Page 62 of Affinity

“Hey, how are you doing?”

“I’m doing good. How about you? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. Why?” I didn’t want her to think I only called her when something was wrong.

“It hasn’t been that long since we talked, that’s all. Please don’t tell me you called me to say you and your wonderful blushing bride aren’t coming.”

“We are coming. In fact, I booked our flight a few minutes ago. Are you sure you don’t want us to get a hotel room?”

“You do not want to stay at the hotel here,” she laughed. “And Riverside is too far away. We have plenty of room for you.” She gave a pregnant pause. “Unless you don’t want to stay here.”

“I don’t mind, but I was thinking that maybe we could have you, Mason, and Luke over for dinner before we go. That way, Abbi can get to know you better and meet Luke. I don’t want her uncomfortable while we’re there,” I explained before asking. “Is anyone else coming?”

“I think we can make it work. It might have to be a breakfast or lunch with Luke’s schedule since it’s right before a break. I’ll look and let you know. As for if anyone else is coming, just our friends here so they won’t be staying at the house unless they get too drunk. They’ll all be nice to Abbi, so you have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m not worried, but I don’t want her uncomfortable.”

She hummed. “Is there something more going on between the two of you?” The hope in her voice almost had me laughing. Alex was a great friend and only wanted the best for me, and she thought the best for me might be Abbi.

“We’re more. It’s still new.”

“Of course, it’s still new. You’ve known her all of what, two weeks?” Alex laughed.

“Something like that,” I grumbled. “It feels like longer, though. I really like her,” I confessed.

“And I know from meeting her that Abbi wouldn’t get involved with you unless she felt the same way.” Alex squealed. A loud, clapping noise accompanied her high-pitched noise. “I’m so happy for you. We’ll definitely make time to get together before you stay with us. Is she working now?”

“Yeah, but it’s not going as well as she thought it was. I guess her boss has a crush on me and is making her life miserable.”

“And Catherine is letting her?”

“She’s been gone but is aware of the situation.”

“Good,” she said fiercely. “I didn’t think she’d put up with that. I’ll check to see when we can all get together, and I’ll give you one of the bedrooms downstairs at the house so you’ll have your privacy.” It was nice hearing how happy she was for me.

“Thanks. I look forward to seeing you guys soon.”

“Soon. Bye.”

It wasn’t until Alex showed up at my doorstep after my marriage that I realized how much I’d missed her in my life. While I knew I couldn’t lie to her about the situation with Abbi, I wasn’t sure I’d ever work up the nerve to tell her the real reason I’d gone to rehab. I never wanted to see the disappointment on her face when she learned the truth.

An email came in from John as I sat at my desk. He was sending me a script to read, and it was supposed to show up sometime tomorrow. At least that gave me something productive to do. My phone dinged with a message.

Abbi: Leaving the office now. Be home soon.

I thought about telling her how I’d be waiting for her but decided I’d take a picture to show her. Stripping out of my clothes, I made my way out to the backyard and laid back on one of the loungers. With my phone in one hand, I started stroking myself. Not too much, I didn’t want to finish without her here, but enough to show what she was in for. When it started to feel a little too good, I took a picture and sent it to her. I wanted her to see how hungry I was for her, what she did to me.

I knew she was likely on her way home by the time she saw it and couldn’t answer. I hoped with each passing minute that the thought of me out in our backyard, jerking myself off, made her slick with need.

Minute by minute passed without any sign of her. After thirty more minutes, I called her phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Next, I called her office to see if maybe she hadn’t left, but there was no answer there either. Now I was starting to get worried. We weren’t far from the office, and it never took this long for her to get home. Even though this was the first time she’d driven and adding extra time for being cautious, she still should have arrived home by now.

Walking inside, I got dressed and called Catherine to see if she knew where Abbi might be. I didn’t want to text.

“Hello, Jenner. What can I do for you today?” she answered with a smile in her voice.

“Can you tell me where Abbi is? She sent me a text message almost an hour ago saying she was on her way home, and she’s not here yet. I’m starting to get worried.”

What if the picture I sent her made her get into a wreck?

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