seat at the desk. “Did you sleep at all?”
Abby sank back on the bed. She didn’t like the sound of that question. It was almost as if her mother—
Abby groaned. “Let me guess. Simon told Montana, who told the world.”
Her mom smiled. “Just the sisters.”
Obviously not just the triplets, Abby thought. The larger group that included Liz, Consuelo and Isabel. The Hendrix sisters and sisters-in-law.
“We should form a softball team or something,” Abby told her. “I’m a decent pitcher.”
“Yes, you are.”
Abby sipped her coffee. “Please don’t tell Melissa. I don’t want to ruin her day.”
“I won’t say a word.” Her mother’s expression turned concerned. “I wish you’d said something to me, though. Abby, you shouldn’t go through this alone. You had to deal with the rehearsal last night. I could have helped.”
“You were busy with the wedding stuff. Mom, it was fine. Joaquin might have broken my heart, but he’s well-mannered. He kept his distance and barely spoke to me. Then he made up some excuse to avoid dinner.”
“Tell me what happened,” her mom said.
“With Joaquin? You already know. He pretended to care about the wedding so he could figure out a way to meet Simon. He used me and the family and everything for his own gain.”
“How did he get you to introduce him to Simon? That’s a pretty random thing to bring up in conversation.”
Abby groaned. “He didn’t have to. I took care of that for him. I was afraid I wouldn’t have anything to say to him, so I talked to Simon before I meet with Joaquin and arranged the dinner. It just fell in his lap.”
Her mother nodded. “Fate is funny that way. I’m sorry you’re hurt, but I’m glad you found out the truth before things went too far, emotionally. He sounds like a horrible person.”
“He’s not horrible, Mom. He’s driven. And he’s really smart and I think he was isolated as a kid, so social stuff is harder for him than for the rest of us. But he’s kind and funny and he’s a really good kisser.”
“But he used you.”
“I know.” She set her coffee on the nightstand and shifted so she could cross her legs. “If I tell myself he made the decision to do that before he knew me, am I giving him a break or letting myself get played again? He wants into Simon’s program and he was willing to do anything to get it. Only he didn’t have to help with all the stuff with the wedding. Or go to the festivals or make me laugh. That’s what I can’t figure out. I liked him, a lot. I think I was falling in love with him. Then I found out this horrible thing about him.”
“Has he apologized?”
Abby hesitated a second, then tossed her mother the phone. Liz read the text.
“As apologies go, it’s not bad,” her mom said.
“But is it real? How can I know if it’s okay to believe him or not?”
“Only you can know that. What I do know is that loving someone means accepting all of them. Even the flaws. You don’t have to like the flaws but you can’t pretend they don’t exist. You look at them fully and then decide if you can live with them. If the rest of him is worth it. Hopefully, he’ll do the same with you.”
Abby smiled. “I don’t have flaws, Mom. You should know that.”
Liz laughed. “How true.” Her smile faded. “You should talk to him face-to-face, Abby. If this man matters, don’t just walk away without having it out with him. What if he’s the one and you find that out eleven years later? You will have wasted so much time.”
Abby remembered the stories she’d heard about how Liz and Ethan had gotten together—theirs had not been an easy road.
“You’re thinking of you and Dad,” she said softly.
“I am. I can’t figure out how we could have done things differently, but I also wish with my whole heart we could have found each other sooner. I’m not saying to ignore what happened, but maybe it’s worth fifteen minutes of your life to listen. If your heart and mind don’t believe him, then good riddance. But if you think he is truly sorry, then he might be worth a second chance.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Liz moved to the bed and pulled her close. “I love you, Abby. I want you to be happy.”
“Me, too.”
“If it doesn’t work out with Joaquin, let me know. I can kill him in my book.