Page 32 of Hidden Vows
“What do you think?” She pushes at his stomach, but the smile on her lips shows that she’s not actually upset with him. “We just walked out the door.”
“You’re slacking in your hostess duties, Rebel.” The look the two of them share—one of an intimacy I’ve rarely seen between two people—has me glancing away. I try not to look too closely at the fact that my eyes, without even trying, immediately find Abbey. She’s like a magnet, always drawing my gaze to her, no matter where she is.
She’s stunning. It’s the first thought that crosses my mind. In her cutoff shorts and loose shirt, with her natural waves pulled up in a messy knot on top of her head, and not a stitch of makeup on her face, she takes my breath away.
The fact she’s laughing with another man shouldn’t cause the pinch of pain in my chest, but it does all the same.
“You got a little something…” My eyes whip to Ava as she flicks a finger to the left corner of her lips, a teasing smile growing.
I grunt. I know it’s childish, but I do it anyway, making Ava and Gage laugh.
“Everyone,” Ava shouts, gaining the small crowd’s attention. “This is Jude. If you don’t already know him, introduce yourself; if you do, say hi. We want him to be happy with his decision to return to Ashford Falls and maybe fall a little in love with it again while he’s here.”
A chuckle goes around the yard, but most people return to theconversations they were having before Ava interrupted them. One couple breaks away from the little group they were talking to and makes their way over to us.
“Jude Murphy, as I live and breathe.” It takes a second for me to recognize the woman walking up to me, but I place her as soon as I see her eyes—Quinn Marks, Caleb’s younger sister. “It’s good to see you.” She pulls me into a brief hug, the smile on her lips shining in her eyes. “This is my husband, Declan.”
The man in question extends his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I say as I shake his hand. “And happy birthday.”
“Oh, thanks.”
My eyes drift back to Quinn’s. “I was sorry to hear about your dad. He was a good man.”
“Thanks,” she whispers. Declan wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her into his side. “I’m glad I was home with him the last few months. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d missed out on that time.” The silence that takes over becomes awkward the second she remembers why I returned to town. “Oh god!” She slaps a hand to her forehead. “I didn’t mean for that to sound like it did.”
“It’s fine.” And I mean it. I know it’s been three weeks since Dad’s heart attack, but the doctors are adamant he’ll wake up soon, and that’s what I have to keep believing. I can’t let myself think about the possibility of him never waking up.
“No.” She reaches for my hand, squeezing tightly. “That was so insensitive of me.”
“Quinn, it’s all right.” I squeeze her hand in return, wanting to make sure she hears my words. “Never feel bad about having time with your dad. What I’m going through doesn’t take away from your experience.”
She doesn’t shy away from me as the tears build in the cornerof her eyes. “Thanks, Jude.”
I give her a quick nod, and Ava jumps in, changing the subject to something brighter. My eyes drift back to Abbey. She’s still talking to the same guy, but this time, her eyes are on me, concern pinching in the corners.
This was a bad idea. Why did I agree to this?
fourteen
ABBEY
I knewhe’d be here today. He’d always been close friends with Gage, and after that night at the bar a week ago, Ava really started to like him. I can’t say I blame her; even knowing what Jude did all those years ago,Istruggled to dislike him.
He’s worming his way back into my life, and I’m letting him.
He’s respecting my wishes and keeping his distance—to an extent. I’ve seen him every day since that conversation in Walt’s hospital room, though never for more than a few minutes. But he never tries to bring up our past; he focuses entirely on my future.
Seeing him today shouldn’t be such a shock to my system, but it is. Maybe it’s not simply seeing him that’s a shock, but seeing him interact with people as if he’s only been gone for a short period instead of almost two decades. Even with all that time away, even though he never believed it, he fits in this town. He was always meant to be in Ashford Falls.
“You all right?” Reid’s voice pulls my focus back to him.
“Sorry. I’m fine.” I offer him an apologetic smile, trying to focus on the conversation.
Reid grew up in Ashford Falls, like most of us at this party, butI didn’t really get to know him until Ava and I became friends earlier this year. When she pulled me out of my shell after everything happened with her parents.
He’s close friends with Gage and works as a local deputy, so he’s been around a decent amount. And I noticed he’s attractive and kind—the kind of guy who likes to flirt—but that’s as far as my notice has ever gone.
