I realize then that I might be in trouble, because Abigail Thompson might be the most date-averse person on the entire planet, if I had to guess.
…And I want to take her on one anyway.
Nineteen
Abby
I can’t believe I’m saying this—butI think I miss Jack. He left two days ago for their sixth game of the first round of playoffs, flying off to Dallas with the hope that this will be their fourth win and they’ll advance to the second round. I could tell how nervous he was before he left; he’s made a habit lately of hiding his anxiety behind kisses and touches. Not that I’m necessarily complaining, but still, I can’t help that he’s on my mind today.
“Do you want some tea?” Christine asks, breaking me from my musings.
My head whips up to look at her; I remember that I’m not in a place to daydream about my sometimes bed buddy.
“That would be great,” I tell her, tucking my legs underneath me on her couch.
I watch as she shuffles into her kitchen, relaxing in a way that I rarely can. It’s a bit wild to me that I could find that sort of comfort here in her house—but I couldn’t be more grateful for thefriendship I’ve forged with Christine. Her generous spirit is something I am constantly thankful for.
She comes back into the room with two teacups in her hands, setting one on the coffee table in front of me before she settles on the other side of the couch.
“So how are your classes going?”
I shrug one shoulder, reaching for my cup. “They’re going okay. I’m ready to graduate, if I’m being honest.”
“I don’t blame you,” she says. “It’ll be worth it in the end though.”
“Here’s hoping,” I murmur, taking a sip of my tea.
She reaches to pat my knee. “So fill me in on the last few weeks. I haven’t seen you in a little while.”
“I know,” I tell her. “It’s been sort of busy.”
I have to will myself not to blush when I think about howbusyit’s actually been—something that has a lot less to do with school and a lot more to do with the man I’m currently sharing a roof with.
“I can imagine,” Christine says. “And your apartment? Have you heard anything?”
“Another few weeks at best,” I tell her. “A month at worst.”
“And is living with Jack still going okay?”
Now Ireallyhave to force myself not to blush. It’s not as if I can tell her that I’ve been fooling around with him; I doubt that’s something she wants to hear about, anyway. But I can’t pretend that it wouldn’t be nice to talk about it withsomeone.
“It’s been…interesting,” I say.
“Interesting,” she chuckles. “I’ll bet.”
I squirm a bit on the couch, wrestling with the weight of everything Jack and I have been doing together. I know Christinewould never tell a soul if I decided to tell her about it, but would that somehow be unfair to Jack? We’d said we wanted to keep it just between us for now, after all.
“You look like you’re thinking really hard,” Christine points out. “What’s on your mind?”
I purse my lips. “I just…” I let out a sigh. “Have you ever beenreallysure about something—to the point where you were positive how you felt about it—but then something happens that makes you rethink everything you’ve ever thought about it?”
Christine laughs softly, nodding into her teacup as she takes a sip. “You could say that.”
I feel myself wincing. Ofcourseshe’s felt that way. I mean, how blindsided must she have been when she found out everything she thought she knew about her husband was a lie?
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Christine shakes her head. “Don’t apologize. I wasn’t even thinking of your father, truth be told.”