? The best tight end in the state as a junior. College football star. You graduated in four years with honors and have a job with the company making three times my annual budget for this shop. How much more perfect do you want to be? I used to roll my eyes when I followed you around Europe and the French girls trailed after your ass.” She feigned an accent. “Oh, Jason, you have the sexiest voice. Your hair is so—soft.” She reached up and thrust her fingers through his curls with no attempt at gentleness. Okay, maybe they were a little kinder. “I wasn’t sure if you were
traveling
across Europe or
screwing
across it.”

He grinned. “It
was
kinda fun, wasn’t it? Still, you were the one they worried about the most. You always took on more than you could handle and expected too much. You never said a word about it when things got hard and we all wondered when you’d crack.”

“That’s ridiculous. No one even noticed what I did. Mom and Dad never had a kind word of support in anything. I doubt they even … ”

“Knew or cared? Hell, you should have heard the phone call from Dad then. If you ever thought they didn’t care, that would have cleared it up permanently.”

“I’m in the middle. No one notices or fawns over the middle kid. They’re not the first or the last.”

“Which is why they’re usually the sanest.”

“Not really.”

“Look. I know we don’t say the things you want to hear much—”

“Like never.”

He reached out and squeezed her arm. “But everyone cares. You know that, right?”

She let a couple seconds tick away as she let his words sink in. Sure they did. They were family. Still, they could have been a tiny bit supportive once in a while. “You know, I remember going to one of your games and sitting behind the cheerleaders. Dad came up to the gate as the team ran on the field as he always did. You stopped long enough for him to give you a huge hug and tell you he was proud of you … and to kick some ass.”

“He did that every game.”

Abby blinked back the sting in her eyes. “That’s my point. Not once did I ever get that. Not once.”

Jason brought the other arm up and wrapped her in a hug. “You didn’t play football. He had no idea how to relate.”

“He should have tried.”

Jason dropped his arms and pulled back. “Think back. He said it in a different way. You never let him close enough to talk like he did with me. He was different with each of us. It took me a long time to understand it. Abby, you’re the only one of us that can stand completely on your own two feet. No one has to tell you how proud we are because the only one you seem to have trouble pleasing is you, sis.”

“That’s ridiculous.” But it was true. She never let herself think she was as good as they were. She always thought herself insignificant. He was right. Still, a few hugs and atta-girls would have been nice. “So, why did you come, really?”

He sighed. “You’re holding out on us. Who’s this guy you’re seeing?”

Carter stared at the computer screen and cursed. The entire thing with Abby had been his fault from the beginning. Why hadn’t he done this before?

A two-minute comparison of the paper from Roger that documented their most used numbers would have cleared the entire fiasco. He ran an Internet search on LinkedIn for Abby, then for Jackson. Roger had written the number down wrong. Ironically, the number Carter blocked weeks ago because he thought it was a telemarketer was the right one. If he simply had answered the phone instead of blocking it, the entire mess wouldn’t have continued. He stared at Roger’s list. Had he done that by accident?

There had to be karma in that, right?

Crap.
He was starting to sound like Jackson … or his mom.

Carter picked up the phone and dialed the
right
number.

“We need to talk. Feel like lunch?”

• • •

There was something very satisfying about seeing his friend from childhood with no less than twenty extra pounds. Jackson’s Johnson Murphy shoes were shined to perfection, but the designer shirt stretched across a small basketball that rolled over the top of his perfectly pressed designer khakis.

Carter smiled but didn’t get up from his seat. “You’re fat.”

Jackson squeezed his tall, not-so-lanky physique into the seat across, and the shirt stretched further. Was it going to pop a button? He patted the roll above his belt lovingly. “What can I say? Life is good.”

Is it?
Carter frowned. He wanted to make it short. Admit his texting snafu and get it over with before walking away from Jax permanently. “So, tell me about your relationship with Abby.”

Jackson’s face screwed up in a look that Carter had known for years. “Who’s Abby?” He didn’t look away nor flinch. He was telling the truth.

“You know, running chick.”

He nodded and opened his mouth. “Ooohhh, the crazy flower girl? Why the hell does everyone think I know her?”

For the first time in a couple of months, the baseball in the pit of Carter’s stomach dislodged. “You don’t?”

“Never seen her until she poured a gallon of water in my crotch. Wait, is she the one responsible for getting you into a green hulk suit in makeup at the craft fair?” He burst out laughing and slapped a hand to his knee. “My mother told me about the whole thing. In fact, I think there are some pictures floating around town somewhere. Another one of your historically big stunts the town will talk about for years. Look out, they may end up on Facebook.”

Carter pounded a hand to the table, jolting Jackson’s mirth away. “You said you met her first.”

Jackson’s humor wavered then disappeared. He adjusted in his chair.

A waiter arrived to take their order, which included a scotch and water for the overweight ex-bean pole and ex-friend. It hadn’t helped the guy that the sun shone right on his midsection through the restaurant floor-to-ceiling windows. He was uncomfortable. Good.

“I was talking about Amanda. I met Amanda first. Several years before you, actually. We were friends in college. Then she landed an internship with Dad’s office.”

“You work together?”

“Not now. Only for a year. We did several projects together. She’s damn smart and worked on a lot of the company contracts for jobs I sold. Then, without warning, she quit after a year. I never knew why.”

“Are you telling me you were seeing Amanda when you introduced her to me? What the hell?”

The man’s eyes collided back to Carter. “Hell, no. I hadn’t seen her until that party. You and I both met her that night. Only, it was the
first
time for you. For me, it was like finding my high school sweetheart. I had no idea I’d missed her. We’d been such great friends, it never occurred to me there was more.”

“So, you guys got back together.”

“Not at first. You asked her out, remember? Here I was telling you it was time to trust again. To make an effort at a relationship and you picked the one damn woman that—”

“Don’t shit me. You always wanted the ones I dated.”

“That’s ironic. I thought it was the other way around.”

Carter cursed, but the baseball was gone from his gut. He should be completely pissed about Amanda, but the only emotion he felt was relief. It wasn’t Abby. It never was. He grabbed his fork and cut a big slice of the enchilada on his plate. With a mouthful, he shook his head. “You and Amanda, that’s crazy. I should beat the shit out of you, you know.”