Page 22 of Beautifully Reckless
So she’s not going to say what she wants now, unless I demand it.
“The fuck?” someone whispers as they witness Abbey’s obedience to me.
“Tell us what you want, Angel.”
She parts her lips, but snaps them shut, her uncertain gaze darting to Crow and the little assassin.
“Eyes on mine,” I snap, and again, her gaze returns to me and she licks her lips. “Tell us, now.”
“I need to speak with Ringo alone,” she rushes out, and the Fox Pines crew move as one, shuffling at the unexpectedness of her request.
My fucking heart, which I’m sure stopped minutes ago, kicks back into action with a force that nearly takes me to my fucking knees.
Is it possible that I haven’t lost her after all?
Because she bailed really fucking fast from me. From the Western.
And yeah, I get that she didn’t understand what was happening when I lost my shit. I’m still fucking pissed that she fled before she could learn the truth.
But she’s here now, right in front of me, and I need a fucking minute alone with her without all these eyes on us. Without all these fucking opinions coming from every fucking direction.
“You sure, Abs? You don’t have to. If he’s forcing you…”
Abbey’s wide eyes snap back to Lexi at her words, her expression tightening like she’s been slapped.
“Ringo would never force me to do anything.”
Lexi hesitates, looking between us. Her brows pull together, and I can practically hear the gears turning in her head.
“Uh… okay… ummm.” She flicks a glance at Ayden, looking for backup.
I get it. To her, it must look like I forced Abbey to tell us what she wanted a moment ago. And maybe, in a way, I did. But all I was really doing was giving Abbey permission to be honest without making her feel like she had to take responsibility for it.
Amanda, watching the whole exchange, steps in smoothly to assist.
“If that’s what Abbey would like, how about we give her some privacy?”
There’s a heavy pause.
Abbey’s hometown friends hesitate, their reluctance thick in the air.
Their instincts are screaming for them to stay. To protect her. But one by one, they finally start moving, dragging their feet as they go.
A few of the guys size me up as they pass, and I grin.
I like those fucking kids.
Devon, ever the smug prick, takes his sweet time, cracking his neck and finally peeling himself off the sun lounger like a man with nowhere important to be.
He saunters past giving me a slow, knowing smirk that makes my fists twitch.
Ignoring him, I watch my best mate, JD turn back to Abbey.
“I’m glad you’re okay. Jols will be relieved to hear it as well.”
Abbey’s lips kick up in a small, warm smile, and JD turns and claps me on my shoulder before following the others inside.
And just like that, it’s quiet, the sounds of the city almost muffled as my gaze travels up from Abbey’s feet to take her in properly for the first time tonight without an audience.
