It will be painful and gruesome.”
Abby smiled. “You’re the best mom ever.”
“I try.”
CHAPTER NINE
ABBY GLANCED AT the clock on the wall in the bride’s dressing room at the resort. They had nearly half an hour before the photographer was due to arrive to start taking pictures. “The Sisters” were all over Melissa, discussing the options of her stepping into her dress or them trying to pull it over her head. Once that was done, there were about eighty-seven buttons to be fastened.
Abby met her sister’s gaze in the large mirror.
“Run,” Melissa mouthed with a smile. “Run while you can.”
Abby had put on her makeup at home. Getting her hair ready was a matter of a quick fluffing, and her dress had an easy zipper up the back. It had taken her all of two minutes to go from shorts and a T-shirt to wedding ready.
She glanced at the clock again and told herself no one would miss her for a few minutes, then stepped out into the hall.
She was fairly sure Davis and his family were somewhere in the resort, getting ready. The reception area was prepared, and Abby could smell hints of the delicious meal yet to come. The day was sunny, warm without being stifling, and Melissa was marrying the man of her dreams. It was perfect.
Abby walked to the open doors leading to the wraparound porch at the back of the hotel. Soon, she promised herself. Soon she would stop being sad about Joaquin. Soon the wedding would be behind her and she could focus on the upcoming school year. She was going to be a teacher!
She was happy about that, she told herself. It was just—
“Abby?”
She turned and saw Joaquin had stepped out from another set of doors and was walking toward her. He had on a black tux and he looked good. Better than good.
She fought against the need to rush into his arms and be held. She wanted to feel the heat of him, inhale the scent of his body and have him tell her everything was going to be all right. Only it wasn’t.
She stayed where she was, letting him come to her. She was strong and she would get through this. Later, she would ask her mom to kill him in her book, like Liz had offered.
Joaquin stopped in front of her. “You’re so beautiful. I knew you would be, but you’re even more so.”
“Thank you.” Her voice sounded stiff and strained, probably because she was so confused and hurt and mad.
He looked at her. “Montana came to see me last night. She said she believed my regret was real and that she was going to come up with a plan to help me win you back.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “I haven’t heard from her, just so you know.”
What? “That is a very odd thing to tell me.”
“I know, but I want you to know the truth. I don’t want to keep anything from you, the way I did before.”
His shoulders slumped. “Abby, I am sorry. I was so stupid and selfish. I thought getting into the program was more important than anything. There is such arrogance in that assumption. Just because I’m a surgeon doesn’t mean my life is more important than anyone else’s. Everyone has value, but somehow I forgot that. I only thought of myself. And then I met you.”
She didn’t want to react to what he was saying. She told herself they were just words and she didn’t believe him and he was a butthead and none of this mattered, only she couldn’t seem to turn and walk away.
“I was wrong. I should have been up front with you,” he continued, his gaze intense. “I didn’t think it mattered, that you mattered, so I didn’t bother telling you the truth. And then we started hanging out together and I didn’t want to tell you. I knew it would change everything. I was afraid you wouldn’t like me anymore.”
He swallowed. “I care about you, Abby. So very much. I want to say I’m in love with you, but it’s only been three weeks and that would just make me a scary stalker guy. But you changed me. I like who I am when I’m with you. I like being around you and helping you with things. I want to be there for you and be someone you can depend on. I want to take care of you when you need that and stand back and