Page 27 of Hidden Vows
“Jude…” He trails off, a stretch of time passing between us before he speaks again. “Did you let yourself have anything since you left?”
I open my mouth to answer, but I’m cut short by the door practically flying open, Ava marching in with a bright smile on her face.
“We need shots!” she says as she slams her hand on the bar next to Gage.
“Are we celebrating?” Gage asks her, his eyes bouncing from Ava to the door as it opens less dramatically as Abbey steps through.
My breath catches at the sight of her. It’s not just her beauty or radiant smile that has me at a loss for words. It’s the fact that she’s voluntarily walking through the front door. I thought it would be so much longer before I saw her here.
Ava turns to Abbey. “Well? Are we celebrating?”
“Yeah, we definitely are.” She slides into the empty seat next to Ava, offering me a small smile as she does. “Whiskey for me.”
“Make it two!” Ava shouts, her excitement getting the better of her.
I chuckle as I grab the shot glasses, catching Gage’s eye and silently asking if he’s having one as well. At the shake of his head, I grab the bottle of Redbreast from behind me and pour the ladies their shots. Abbey’s fingers brush mine as she takes the shot from me, and the simple touch does more than it should. The spark that travels up my arm and straight to my heart has my breath catching.
“What are we celebrating?” I ask as the two of them slam theirshots back, shaking myself slightly but unable to take my eyes off her.
“Abbey’s stick-in-the-mud father is giving her the money!” Ava’s hands shoot in the air, and she bounces on her feet. Her excitement is almost contagious enough for me to forget the words she said.
I have no idea why Abbey needs the money, but based on the energy flying off Ava and the smile stretched across Abbey’s face, she’s happy about it. I want to be happy for her, but I can’t help the worry that courses through me. Knowing her father, there must be strings attached, and I don’t believe for a second he’s told her the truth about those strings.
“Another round!” Ava demands.
I want to ask Abbey more about why she needs the money and exactly what the deal is with her father, but I don’t get the chance. Ava pulls Abbey out of her seat and toward the middle of the bar, where there’s a little more space, and starts dancing.
Gage can’t stop the laugh that bursts out of him at the scene, and I can’t blame him. Murphy’s has never been a bar for dancing, but that doesn’t stop Ava.
It takes Abbey a moment to feel the beat of the music, a large smile forming on her lips as her head falls back, and her eyes close as Ava spins her around. Her hips sway to the music and my eyes are transfixed by the sight. She’s carefree in a way I haven’t seen in far too long, and I want to make sure she stays that way.
“Turn the music up! And get us another round!”
Gage glances at me, the crinkles at the corner of his eyes more prominent than I’ve ever seen them. “You heard her. Turn up the music.”
I follow orders, turning up the music before pouring another round of shots for them, and then I watch. I know I shouldn’t beas enthralled by the sight as I am, but I can’t tear my eyes away. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Abbey this happy, and I don’t want to miss a moment.
I’m nervous about the deal Abbey’s made with her dad, but as I watch her dance and have fun with Ava, I realize I’ll do anything to make sure that smile never leaves her face again.
twelve
ABBEY
“I’m drunk,”I slur as I collapse onto the empty bar stool.
“So what?” Ava shouts as she falls onto the seat next to me, leaning back against Gage, who can’t stop smiling at her antics.
I smooth a hand over my chest, trying to brush away the tight pinch. It’s stupid how envious I get at the little moments of affection between the two of them. After everything Ava went through with her parents and Brian, and after the threat of Gage almost losing his job because of it…if two people deserve their current happiness, it’s them.
And honestly, I’m so incredibly happy for them. It just hurts knowing I don’t have that—and realizing that maybe I never did.
“The question is, how drunk are you?” Gage asks, standing from his seat and practically holding Ava up in hers.
“Hmm…” I take inventory of how my body feels, trying to figure out just how drunk I am. My head feels a little loopy, and I don’t think I walked in a straight line to the bar, but I’m pretty sure I’m seeing clearly. “Too drunk to drive anywhere, but not drunk enough to forget where I am or what happened this afternoon.” I can’t help the smile that takes over my face.
I still can’t believe my dad agreed to invest in the bookstore—for a fraction of the profit I originally proposed. It’s not that I thought the business proposal wasn’t a good one—it’s an amazing business plan—it’s just not where he normally spends his money. Maybe I should be questioning why he’s taking the chance on me, but I can’t bring myself to think of anything other than my excitement.
This is my dream, and the idea that I’m only a few steps away from achieving it makes me so happy I can’t focus on anything else—except maybe the man walking up behind the bar.
