Page 53 of It Shouldn't Be You
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s for your cat café. Or, if you prefer, you can use it as a base to volunteer or plan events. It’s yours to do with as you wish.” I shrug, pulling her into my side and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
“Looks like you’ve got him wrapped around your finger already, Abbie girl,” her dad jokes, pulling her into a hug. Laughing, I head to the drinks station and grab us each a glass of wine. When I return, Abigail is sandwiched between her parents, her face lit with blissful joy. I press the glass into her hand and leave her to it, seeking out Owen.
As much as tonight is about Abigail, business never rests. With Helen’s reappearance stirring up fresh questions, it’s a good time to strategize while the girls gush and Abigail dreams of her new store.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And later, when a wine-drunk Abigail lets me fuck her over the balcony? Yeah, I wouldn’t trade that for anything either.
Chapter 47
Waking up the morning after my surprise engagement with a pounding head and cheeks that hurt from smiling and laughing so much the night before makes an already idyllic setting even more heavenly.
Slipping out from Logan’s arm, I shrug on his shirt from last night and pad into the kitchen in search of much-needed caffeine, only to stumble into the middle of a hushed argument between Lily and Cora.
Where Cora and I look like we’ve just rolled out of bed, Lily looks like she hasn’t even been to bed. Cora’s exasperated expression and the way she’s waving her arms while whisper-yelling at Lily make it clear she’s had enough of Lily’s secretive behaviour.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, wedging myself between them and noting the tear tracks on Lily’s face and the worry lines etched into Cora’s.
“I’m sick to death of pretending we don’t see what’s happening between her and Matt,” Cora snaps. “I thought they’d wised up and were keeping their distance these past few months. I thought her leaving was her way of shutting it down for good. But now I wake up to find her sneaking in! Unless she was out fucking Liam or Aidan, we all know where she’s been. Don’t you get it, Lily? He’s going to hurt you.Please, let us help you leave him behind and find someone who’ll treat you right.” Cora’s voice softens as she reaches past me to grab Lily’s hand.
With a choked sob, Lily collapses into Cora’s open arms. Wrapping my arms around both of them, I press a kiss to Lily’s temple as she breaks down, and my resolve to confront Matt solidifies. I might not know the full story, but she’s nineteen and navigating a world she doesn’t fully understand. Matt, on the other hand, has been raised in this world and should know better.
Exchanging a worried look with Cora, we guide Lily to the sofa and bundle her between us. We murmur soothing words as she cries herself to sleep.
“I’m going to kill him,” Cora hisses, fury lighting up her features. “Why does he keep screwing with her like this?”
“Because he’s a guy and he can,” I reply bitterly. “You know as well as I do that in the eyes of the mafia, he can do whatever the hell he wants as long as he doesn’t get anyone pregnant or marry someone else before his wedding. Meanwhile, if we dared to show up on our wedding day anything less than virgins, it could start a war. It’s sexist, and it’s infuriating, but that’s the mafia.”
“Yeah, well, it’s about time for that to change,” Cora mutters darkly, a dangerous glint in her eyes. I bite my bottom lip to suppress a smirk. The mafia world won’t know what it’s hit it when she takes over.
With Lily safely tucked in beside Cora and Logan standing guard, I head out to hunt down Matt before he can slip back to London and pretend everything is fine. It’s not fine. It’s not even on the same continent as fine.
“You know, if you wanted to start trouble, there are easier and kinder ways to do it than treating Lily like your personal whore.” I spit when I find him sitting on the beach, a bottle of vodka wedged between his knees, his shirt from last night discarded beside him.
“Shut the fuck up, Abbie. You don’t know shit,” he slurs, his bleary eyes fixed on the ocean.
With a sigh, I grab the vodka and take a swig before sitting beside him.
“Part of me has been rooting for you two, but not like this. Not when it leaves her in tears and you drinking your feelings, while our friendship circle fractures more every day.” I rest my chin on my knees, joining him in his staring competition with the waves.
“It was never supposed to be like this,” he whispers, his voice as broken as Lily’s had been.
“But it is. And there’s nothing we can do to change that.” I slip an arm around his shoulders, pulling him down to rest his head against me. I would do anything to lighten this burden for them, but their romance can never bloom. As much as it’s killing them, all we can do is help them snuff it out before it destroys them further.
Epilogue
“Did you ever think we’d be here?” Alex asks as we watch Abigail host the soft opening of her cat café. The newly vetted Clan members, along with Cora and Lily, have all shown up to support her, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Since returning from our honeymoon, she’s thrown herself into making this dream a reality. Other than connecting her with my realtor, this has been entirely her doing. With help from Olivia, Samantha, and Rene, she pulled it off in record time. The place is perfect.
Situated across from Perfect Paws on a busy street, the café is bound to attract plenty of foot traffic. Between her freshly baked sweet and savoury treats, there’s something for everyone.
“Never,” I admit, glancing at Alex as a frown crosses his face.
“Any word on Helen?”
