Page 80 of Claws and Feathers

Abby sighed. “You’re ruining my honeymoon phase.”

Kate studied her, her eyes squinting thoughtfully. She twirled the spine of her glass between her fingers. “You really like him, don’t you?”

Likehim? Understatement of the year. Abby’s school-girl grin could not be tamed. She ducked her head to hide it. “Yeah… something like that.”

“Wait.” Kate straightened, setting down her drink and scooching closer to Abby. “I know that look. I freakin’knowthat look.”

“My look of perpetual irritation? That’s just my face.”

“Not that one.” She jabbed her finger at Abby, circling her nose. “Thatone. The one that’s screaming:‘Hey, look at me, I had sex with Kate’s brother and didn’t bother to mention it’.”

Abby’s cheeks burned in remembrance.

“Now your look has morphed into:‘Hey, I’m thinking about that time I had sex with Kate’s brother, but didn’t bother to mention it’.”

“Okay, okay. Stop… analyzing me.” Abby chugged down the rest of her cocktail and tried not to gag. “Fine, if you must know – wemayhave acted upon our feelings.”

“Lame as hell response.”

“I’m trying to save you from mental images here.”

Kate made a face of disgust. “Trust me. The last thing I’m thinking about is my brother naked. God. Eww.”

Abby giggled. She wasdefinitelythinking about Kate’s brother naked. She set her empty glass down on the coffee table, then turned back to Kate with an earnest expression. “Funnies aside, I have to ask. Are you cool with this? Me and Cooper?”

“Are you kidding? I’m fucking delighted. My brother needed you as much as you needed him,” Kate replied. “I don’t believe in that star-crossed, meant-to-be, fairytale nonsense, but you two are the closest I’ll get to ever believing in fate.”

Abby couldn’t help but warm at the notion. Kate’s words made her buzz harder than the vodka. She turned her head towards the front window where James Walker was standing outside keeping watch. She nodded at him. “What about you? Are you and the handsome police officer going to follow in our fairytale footsteps?”

As much as Kate tried to hide her infatuation, her smile betrayed her. She glanced over at James who was pacing the yard. “I’m definitely feeling something,” she said coyly. “I think I found my guy.”

Abby kicked her friend lightly with her foot, returning the smile. Her mind was swirling with grandiose images of double dates, joint weddings, and epic dinner parties. She sighed, reaching for her champagne flute. “Refill?”

“You know my answer,” Kate winked.

Abby stood from the couch and carried the glasses into the kitchen. She poured another round of mimosas – this timewithoutthe vodka – and sauntered back towards the living room. She paused her steps, realizing she was walking in on a ‘moment’. James was looking in through the large bay window, his eyes dancing with affection as he gazed at Kate. Abby could tell by Kate’s profile that she was returning the token with an equal amount of tenderness.

It was sweet. It was perfect.

It was ripped apart by gunshots pelting in through the window, shattering the glass, and spraying tiny fragments across the room.

James dropped to the ground, blasted with bullets.

Kate screamed. It was a wretched, horrible sound, and it would haunt Abby until the day she died. Which could be now.

Which could beright now.

The wine glasses slipped from her fingers, breaking apart at her feet. Her body went numb as a man barged in through the front door, his gun pointed right at them.

No.

It washim.

It was The Man.

Abby mentally slapped herself to wake up. Shebeggedher mind to wake from this terrible nightmare. It had to be a nightmare. It simply had to be. The Man was not here. James was not shot.

It wasn’t real.It wasn’t real.

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