Page 29 of Austen, Edited

Chapter 16

“Again, thank you all for coming here tonight,” Meg said, holding a small box wrapped like a present. “We’ve finally settled on a date for the wedding! You’re basically our family, and we wanted you to know that Parker and I will be getting married on December 19th.”

Excited chatter passed through the small group of people, most of their faces lit up by the several candles spread over the tables. Greyson grinned as he looked around at the people who were becoming fast friends.

He thought about Parker’s relationship with Meg. From what he’d heard, there had been a lot of pressure when the two first started dating, and Greyson could only imagine how hard it would be to have all the criticism around being engaged to a matchmaker.

Ruby leaned in closer and asked something Greyson couldn’t hear.

“Ruby just asked me who we are using as a wedding planner. Well, I’ve always secretly wanted Julia Vellardi to plan my wedding, but she’s taking some time off after her divorce this year.” Meg held the box up higher. “But I’ve found an amazing wedding planner coming out from Vegas. Her name is Sadie, and she’s done a bunch of celebrity weddings. I’ve already asked Lily to be the matron of honor before we finalize anything, but I wanted to know if you girls would like to be my bridesmaids?”

Greyson could feel the tension in Abby’s body, and he wondered why something like this would trigger it. He turned his attention back to Meg as she opened the box and walked up to Lexi with a small silver bracelet. She went to Ruby next with Tiffany right after. By the time Meg walked up to him and Abby, Abby was gripping his hand so hard he was starting to lose feeling in his fingers.

“Abby, will you be a bridesmaid?”

Frowning, Abby gave a slight shake of the head. “But I’ve only been with the company a few weeks. You don’t want me as a bridesmaid.”

Meg’s grin widened, and she nodded. “Of course I do. You’re family the minute you step into the Love, Austen office. Lexi has been one of the best caterers I’ve ever hired, and working with her is always a laugh. Ruby put up with my schemes for a reality TV show but ended up with her lost love. Olivia, who isn’t here tonight, survived all sorts of things going through our program. You will make plenty of memories with us, and I hope you’re around for a long time.”

She finished speaking and fixed the clasp of the bracelet around Abby’s petite wrist. Meg pulled her in for a hug, breaking Greyson’s hold of Abby. There were tears in Abby’s eyes, and at first, he couldn’t figure out why she’d be so emotional. But as he let the idea sink in, he realized she’d never really had what most people would call a family. She’d been just living in someone’s house for the past almost twelve years and didn’t have the relationship with her mother or anyone else that she was already building with Meg and her company.

Meg pulled back and smiled at Abby before continuing back to Parker.

Greyson reached for Abby’s hand again, squeezing it as he gave her a side-smile. She wiped at the tears under her eyes, and he had the urge to protect her at all costs.

He might not have realized how much he cared for this girl until the last couple weeks or so, but to lose her again would be something he’d regret the rest of his life.

* * *

Once the partydocked back in the harbor and they’d all said their goodbyes, Greyson still held Abby’s hand.

“Let me take you home.” He said the words softly, leaning down next to her ear.

“But that’s out of the way. I can just go with Tiffany.” Abby raised their joined hands to point in the direction Tiffany and her date, Todd, had gone.

He pulled her to a stop and shook his head. “I don’t care that you can go with Tiffany or that it’s an extra few minutes to get back to my parents’ house after dropping you off. You didn’t let me pick you up, and I want to be a true gentleman and make sure you make it home okay.”

She looked like she was trying to hide a smile and finally nodded. Dropping her hand from his, she hooked her arm around his bicep and leaned into him. It was something he hadn’t realized he’d missed until she’d done it on the boat, and he was pretty sure this was something he wanted to remember always.

He opened the door to his car and helped her in, hurrying around to the driver's side after. She was rubbing her arms now, and he turned on the heater before pulling his jacket off. “Sit up. I’ll put this around you.”

Abby gave an airy laugh and sat forward, tugging the suit coat around her. Greyson took off out of the parking lot, taking a longer route through the streets and along the Charles River. Lights every so often gave the usually dirty-looking river a romantic glow, and Greyson wasn’t ready for the night to be over just yet.

“I’m really glad you came,” Abby said, her eyes focused on the road ahead.

“Oh yeah?” Greyson thought about saying more but was more curious about her answer.

She nodded. “We haven’t been able to hang out like this ever. Not that I can remember. It’s usually just casual at home. But it was fun to dress up and have a night out.” Abby turned to him, her close-lipped smile causing her eyes to squint.

“I’m glad you came too. I was a little worried at first that you weren’t going to show up.”

“I always show up when I say I will.” Her tone was sad, and it wrenched his insides. She’d said it without malice, like a reminder rather than a final judgment.

Reaching over to rest his hand on hers, he glanced at her and said, “A mistake I never want to repeat.”

After a few moments of silence, he decided to change the direction of the conversation. “How does it feel to have eaten dinner with your favorite hockey player?” He grinned at her before turning his gaze back to the dark road ahead.

Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes grew wide. “How did you remember that?”

“How can I forget? I’m surprised we haven’t watched a hockey game together yet this season. You’re probably the most avid hockey fan I’ve ever met.”

“It’s hard not to be when the BC hockey team is so good.” She gave him a wry grin, and from there she relaxed, talking just as much as she always had around him.

He reached over and tucked her hand into his, wanting to be close to her even while driving. A surge of electricity worked up his arm, and he thought he heard her sigh.

They chatted on the way home, Greyson feeling like he’d never felt before. Abby had so many inner strengths, and he just hoped she felt the same as he did, that attraction growing with every passing day. He was at the edge, the line that bordered best friend and fell into relationship territory. But how would she react if he stepped across it?

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