Page 107 of Never Left You

I ordered our drinks, listening to Zeke and Darren laugh and talk as they tried to pull me into the conversation, but my eyes were on Abi. The smile that was spread across her lips as she listened to Quinn tell her story made those butterflies begin to flutter in my stomach. She was happy, genuinely happy. She wasn’t faking that laugh or smile, that was all her. I recognizedthat smile from years ago, when her life was exactly the way she wanted it to be. And now—here with me—the joy that seeped through her was real.

She told me she wanted to live these moments with me, that I wouldn’t be replacing times she could have had with Sylas, she was making new memories, new dreams and desires…with me.

“So really, how did you snag her?” Zeke asked, leaning on the bar top as soon as his drink was in his hand.

I turned back to him quickly. “Thought we said that wasn’t up for discussion.”

“Nah, Abi said it. Not you. Abi is occupied, and I want to know how that happened.” He gestured towards Abi. “I mean, everyone knew you had a thing for her—it was clear as day. Pretty sure Sylas even knew.”

“I never would have acted on it. Sylas knewthat, too.” I gave him a side eye.

“True, but then she stopped coming around after Sylas passed. No one blames her, and Rhett let us know she was doing okay, but seeing her now…” He looked over his shoulder at Abi. “She looks happy. I take it that’s your doing, so…how did you land her?”

The bartender dropped mine and Abi’s drinks in front of us, nodding his head once as he took my card to pay. Handing me the slip back, I signed my name quickly and slipped my card back into my wallet, all the while trying to figure out how to tell Zeke how I got so lucky to ‘land’ Abi. Grabbing both drinks, I stood from the stool.

“First of all,” I started, “I didn’t ‘land’ her. She wasn’t a prize to win. Second,” I met his gaze, “she brought me back to life, and…well.” I looked at her just in time to see her laugh. She caught my gaze, and her smile softened. “I helped her smile again.”

Leaving the guys at the bar top, I walked over Abi and Quinn, my gaze never once leaving the woman I was in love with.

In love.

How long did it take to fall in love with someone?

Did it matter?

Looking at Abi, I knew it didn’t and never would.

I had been in love with her for a long time.

Handing her the drink, I bent to give her a slight kiss before taking the seat next to her. I leaned back on the couch and rested my arm on the back, giving her the chance to sink into me if she chose.

“Quinn was telling me about Wyatt’s fail.” Abi pivoted to face me, lifting her drink to her lips. “It’s comical because, well…”

“Wyatt doesn’t fail.” I finished her sentence.

“Oh no.” Quinn laughed. “Someone has to tell him no. He’s too cocky. He's too…”

“Full of himself?” I asked, pretty much a mumble under my breath.

Abi turned her head, her braid flipping to her other shoulder. “It’s true, but harsh. Wyatt will figure himself out one day. Until then, I’m glad Quinn turned him down.”

“You know he told me to stay away from you, right?” I took a drink.

Abi laughed. “Yeah...he wasn’t too thrilled when I told him you asked me out.” Just then, Abi’s phone rang on the table in front of her. Kyla’s name appeared on the screen, and she shot forward. “It’s probably Stetson. I’ll be right back.” She reached for her phone as she stood. “Hey, Stet.”

I blinked, watching as she walked away. She called himStet.

“Okay I gotta know, why does Wyatt hate you?” Quinn asked, leaning forward.

“We used to be friends, but he is not too fond of the way I treated Abi.”With every right…

“Which is…” she pried.

“Nothing we’re not trying to fix.”

She smiled and plopped back in her chair. “Youarea big softy.”

“Only when it comes to her,” I replied.

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