Page 97 of Johnathan

His chest rumbled against her back. “Love the sound of that.”

“What? That I love you?”

“That you called me ‘baby’.” He groaned as he pressed his forehead against hers. “Fuck. How much longer do we haveuntil we need to be at my parents’? Because I’m feeling very possessive of you, baby. And I’d kind of like to possess you before we go.”

“John!” Abby tried to wiggle free from his grasp.

“We have time.” His teeth nibbled on the skin behind her ear and she squealed.

“No, we don’t. Now, I’m going to take these clothes down to my car. Will you grab that last box for your truck and lock up? Emma’s waiting in Sprinkles for the keys.”

“Sure thing. You know, almost everyone knows about you moving in, except two really important people in your life.”

“I know.”

“When do you want to tell them?”

She rolled her head, trying to relieve some of the tension in her neck. “Next week?”

“Baby.”

“I just, I need a little more time.”

“I know you’re really worried about telling Sam, but he loves you, and he’ll be happy for us.”

She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “I hope so. If not, Thanksgiving is going to be really awkward.”

John chuckled. “Pull your car out front when you’re ready and we’ll leave together.”

Abby nodded and grabbed the last of her clothes. Were they really going to tell her family that not only were they dating, but they were also moving in together? It was one thing to accept they were dating, but living together was so huge. Would they worry it was too soon? She was so lost in her nervousness that she didn’t notice anything wrong with her car at first. She just put her clothes in the back and climbed into the driver's seat, starting the ignition and turning down the air conditioning she’d had on full blast earlier that day. Her dash lit up with a warning as she pressed her foot on the brake.

Three of her tires were alarming with low pressure. That was weird. She got out of the car and gasped as the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

How the hell had she missed her tires being shredded? It wasn’t like she’d run over a nail, or some broken glass. No. It looked like someone had taken a knife and stabbed them over and over again. Why only three of the tires, though? Had the person who’d done it heard her coming and wanted to get away before they were caught? Were they nearby watching her?

As she rounded the back of her car, her heart caught in her throat. The back tire matched the other two on the drivers side, except that one still had the knife they’d used embedded in the rubber. A piece of paper was caught through the blade and Abby ripped the note free, her hands shaking as she unfolded it.

WHORE.

Her stomach dropped as her eyes darted around the area behind the bakery.John.She needed to get to John. He’d know what to do.

Walking back onto Main Street, Abby looked down the row of parking spaces towards John’s truck. He wasn’t there waiting for her, which meant he was still inside Sprinkles.

She opened the door to the bakery and went inside, wiping her hands down her jeans after tucking the note in her back pocket.

John saw her first, a smile and a slight worried crinkle around his eyes greeting her.

“Hey, baby. Emma wouldn’t let me leave before you came in to find me.”

“Yeah! Like I’m letting you leave without saying goodbye. Nice try.”

“I wasn’t trying to get away without saying goodbye,” Abby chuckled. “There is no goodbye to say. I’m still going to see you all the time.”

“But you won’t be right upstairs. It was nice knowing I’d get to see you every morning and check in.”

“It was nice. But like I said, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. But for now, we actually do need to go. John’s parents are waiting for us.”

“Yes, yes, family dinner.” Emma wrapped her arms around Abby. “I’m so happy for you, babe. You deserve this happiness with him.”

---