Page 14 of Austen, Edited

With the room now dark, Abby sat up straight, pulling a section of her hair over her shoulder and using her fingers to play with it. She wasn’t sure if it was the darkness that made her brave or the fact that she’d just survived another encounter with Maria Campbell.

“So, you and Hannah are over, huh?” As much as she tried to keep her voice neutral, a hint of betrayal seeped into it. She turned to stare at him, waiting for his response.

“We are on my end. There are just some things that shouldn’t be broken in a relationship, and one of those is trust.”

“But she’s still calling you.” It was a statement, and Abby already knew the answer. Hannah was the most persistent person she’d ever met, and what she wanted, she usually got. So while Abby had fantasized about having a relationship with Greyson, even within the last few minutes, her hopes had just been shot down because, eventually, he would go back to her.

Greyson closed his eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath. “Not by my choice, Abby.” His words weren’t stern or angry, but the feel of them ringing in her head caused her to stiffen.

The movie started playing again, but Abby couldn’t focus on the plot. All she could picture was Hannah coming back with her innocent expression, swaying Greyson in some deranged extended version ofGroundhog Day.

“I’ve got to run home. I forgot about all the stuff I have to get done before my aunt’s garden party tomorrow.” Abby slipped her feet back into her flip-flops and grabbed the blanket in a big mound without folding it. “I’ll, uh, see you later.”

She felt a hand on her wrist and turned to see him staring at her, his eyes pleading.

“Please, Abs. I know you aren’t a fan of her, and to be honest, neither am I anymore. Don’t go. I need you in my life.”

She hovered over the seat for a few more seconds before sitting down again. How could she not stay when he asked like that? Greyson had never openly lied to her about anything, and if things were over between Hannah and him, she would believe him. But after tonight, she’d need to keep her distance in case Hannah got her way.

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