Page 76 of Abyss

She nods, wiping a stray tear. “She may have given birth to a demon, but she herself is sweet. She just doesn’t see what an asshole Max is. She doesn’t see that I can barely get up in the morning, that I avoid being in the same room as her daughter. My dad doesn’t, either.” She takes another heaving breath. “I’m just scared to say anything and ruin things for my dad. He’s lost so much.”

“You have to, Jojo,” I say solemnly, referring to her stepmother. God, my heart breaks for her. Even through her own pain, she puts her dad’s happiness first. “Listen, your dad loves you, and I have no doubt he’d want to help you if you told him what was going on. And as for being scared, do you want to know something?”

She turns to me in response.

“I’m really scared of the dark. It’s so impressive to me when someone can sit inside a small dark room and not let it bother them. I came in here, and that was the first thing I noticed; you were sad, sure, but you were brave. You walked out of your house and came to this shed, despite the power being out, and you called me.”

I smile at her, hoping she can see how brave I think she is. “I think it takes courage to work past your fears and call someone, and I am so glad you did. Just as I know it will take a little more courage from you to bring your dad, and maybe even your stepmom, into the fold; to let them know what you’re going through. We can work on next steps, but only you can make that decision.”

After a few minutes of silent contemplating, with me sitting near her for support, Jojo nods, agreeing to take a chance and talk to her dad and stepmom as long as I’m there.

I pull her into a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

She manages a soft chuckle before she winces, looking down at my raincoat. “Oh no, I got paint all over your coat.”

I follow her gaze. “Ah, well, you know what? I think it’s going to look even better than it did before.”

A half hour later, with Jojo safely back inside her house, I’m back in Hudson’s truck, feeling like a mountain has been lifted off my shoulders.

I still can’t believe he stood outside the shed under his umbrella the entire time I was inside, like my personal bodyguard and savior.

The fact that he didn’t even hesitate to bring me here in the middle of the night, without a clue as to how long he’d have to wait for me . . .

How do I equate that to the man who’s barely spoken to me over the past couple of weeks? How do I fuse that with the man who told me all he wanted was one night with me? How do I even believe he’s the same irritable and demanding boss I started working for—the one who frowns way more than he smiles?

“You okay?” Hudson watches me turn the ring on my finger, one of those familiar frowns painting his features.

I give him a small smile. “Bet you didn’t think you’d be taking all this on as part of our business arrangement.”

His eyes stay on the road just as I slip my hand inside his. He squeezes it in that reassuring way of his, one corner of his mouth hitching up. “No. I definitely got more than I bargained for.”

“Are you ready to rip up that contract and send me on my way?”

He shakes his head, almost imperceptibly, before he lifts my hand to his lips. “There’s a reason it’s paperless, Kav.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

HUDSON

“Ready to look like the hot father-of-the-bride, big daddy?”

I lift my brow, giving her the glare she’s accustomed to. “What have I told you about calling me that?”

Piper giggles, leading me to her area of the salon. “That I should say it with a moan.”

I hold back my eye-roll. The woman is a shameless flirt, and if I didn’t know without a shadow of a doubt that it was all harmless, luxury men’s salon or not, I wouldn’t drive an hour to see her almost every three weeks. This time just happens to be right before Maddy’s wedding weekend.

In the five years I’ve been coming here, Piper and I have become friends. She’s around Maddy’s age and just as smart and good-natured. And while two of her best friends work alongside her as stylists, she’s the only one I allow to cut my hair. But that’s not a shocker, given routine and consistency could be my middle names.

Piper waves me over to the chair in front of the shampoo bowl, and after taking my seat, I take off my shoes to place my feet into the massager in frontof it.

“You know the drill, big guy: head and shoulder massage, shampoo and rinse, then we cut and style your thick, beautiful hair.” I hear her shuffle behind me as I get comfortable in my chair. “Want me to turn on a game or anything on T.V.?”

I shake my head. “Too bad I have to wait a few more months before hockey is back on. Did you congratulate your brother on the Stanley Cup win for me?”

Piper turns my chair so my back is to her before her fingers dig into my shoulders, working into each knot. Her brother is Rowan ‘Slick’ Parker, defenseman for the Boston Bolts and one hell of a hockey player. His life’s been plastered all over the news lately after he proposed to his girlfriend at the last winning game where the Bolts took home the Stanley. Apparently, she used to be his physical therapist, but I don’t keep up with gossip mills; I’d rather be watching the game instead.

“I did. Can’t believe he won his first Stanley and gave me a future sister-in-law, all in one night!” She rolls her knuckles into a particularly tense spot on my neck, making me exhale harshly. “Your shoulders are wound up like coils, big daddy. Worse than the last time I saw you. You stressed about Maddy’s wedding?”

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