Page 55 of Claws and Feathers

“I know. You meant to hurt Cooper. You didn’t eventhinkabout me.”

“I – I’m drowning over here. I can’t catch a break. It all spiraled to a peak, and I lashed out in the worst way.” Abby had tried to make sense of her regrettable decisions, but as the words spilled from her mouth, it had all sounded like bullshit. She hadn’t been surprised by Daphne’s derisive laugh.

“Me, me, me. It’s all about you, Abigail Stone.” Daphne had shaken her head, her pretty features twisted with scorn. “What about the person who gave you a place to stay? What about the friend who has never abandoned you? That’s how you repay me?”

The tears had begun to fall. Daphne had been right. She had beenso right,and it made Abby want to throw up. How could she have been so selfish? “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too.” Daphne had laughed again. “You know what’s funny? I spent the rest of the night crying my eyes out to Kate McAllister. It was a night full of interesting plot twists.”

“Daph…”

“But eventhatdidn’t shock me as much as watching you betray me.” Daphne had stepped aside, allowing Abby to enter. “Get your shit and go.”

It had been radio silence ever since.

Abby deserved it. She deserved every biting word and bitter accusation.

As she settled into her afternoon of depression and Netflix dramas, there was a knock at the front door. Abby wondered if it was one of the contactors who had left some tools behind. Or maybe,perhaps, it was her fairy Godmother telling her that her entire life had all been a bad dream. She was going to get a redo.

Bippity, boppity, boo.

Abby opened the front door and found that her fairy Godmother looked an awful lot like Kate McAllister.

“Hey. Grab your purse. I’m taking you out to lunch.”

She supposed lunch would have to suffice.

Thirty minutes later, the two women were seated on the outdoor patio of a quaint café. Abby was basking in the sunshine and fresh air – she had spent most of the week indoors, taking turns demolishing her garage so it could be transformed into a photography studio, and burrowing into her bed covers with carbohydrates and tears of regret. She pushed her salad around with a fork and glanced up at Kate who was studying her from across the table.

“What?” Abby wondered.

Kate shrugged, slouched back in her chair with a knowing smile.

“Why are you smiling? I don’t deserve smiles. I don’t even deserve oxygen.” Abby tossed her fork down and it clashed against her plate. Bleu cheese dressing sprayed back at her.Cool.

“Pretty sure your terrible choices don’t warrant your death,” Kate said.

“Pretty sure Daphne and Cooper would disagree with you there.”

She pondered the statement. “Daphne, maybe. But definitely not Cooper.”

Oh, Cooper. Abby had really messed it all up. She hadn’t spoken to him since he’d driven her home from the bar that night. It had been a wretched silence. Abby had pressed her forehead against the passenger side window, begging for the door to open. She’d wanted to tumble out of the car and disappear into the night. She was good at disappearing, after all. If only she could just stay gone…

Cooper had finally said something as they’d pulled into her driveway. “Abby,” he’d whispered before she could make a quick escape inside.

She had turned to him, her fingers wrapped around the door latch.

He’d glanced over at her, his eyes sorrowful. “I’m sorry for the mixed signals. I’m sorry for inviting you out to the lake, and for kissing you, and for hurting you. My feelings for you are confusing – and a hell of an inconvenience.” He’d turned away then, exhaling deeply, staring straight ahead. “But you need to know that I never meant to hurt you. It was never my intention. The last thing I’d ever want to do is cause you more pain.”

Abby had started to cry again, knowing exactly what he was going to say next. She’d brought her hand to her mouth, trying to stifle the sounds of her remorse.

“You meant to hurt me tonight,” he’d continued. “It was your goal – yourpurpose. And you succeeded tenfold.”

Cooper had closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the headrest. Abby had waited for the nail in the coffin. The dagger through the heart. The‘I can never forgive you’.

But it never came.

That had been it. All he’d wanted was for her to know that she had hurt him. And, somehow, the accompanying silence was far worse than anything he could have said. Maybe Abby had wanted him to punish her. Maybe she’d wanted his nails, and his dagger, and his ‘I never want to see you again’. Maybe she’d craved it.Deservedit. But Cooper had not indulged her – he’d remained silent as he waited for her to exit the car.

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