Page 54 of Under Pink Skies

By the time the credits were rolling, Abbie’s head was resting in my lap, and she was fast asleep. I drew in a deep breath, trying to slow down the thoughts racing through my mind. My thoughts stopped and started over the same line: Abbie feltsafewith me. She felt safe enough that she fell asleep next to me, despite being anxious about the festival and everything on her plate.

I turned the TV off, reaching for the blanket thrown haphazardly over the back of the couch, draping it over her sleeping frame. Unable to stop myself, I ran my fingers through her hair, pulling the strands back from her face and tucking them behind her ear.

My heart stuttered in my chest as a million questions raced through my mind. The lines between us were becoming increasingly blurred, but neither one of us seemed willing to pull back. If Abbie asked me to keep my distance again, I would. But she hadn’t asked. If anything, she was toeing the line right alongside me, as if waiting for me to be the first to cross over into dangerous territory.

My thoughts spiraled, but one question remained at the forefront of my mind.

Could it be this easy for us to fall into each other again?

We were different people now, that much was obvious. But this new tether between us felt stronger somehow, as if the years and distance between us had fortified it. I felt more ready to fight for this than I ever had.

I shook my head, allowing those thoughts to fade away into the background. Tomorrow was about Abbie and Watford. Tomorrow was about celebrating all the incredible work everyone had put in to make the new and improved Founder’s Day festival a success.

I would wait to ask my questions. I’d wait to cross the line. For Abbie, I realized, I’d wait forever.

I settled back into Abbie’s insanely comfortable couch. I closed my eyes and let the soft sounds of Abbie’s breathing lull me to sleep.

Chapter 20

Abbie

WhenIwokethenext morning I was in my bed, with only fuzzy memories of how I'd gotten there.

I turned off my blaring alarm, blinking to fight back the darkness, and I turned on my lamp. There was a vanilla latte from Blackbeard’s on my nightstand, smoke curling from the small hole in the lid.

I immediately relaxed, remembering that Connor had been here last night. Connor had brought me coffee. Connor had brought me to bed after we’d both drifted off, watched my favorite movie, and made sure I got a good night’s sleep. And, to my eternal surprise, Connor had stayed the night, judging by the faint clanging of pans and kitchen utensils drifting in from the hall.

Anxiety immediately sank its claws into me. Today was the day. Everything I’d been working toward for the last six weeks would come to fruition today.

For better or for worse.

I could only hope I’d done enough.

I still had on the same clothes as yesterday. I took a moment to brush my teeth, wash my face, and put on a clean set of jeans and a blush pink lightweight flannel. I grabbed the coffee cup from my nightstand and walked towards the kitchen.

“Good morning.” Connor’s rough voice shook me out of my stupor. Heat rose in my cheeks as I raised the coffee cup to my lips. “I slept in your guest bedroom last night. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Good morning,” I said. “I’m glad you did. It smells amazing in here.”

Connor’s grin widened. “I’m making omelets. Yours is next. Are vegetables and cheese still your favorite?”

I turned my attention to the sizzling cast iron pan and the various vegetables, cartons, and cheeses covering my countertop.

“Yes,” I said, still shocked that Connor Harvey was in my kitchen making me breakfast. It was so painfully domestic that my chest tightened with longing. It felt strange knowing that these small moments were what I dreamed about as a teenager, and yet I couldn’t go to him. I couldn’t wrap my arms around his waist and press my cheek into the firm planes of his back. I couldn’t smack a sticky kiss on his cheek as I grabbed my keys for work.

The sight of him in jeans and the same fitted t-shirt he’d been wearing yesterday did nothing to quell my racing mind. He was a sight to behold. He always had been, but now that he was more a man than a skinny teenager, I was having a really hard time keeping my shit together.

“Thank you for the coffee,” I said, taking another sip. “It means a lot that you stayed with me last night. You didn’t have to.”

“There is nowhere else I‘d rather be,” Connor said gently. I lifted my gaze to his, and my heart rate sped up.

I could see the truth in his honest stare. He slid a plate in front of me, but my eyes never left his face. The evidence of his concern for me was all around, from the steaming veggie and cheese omelet on my plate to the delicious latte warming my hands.

I was in trouble. So much freaking trouble.

“So, now that breakfast is served, I am heading out to meet Kameron and Lucas at Watley’s. Ludgate and the other deputies have already blocked off the roads. We’re going to set up the vendor fair. I’ll also check in with Mari and see if she needs any help with the kid’s corner. You stay here and finish your breakfast. I’ll know if you don’t.”

My eyes narrowed as he grabbed his keys from the bowl.

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