Page 105 of Coming Up Roses

I sentAbi a final smile where she was sitting on the bed, looking way too vulnerable for my liking, but I knew Katie would be gentle with her.

I made sure of it before I stepped out of the room.

“I didn’t realise I’d be walking into something,” Katie whispered when I slid off the bed, leaving Abi behind.

“It’s fine, but be kind, okay? She’s been through it over the last twenty-four hours.”

“I know she has, and of course I will be,” she said, then gave me a sly smirk. “Protective looks good on you, Flynny.”

I told her to shut up, rolled my eyes and left her to it. I can only hope she’s doing as she promised and looking after Abi, who’s so emotionally wrung out I’m not sure she knows which way is up.

I peek into Abi’s room where Dallas is stretched out on her bed, Sadie tucked into his side fast asleep. I’m about to carry ondown the hall when Dallas waves me in, patting the other side of the bed.

I hesitate. He wants me to lie down beside him and Sadie?

“Come on, Flynn. It’s not like you aren’t family.”

I shrug and crawl onto the bed, slipping my hand into Sadie’s, even though she isn’t aware of it. It soothes me though.

“So when does she get to start calling you her stepdad?” Dallas asks and I choke on my breath.

“What?” I croak.

“You’re not going to tell me there’s nothing going on between you and Abi are you?”

I glance over at him, terror in my veins, but he’s smirking back at me. “What?” I repeat. “How?”

“She called you in the middle of a panic attack?” he asks, and I give a tiny nod. I stare at him, unable to form words as a smug smile tilts his lips and he continues. “Abi doesn’t let just anyone in like that. You obviously mean something to her.”

I take a breath, then turn my head to meet Dallas’s eyes straight on. “I hope so.”

He smiles, nods and turns his gaze to the ceiling. “Katie and I will get out of your hair soon so you can figure it out for sure.”

“You’re not pissed off?”

He glances back at me. “No. I want Abi to be happy. Same goes for you, obviously. I know you two are friends, but if there’s something more there, then I’m always going to support that, just like you did for me and Katie.”

“Is it weird though? It’s weird right?”

Dallas laughs. “Little bit.”

“Abi’s worried you won’t want her around Sadie since she’s still having panic attacks.”

Dallas’s laughter dies as I blurt out the words. “You know that’s not the case right?”

“Yeah, that’s what I told her. I assume Katie’s telling her the same thing now.”

“Yep, and I’ll tell her as many times as I have to, until she believes it. She’s Sadie’s mum and they both deserve that relationship.”

I exhale, tension I wasn’t even aware of melting away.

“You and Abi also deserve your relationship, whatever that looks like.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Of course, Flynn.” He laughs quietly to himself. “We really are all family around here, huh?”

“Sure fucking looks that way.”

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