The Great Charade, page 12
Abby tried to hide her smile as she patted her mother’s shoulder. “Well, at least I’ll get to see them then. Do you need anything from town?”
“No, no. I’m going down to Taos since all of you will be gone. I have a few last-minute things to get, and I need to hit the grocery store one last time. Aaron said that Holly wanted to lunch at that new Italian place.” Sandra grinned at them. “Hopefully you won’t run into them.”
“We’ll definitely be at the brewery.” Abby kissed her cheek. “See you later, Mom.”
Chapter Twenty-two
“How about this?”
Abby shook her head. “No. How is it possible that we are the world’s worst gift givers? How hard can it be?”
Nic pulled out a sweater only to have Abby wrinkle up her nose. “Actually, I don’t give gifts,” Nic said. “To anyone. I guess now that I’m going to be Aunt Nicky very soon, that’ll change.”
“Are you looking forward to that?”
“Can you tell?” She laughed. “April. They want me to be in the delivery room. Is that cool or what?”
“It is. I’m sure it’ll be a beautiful experience.”
“Between me and Eric, one of us will pass out. I hope it’s not me.”
Abby paused at a rack of assorted knit caps, all different colors, some with balls on the top, others not. Most had Red River stitched across the front. “Here. You need a cap. Pick one out. I’ll stick it in your stocking.”
Nic shuffled through them, finding a blue one. “This one.”
Abby nodded. “Your favorite color. It matches your eyes.” She took it from her. “Now, seriously, we’ve got to find gifts for each other. What do you want?”
“Well, I’ve had my eye on this really nice food processor. I just haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet.”
Abby smiled as she shook her head. “How about we stick to something a little more romantic than kitchen gadgets. It is our first Christmas together. We should get something special.”
“How about an ornament with the year on it?”
Abby shook her head again. “Not romantic and besides, I don’t have a tree up.”
“You don’t? So you didn’t take after your mother?”
“I have a few Christmas decorations, I just didn’t put them out this year. I don’t do a tree, though. I’m always up here for the holidays. Ten or eleven days of this is all I need. By the time I leave, I’ve had my fill.”
“The whole town looks decorated. I bet it’ll be pretty tonight.”
“Oh, it’s beautiful. Like a real Christmas village. There’s a couple of neighborhoods in the foothills north of town that go all out. That’s where we’ll tour the lights. All of the pubs in town are open, but they’re usually jampacked. That’s why we go home and have our own party and sing carols.” She shrugged. “At least, I guess that’s still the plan. What with my father being so distant…” She sighed. “You think I should talk to him?”
“What? Find out what’s going on?”
“Yeah. I mean, maybe he doesn’t realize that he’s fallen into this trap again. Maybe he has no clue that he’s abandoned Mom.”
“Well, not that I know them or anything, but judging by their actions, their demeanors, I’d say they’re not exactly in a happy marriage.”
She groaned. “Oh, I know. I was thinking back to last night at dinner. He had that faraway look in his eyes, like he wanted to be anywhere but there.” She laughed lightly. “Of course, so did I.”
“Would he talk to you about something like that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve always been closer to Mom, but Dad and I have always been able to talk.”
Nic stopped at a display of snow globes. She picked one up and shook it, watching with almost rapt attention as the snow settled around a gingerbread house that had Red River stenciled across the front. When the snow had all fallen, she shook it once more, then put it back down, still staring as the snow swirled around. Abby watched as Nic’s eyes remained glued to the globe. She looked up, almost embarrassed, then walked on.
Abby moved beside her. “I think Dad misses the excitement of his job,” she continued. “Closing a big deal, getting the contract signed, coming home with an expensive bottle of something to celebrate. He was good at his job. Too good, maybe. I think he feels like he’s wasting away up here.”
“How old are they?”
“Dad will turn sixty in March. Mom is fifty-eight.”
“How long have they been retired?”
“Oh, this is like, maybe six years now. Or seven. I was still in college when they started the process.” She walked on. “At first I felt guilty. I thought they’d only stayed together because of me. Aaron was already out of the house. By the time I was a senior in high school, he was out of college and working. He hardly came around. I felt almost like an only child.” She paused. “You said you had a brother. Is he with your parents?”
Nic stared at her for the longest time. “Abby, I’d rather not talk about it if you don’t mind.”
“I’m sorry, Nic. I’m being nosy. It’s absolutely none of my business.”
“How about a necklace or something? Or a bracelet?”
Abby nodded. “Okay. But we don’t have to do expensive. And I’ll of course return it to you when we get back home.”
“Good. So what do you like? Silver? Gold?”
“You know what, let’s go down the street a bit. Do you mind walking?”
“Of course not.”
“There’s a place that makes handcrafted jewelry. It’s mostly silver. They have a lot of Southwestern designs and stuff with turquoise too. We should be able to find something there.”
The snow clouds had started drifting away when they’d first gotten to town but now the sky was clear, and the sun was bright. She handed Nic the blue knit cap she bought for her.
“Here.”
“Thanks.” Nic put it on and pulled it over her ears. “Much better.”
Abby smiled at her. “You’ve never worn one before, have you?”
“Nope. Why? Do I have it on backwards?”
“I don’t think there is a backwards.”
They walked on in silence, blending in with the other shoppers on the sidewalks. Despite the earlier snow, the town seemed to be bustling with activity. Each time a shop door opened, bells jingled, and Christmas music could be heard from inside. It was a festive atmosphere and she wondered if it was rubbing off on Nic. She seemed to be taking it all in and there was a smile on her face.
She opened the door to the jewelry store—The Red River Silver Mine—and motioned for Nic to follow. Like the other stores they’d been to, it was decorated for the season and Christmas songs played in the background. She found herself humming along to “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” as she went up to one of the displays.
“Do you wear jewelry?”
Nic peered over her shoulder. “No.”
Abby looked at her quizzically. “Then are you sure this is what you want?”
Nic met her gaze and offered a slight smile. “No one has ever given me jewelry before, and I never thought to buy it for myself.”
Abby again wondered at her childhood. She had so many questions, but she kept them inside. Nic had made it clear that she didn’t want to discuss it. Instead, she reached up and moved the cap aside, revealing her ears.
“Never had your ears pierced? How did you manage that?”
Again, Nic met her eyes, and she wasn’t quite sure what she saw there. Regret? Nic didn’t answer her question, though. She turned her focus to the display of silver necklaces. She pointed to one that had a small pendant attached—a small blue gemstone encased in a silver ring.
“I like something like that.” She pointed to another. “That stone is pretty too.”
That particular stone was green. A jade? It was raw. Unfinished and she thought it fit Nic better than the perfectly round and polished blue stone. Of course, with her blue eyes, the jade wouldn’t quite match.
“Okay. What about for me?”
Nic smiled and led her down the way, pausing at the necklaces with heart pendants. Some plain, some with small diamonds. She looked at Nic with raised eyebrows. “Really? A heart?”
“Really. Pick one out.”
There were no prices and she hesitated, not wanting to pick an expensive one. Nic seemed to read her mind.
“Abby, don’t worry about the cost. It’s Christmas. My very first gift to someone. Make it special.”
“Well, since I’ll be returning it to you, maybe you should pick out something you like instead.”
“I already did, and I don’t plan to return it to you. Same goes with this. Pick out something you’d like to wear. Then you keep it.”
“Really? You don’t want to—”
“No. I’m going back there to look at some others. Get what you want, Abby.”
She watched her for a moment, seeing her leaning over the glass, looking at the different necklaces there. Nic motioned a saleswoman over and Abby turned her attention back to the multitude of hearts laid out before her. In the end, she decided to go with one called Infinity—an open heart with a light blue crystal inside. She held it in her palm, watching as the light reflected off the stone.
Nic picked out an unusual one, yet something that fit her perfectly—a small geode that had been cut, sliced, and polished.
“It’s beautiful. What is it called?”
“It’s a blue agate and the crystal is called a Druzy crystal.”
Abby held hers up. “I got a crystal too, but it looks nothing like yours.”
“No. But I love it. Both of them. I think they’ll be perfect.”
They exchanged the necklaces, then separated so they could each pay and have them giftwrapped. The whole thing took less than twenty minutes. Abby thought if all Christmas shopping were that easy, she might actually enjoy it.
Back outside, she led them across the street. The brewery was a few blocks up, but it was only eleven. She thought they could shop a little longer before going for burgers.
“Here,” she said, motioning to a shop that specialized in outdoor clothing. “You can get some leggings to wear under your jeans.”
“Like tights?”
“What? Too girlie for you?” she teased.
Nic arched an eyebrow. “Do you wear them?”
“Yes. I have some on right now.”
Nic stepped back, perusing her. “You can’t tell.”
“No. But they’re warm. You should get some.” She went inside. “Just a couple of pairs. Black ones. You’ll be glad you did.”
Besides the tights, Nic surprised her by actually shopping. She bought a thick, bulky sweater, a sweatshirt proclaiming Ski Red River, and two long-sleeved T-shirts, both with Red River logos on them. Abby got so caught up in shopping, she bought herself a new sweatshirt too. By the time they’d left the store, it was going on noon, and they made their way down the street toward the brewery.
“Dare I ask if you’re having fun?”
Nic glanced at her with a smile. “I am. But does it matter?”
“Of course. I told you before, this trip wasn’t all about me.”
Nic nudged her shoulder. “I remember, of course.”
Abby felt a blush light her face. They hadn’t mentioned the…the “agreement” as she’d begun to call it. Would tonight be the night? They were both rested. What excuse could she come up with? What if she refused? Would Nic force her?
“So this brewery place. What do they have?”
Abby took Nic’s cue and relaxed. The night would get there soon enough. “They’re famous for their burgers, not their beer. But I’ve sampled quite a few of their brews over the years and I think they’re quite good. Although I’ll admit, I most often get their blonde.”
“Lighter?”
“Lighter than their others but not light like Miller Lite or Bud Light. I’m not a big fan of dark beer and that’s mostly what they have. What about you?”
“Back home I like Shiner Bock, so I’ll give one of their darks a try.”
She shouldn’t ask, she knew, but it was at the forefront of her mind. “You said your parents drank. A lot. So—”
“Are you asking if I’m following in their footsteps?”
“No. I guess I’m asking if drinking bothers you.”
“Not anymore, no. Actually, I never touched it until college when I met Eric.” Nic stopped as they stood outside the Red River Brewery. “I don’t ever overdo it. I think in the back of my mind, I am afraid I’ll—” She shrugged. “I don’t want to end up like them.” She motioned to the brewery. “This wasn’t my parents’ kind of drinking anyway. They did theirs at home, behind locked doors where no one could see.”
“Except you?”
“Yeah. So this doesn’t bother me. It looks festive.”
“It is. And in the summer, their patios are hopping. It’s probably the most popular place in town.” She opened the door and went inside. “They have a deck on the side that is winterized. Let’s try to sit there.”
The place was buzzing inside, and she watched Nic as her eyes darted around the room, pausing over the big Christmas tree, then up to the garland strung over the bar. She had a contented smile on her face and Abby realized she quite liked it. Nic glanced at her then, nodding.
“I love it. Let’s get a beer.”
Chapter Twenty-three
Abby read the note for a second time. It was addressed “To whoever gets home first” and it had a list of things to do. Like take two pounds of ground beef from the freezer to thaw, start the rice maker at two o’clock—wonder why she didn’t just set the timer for it?—and chop onions, celery, and bell peppers, which were already prepped in the fridge.
“I’m guessing she’s making the Creole dirty rice casserole for dinner.” She smiled at that thought. It had been a childhood favorite and she hadn’t had it in years. Of course, after just consuming a huge burger with sautéed mushrooms, avocado, and pepper jack cheese, she was too full to think about dinner.
She went about the business of chopping onions, but her thoughts were on Nic. They’d had such a pleasant time at the brewery she hadn’t been in any hurry to leave. While Nic didn’t say anything more about her parents, she did talk freely about her time in college and her friends Eric and Addison. And in turn, she had shared some of her exploits with her friends as well. She paused in her chopping. She would say Nic was nice, yes, but she was still a little…what? Mysterious? Well, not mysterious in a creepy sort of way, no. Guarded. Maybe guarded was a better word. Nic was certainly guarded about her younger years. She sliced through the onion again, then paused once more. Actually, she was pretty guarded about her current life too, wasn’t she? The only thing she talked freely about was college. She stared out the window and shook her head. No, the only thing she talked freely about was her friends Eric and Addison.
Did it matter? So, she wasn’t an open book. Did she have to be? They were fake girlfriends. After this trip, they most likely wouldn’t see each other again. Was there a need to be open—transparent—about her life? Not really. She was interested and curious about her, that was all. Mainly because she found herself liking the other woman, which surprised the hell out of her. Spending time with Nic had proven to be painless and, well, enjoyable. In fact—
“So, I finally get you alone,” came a sultry voice behind her.
She froze, then whipped around, knife in hand as if it could protect her from Holly. That smile—that confident, sure—cocky—smile was on her face. The smile she remembered from last Christmas. The smile that she thought was sexy and charming. The smile that had finally broken her. Well, the smile and a bottle of wine had crumbled her defenses.
“Grab a knife. You can chop celery.”
A throaty laugh was her answer. “Darling, I assure you, I did not come down here to chop celery with you. Aaron is in the shower. And since you’re alone, I assume Nicole is as well.”
“And that means what, exactly?”
“That means I’ve missed you. That means I was looking forward to seeing you again. I was hoping we could perhaps get reacquainted,” she said with a twitch of her eyebrows. “Last year was such fun.”
“Oh my god! You are unbelievable. I am seeing someone, and you are engaged to marry my brother. Remember him?” She turned back around, nearly mutilating the onion as she chopped. Freakin’ unbelievable.
“So? Do either of those things matter, Abigail? You and I, we have a connection. We—”
“Oh, give me a break, Holly. We don’t have a connection.” She held her gaze. “What is it? Is the sex not good enough for you?”
“Let’s just say he’s not you.” She felt Holly move up close behind her. “Can you slip away?” she asked breathily into her ear. “Just for a few minutes, darling?”
Abby felt Holly’s body press against hers, and she closed her eyes, trying to decide how she felt. Aroused? Surprisingly, no. She slid to the side, away from her. “I’m seeing someone. So you don’t get to touch me. Nic can touch me. Not you.” She childishly held the knife between them.
“Yeah, what she said. I’d rather you not touch my girlfriend.”
They both turned, finding Nic standing there, watching them. Nic met first her gaze, then Holly’s.
“So? What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Holly said tersely. “We were just talking. It doesn’t concern you.” She went to the knife drawer and pulled one out. “Abigail wanted me to help chop…what was it? Celery?”
Abby didn’t know why she felt guilty, but she did. Maybe it was the look in Nic’s eyes, because she swore there was a bit of jealousy there. And, as she was supposed to be her girlfriend, there should have been, she supposed. Holly had been pressed against her in the most intimate of ways.
“No, no. I’m going down to Taos since all of you will be gone. I have a few last-minute things to get, and I need to hit the grocery store one last time. Aaron said that Holly wanted to lunch at that new Italian place.” Sandra grinned at them. “Hopefully you won’t run into them.”
“We’ll definitely be at the brewery.” Abby kissed her cheek. “See you later, Mom.”
Chapter Twenty-two
“How about this?”
Abby shook her head. “No. How is it possible that we are the world’s worst gift givers? How hard can it be?”
Nic pulled out a sweater only to have Abby wrinkle up her nose. “Actually, I don’t give gifts,” Nic said. “To anyone. I guess now that I’m going to be Aunt Nicky very soon, that’ll change.”
“Are you looking forward to that?”
“Can you tell?” She laughed. “April. They want me to be in the delivery room. Is that cool or what?”
“It is. I’m sure it’ll be a beautiful experience.”
“Between me and Eric, one of us will pass out. I hope it’s not me.”
Abby paused at a rack of assorted knit caps, all different colors, some with balls on the top, others not. Most had Red River stitched across the front. “Here. You need a cap. Pick one out. I’ll stick it in your stocking.”
Nic shuffled through them, finding a blue one. “This one.”
Abby nodded. “Your favorite color. It matches your eyes.” She took it from her. “Now, seriously, we’ve got to find gifts for each other. What do you want?”
“Well, I’ve had my eye on this really nice food processor. I just haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet.”
Abby smiled as she shook her head. “How about we stick to something a little more romantic than kitchen gadgets. It is our first Christmas together. We should get something special.”
“How about an ornament with the year on it?”
Abby shook her head again. “Not romantic and besides, I don’t have a tree up.”
“You don’t? So you didn’t take after your mother?”
“I have a few Christmas decorations, I just didn’t put them out this year. I don’t do a tree, though. I’m always up here for the holidays. Ten or eleven days of this is all I need. By the time I leave, I’ve had my fill.”
“The whole town looks decorated. I bet it’ll be pretty tonight.”
“Oh, it’s beautiful. Like a real Christmas village. There’s a couple of neighborhoods in the foothills north of town that go all out. That’s where we’ll tour the lights. All of the pubs in town are open, but they’re usually jampacked. That’s why we go home and have our own party and sing carols.” She shrugged. “At least, I guess that’s still the plan. What with my father being so distant…” She sighed. “You think I should talk to him?”
“What? Find out what’s going on?”
“Yeah. I mean, maybe he doesn’t realize that he’s fallen into this trap again. Maybe he has no clue that he’s abandoned Mom.”
“Well, not that I know them or anything, but judging by their actions, their demeanors, I’d say they’re not exactly in a happy marriage.”
She groaned. “Oh, I know. I was thinking back to last night at dinner. He had that faraway look in his eyes, like he wanted to be anywhere but there.” She laughed lightly. “Of course, so did I.”
“Would he talk to you about something like that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve always been closer to Mom, but Dad and I have always been able to talk.”
Nic stopped at a display of snow globes. She picked one up and shook it, watching with almost rapt attention as the snow settled around a gingerbread house that had Red River stenciled across the front. When the snow had all fallen, she shook it once more, then put it back down, still staring as the snow swirled around. Abby watched as Nic’s eyes remained glued to the globe. She looked up, almost embarrassed, then walked on.
Abby moved beside her. “I think Dad misses the excitement of his job,” she continued. “Closing a big deal, getting the contract signed, coming home with an expensive bottle of something to celebrate. He was good at his job. Too good, maybe. I think he feels like he’s wasting away up here.”
“How old are they?”
“Dad will turn sixty in March. Mom is fifty-eight.”
“How long have they been retired?”
“Oh, this is like, maybe six years now. Or seven. I was still in college when they started the process.” She walked on. “At first I felt guilty. I thought they’d only stayed together because of me. Aaron was already out of the house. By the time I was a senior in high school, he was out of college and working. He hardly came around. I felt almost like an only child.” She paused. “You said you had a brother. Is he with your parents?”
Nic stared at her for the longest time. “Abby, I’d rather not talk about it if you don’t mind.”
“I’m sorry, Nic. I’m being nosy. It’s absolutely none of my business.”
“How about a necklace or something? Or a bracelet?”
Abby nodded. “Okay. But we don’t have to do expensive. And I’ll of course return it to you when we get back home.”
“Good. So what do you like? Silver? Gold?”
“You know what, let’s go down the street a bit. Do you mind walking?”
“Of course not.”
“There’s a place that makes handcrafted jewelry. It’s mostly silver. They have a lot of Southwestern designs and stuff with turquoise too. We should be able to find something there.”
The snow clouds had started drifting away when they’d first gotten to town but now the sky was clear, and the sun was bright. She handed Nic the blue knit cap she bought for her.
“Here.”
“Thanks.” Nic put it on and pulled it over her ears. “Much better.”
Abby smiled at her. “You’ve never worn one before, have you?”
“Nope. Why? Do I have it on backwards?”
“I don’t think there is a backwards.”
They walked on in silence, blending in with the other shoppers on the sidewalks. Despite the earlier snow, the town seemed to be bustling with activity. Each time a shop door opened, bells jingled, and Christmas music could be heard from inside. It was a festive atmosphere and she wondered if it was rubbing off on Nic. She seemed to be taking it all in and there was a smile on her face.
She opened the door to the jewelry store—The Red River Silver Mine—and motioned for Nic to follow. Like the other stores they’d been to, it was decorated for the season and Christmas songs played in the background. She found herself humming along to “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” as she went up to one of the displays.
“Do you wear jewelry?”
Nic peered over her shoulder. “No.”
Abby looked at her quizzically. “Then are you sure this is what you want?”
Nic met her gaze and offered a slight smile. “No one has ever given me jewelry before, and I never thought to buy it for myself.”
Abby again wondered at her childhood. She had so many questions, but she kept them inside. Nic had made it clear that she didn’t want to discuss it. Instead, she reached up and moved the cap aside, revealing her ears.
“Never had your ears pierced? How did you manage that?”
Again, Nic met her eyes, and she wasn’t quite sure what she saw there. Regret? Nic didn’t answer her question, though. She turned her focus to the display of silver necklaces. She pointed to one that had a small pendant attached—a small blue gemstone encased in a silver ring.
“I like something like that.” She pointed to another. “That stone is pretty too.”
That particular stone was green. A jade? It was raw. Unfinished and she thought it fit Nic better than the perfectly round and polished blue stone. Of course, with her blue eyes, the jade wouldn’t quite match.
“Okay. What about for me?”
Nic smiled and led her down the way, pausing at the necklaces with heart pendants. Some plain, some with small diamonds. She looked at Nic with raised eyebrows. “Really? A heart?”
“Really. Pick one out.”
There were no prices and she hesitated, not wanting to pick an expensive one. Nic seemed to read her mind.
“Abby, don’t worry about the cost. It’s Christmas. My very first gift to someone. Make it special.”
“Well, since I’ll be returning it to you, maybe you should pick out something you like instead.”
“I already did, and I don’t plan to return it to you. Same goes with this. Pick out something you’d like to wear. Then you keep it.”
“Really? You don’t want to—”
“No. I’m going back there to look at some others. Get what you want, Abby.”
She watched her for a moment, seeing her leaning over the glass, looking at the different necklaces there. Nic motioned a saleswoman over and Abby turned her attention back to the multitude of hearts laid out before her. In the end, she decided to go with one called Infinity—an open heart with a light blue crystal inside. She held it in her palm, watching as the light reflected off the stone.
Nic picked out an unusual one, yet something that fit her perfectly—a small geode that had been cut, sliced, and polished.
“It’s beautiful. What is it called?”
“It’s a blue agate and the crystal is called a Druzy crystal.”
Abby held hers up. “I got a crystal too, but it looks nothing like yours.”
“No. But I love it. Both of them. I think they’ll be perfect.”
They exchanged the necklaces, then separated so they could each pay and have them giftwrapped. The whole thing took less than twenty minutes. Abby thought if all Christmas shopping were that easy, she might actually enjoy it.
Back outside, she led them across the street. The brewery was a few blocks up, but it was only eleven. She thought they could shop a little longer before going for burgers.
“Here,” she said, motioning to a shop that specialized in outdoor clothing. “You can get some leggings to wear under your jeans.”
“Like tights?”
“What? Too girlie for you?” she teased.
Nic arched an eyebrow. “Do you wear them?”
“Yes. I have some on right now.”
Nic stepped back, perusing her. “You can’t tell.”
“No. But they’re warm. You should get some.” She went inside. “Just a couple of pairs. Black ones. You’ll be glad you did.”
Besides the tights, Nic surprised her by actually shopping. She bought a thick, bulky sweater, a sweatshirt proclaiming Ski Red River, and two long-sleeved T-shirts, both with Red River logos on them. Abby got so caught up in shopping, she bought herself a new sweatshirt too. By the time they’d left the store, it was going on noon, and they made their way down the street toward the brewery.
“Dare I ask if you’re having fun?”
Nic glanced at her with a smile. “I am. But does it matter?”
“Of course. I told you before, this trip wasn’t all about me.”
Nic nudged her shoulder. “I remember, of course.”
Abby felt a blush light her face. They hadn’t mentioned the…the “agreement” as she’d begun to call it. Would tonight be the night? They were both rested. What excuse could she come up with? What if she refused? Would Nic force her?
“So this brewery place. What do they have?”
Abby took Nic’s cue and relaxed. The night would get there soon enough. “They’re famous for their burgers, not their beer. But I’ve sampled quite a few of their brews over the years and I think they’re quite good. Although I’ll admit, I most often get their blonde.”
“Lighter?”
“Lighter than their others but not light like Miller Lite or Bud Light. I’m not a big fan of dark beer and that’s mostly what they have. What about you?”
“Back home I like Shiner Bock, so I’ll give one of their darks a try.”
She shouldn’t ask, she knew, but it was at the forefront of her mind. “You said your parents drank. A lot. So—”
“Are you asking if I’m following in their footsteps?”
“No. I guess I’m asking if drinking bothers you.”
“Not anymore, no. Actually, I never touched it until college when I met Eric.” Nic stopped as they stood outside the Red River Brewery. “I don’t ever overdo it. I think in the back of my mind, I am afraid I’ll—” She shrugged. “I don’t want to end up like them.” She motioned to the brewery. “This wasn’t my parents’ kind of drinking anyway. They did theirs at home, behind locked doors where no one could see.”
“Except you?”
“Yeah. So this doesn’t bother me. It looks festive.”
“It is. And in the summer, their patios are hopping. It’s probably the most popular place in town.” She opened the door and went inside. “They have a deck on the side that is winterized. Let’s try to sit there.”
The place was buzzing inside, and she watched Nic as her eyes darted around the room, pausing over the big Christmas tree, then up to the garland strung over the bar. She had a contented smile on her face and Abby realized she quite liked it. Nic glanced at her then, nodding.
“I love it. Let’s get a beer.”
Chapter Twenty-three
Abby read the note for a second time. It was addressed “To whoever gets home first” and it had a list of things to do. Like take two pounds of ground beef from the freezer to thaw, start the rice maker at two o’clock—wonder why she didn’t just set the timer for it?—and chop onions, celery, and bell peppers, which were already prepped in the fridge.
“I’m guessing she’s making the Creole dirty rice casserole for dinner.” She smiled at that thought. It had been a childhood favorite and she hadn’t had it in years. Of course, after just consuming a huge burger with sautéed mushrooms, avocado, and pepper jack cheese, she was too full to think about dinner.
She went about the business of chopping onions, but her thoughts were on Nic. They’d had such a pleasant time at the brewery she hadn’t been in any hurry to leave. While Nic didn’t say anything more about her parents, she did talk freely about her time in college and her friends Eric and Addison. And in turn, she had shared some of her exploits with her friends as well. She paused in her chopping. She would say Nic was nice, yes, but she was still a little…what? Mysterious? Well, not mysterious in a creepy sort of way, no. Guarded. Maybe guarded was a better word. Nic was certainly guarded about her younger years. She sliced through the onion again, then paused once more. Actually, she was pretty guarded about her current life too, wasn’t she? The only thing she talked freely about was college. She stared out the window and shook her head. No, the only thing she talked freely about was her friends Eric and Addison.
Did it matter? So, she wasn’t an open book. Did she have to be? They were fake girlfriends. After this trip, they most likely wouldn’t see each other again. Was there a need to be open—transparent—about her life? Not really. She was interested and curious about her, that was all. Mainly because she found herself liking the other woman, which surprised the hell out of her. Spending time with Nic had proven to be painless and, well, enjoyable. In fact—
“So, I finally get you alone,” came a sultry voice behind her.
She froze, then whipped around, knife in hand as if it could protect her from Holly. That smile—that confident, sure—cocky—smile was on her face. The smile she remembered from last Christmas. The smile that she thought was sexy and charming. The smile that had finally broken her. Well, the smile and a bottle of wine had crumbled her defenses.
“Grab a knife. You can chop celery.”
A throaty laugh was her answer. “Darling, I assure you, I did not come down here to chop celery with you. Aaron is in the shower. And since you’re alone, I assume Nicole is as well.”
“And that means what, exactly?”
“That means I’ve missed you. That means I was looking forward to seeing you again. I was hoping we could perhaps get reacquainted,” she said with a twitch of her eyebrows. “Last year was such fun.”
“Oh my god! You are unbelievable. I am seeing someone, and you are engaged to marry my brother. Remember him?” She turned back around, nearly mutilating the onion as she chopped. Freakin’ unbelievable.
“So? Do either of those things matter, Abigail? You and I, we have a connection. We—”
“Oh, give me a break, Holly. We don’t have a connection.” She held her gaze. “What is it? Is the sex not good enough for you?”
“Let’s just say he’s not you.” She felt Holly move up close behind her. “Can you slip away?” she asked breathily into her ear. “Just for a few minutes, darling?”
Abby felt Holly’s body press against hers, and she closed her eyes, trying to decide how she felt. Aroused? Surprisingly, no. She slid to the side, away from her. “I’m seeing someone. So you don’t get to touch me. Nic can touch me. Not you.” She childishly held the knife between them.
“Yeah, what she said. I’d rather you not touch my girlfriend.”
They both turned, finding Nic standing there, watching them. Nic met first her gaze, then Holly’s.
“So? What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Holly said tersely. “We were just talking. It doesn’t concern you.” She went to the knife drawer and pulled one out. “Abigail wanted me to help chop…what was it? Celery?”
Abby didn’t know why she felt guilty, but she did. Maybe it was the look in Nic’s eyes, because she swore there was a bit of jealousy there. And, as she was supposed to be her girlfriend, there should have been, she supposed. Holly had been pressed against her in the most intimate of ways.
