Page 121 of Until I Have You

“On my terms,” Abigail hisses in anger.

I let out an elongated, “Oh,” looking up at the ceiling and pulling off my glasses.Rubbing at my eyes, I have to laugh.“This is ludicrous.”

“What about me not wanting people meddling in my life is–”

“You’re so caught up in your own immature sense of self that you can’t see when people are fighting for you, Abigail.”

Her eyes widen.“Immature?”

“Yes, immature.I knew this would be a problem.”This is why I asked Edwin to introduce me to women my own age.They know themselves.They aren’t clinging to the narrative they have all the control over the world around them.

Abigail stares at me for a long moment.

I’ve affronted her.And that was the point with my words, I suppose.

She gets up from her seat, her chair dragging across the floor, causing a sharp noise to echo through the restaurant.Without a word, she tears her coat off the back of her seat and leaves me at the table.

“Bloody hell,” I mutter, ignoring the prying eyes.

I reach into my wallet, throw down too much money on the table to cover the check, and rush after her.

Abigail’s already made it halfway down the block when I make it out of the restaurant.“Abigail!Don’t run away!”

She continues walking away, head held high.

That stupid dress makes her ass look amazing, and I know that’s the last thing I should be thinking about right now.

I have to run to catch up with her.“Abigail, don’t walk away from me.”

I grab her by the arm, but she yanks herself away, turning to face me.“Don’t touch me.”

Holding my hands up in surrender, I say, “Then don’t run away and prove my point.”

Abigail leans into her hip.“The point that I’m immature?”

“Can you put on your coat so you don’t catch a cold?It’s freezing out here,” I say, reaching for her jacket.

“I’m warm, thank you,” she spits.She lifts her chin high.“This is good.You think I’m immature, and I think you’re a controlling bastard.This means we can have a clean break.”

“A controlling bastard?Jesus Christ, just the one thing doesn’t mean–”

“It’s not just this one thing.You masterminded this.You mastermindedkeepingme here.”

I gape at her.“You wanted to stay.”

She didn’t just communicate this in her words, but her actions too.The way she has become everything to Bonnie.Everything to me.That shechoseme.

“I did what I could to make that happen.”

“This is my life, Theo!Mylife!It does not just exist for you!”

“And mine doesn’t exist only for you!”

“That’s perfectly clear.”

I step away, huffing a cloudy breath into the air.“You got involved with a man who has a child, Abigail.Youknowshe comes first.Always.”

“Yes, your daughter.Who I absolutely adore.”

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