Stripped - By Brenda Rothert Page 0,39
call. The weekend had come and gone with no contact. Though she told herself she didn’t want him to call, she did. Was this really it for them? Maybe a friendship wasn’t even possible at this point. She knew she would miss him, but she didn’t feel wrong for saying what she had to him.
“What’s up, kid? You’ve been quiet today,” Marla said as she walked through Abby’s office.
“I’m okay.”
“Does this have anything to do with Chris?”
Abby shrugged.
“I’m okay, really. I’m leaving a few minutes early, though, because it’s Open House night at Sara’s school.”
“Okay. See you in the morning.”
As she walked out to her car, Abby saw Chris leaning against her driver’s side door. Her eyes were drawn to the sweat-soaked gray t-shirt that hugged his chest and arms. His muscled legs bulged from beneath his dark shorts.
“Hi,” he said. When Abby looked up at him, she saw that even his hair was soaked with sweat.
“Did you run here or something?” she asked.
“No, I came from the gym.”
As she looked up at him, her anger drained away. It was so good to see him standing there.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was out of line. Maybe things between us aren’t meant to progress right now, or maybe ever. I shouldn’t have assumed you even want them to. I can’t stand the thought of losing you as my friend, Abby. Please forgive me and let’s try to go back to the way things were. I won’t press you again.”
“Okay. I don’t want to lose the friendship, either. I’ve never really had a relationship, other than a short one in college. Since I started at the club, it’s just not possible, for a lot of reasons.”
Chris nodded. Abby was so relieved he didn’t hate her that she wanted to reach her arms around him, but she stopped herself.
“I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to get home so I can take Sara to her Open House at school.”
“Can we have dinner soon?”
“I’m actually off Friday night for once, because one of the other girls asked for my shift. Are you working then?”
“I’ll trade and get it off. Call me later if you want.”
“I will.”
Abby felt peaceful as she drove home. Chris had become her best friend, and life was much happier when he was in it. The weekend apart had shown her how much she liked talking to him and being around him, even if they were only friends.
As she and Chris approached the front door after their Friday night dinner, Abby hoped Kathy wasn’t in the living room. She’d never brought Chris home to hang out, and she worried about what her mother might say to him.
Justin and his girlfriend Stacy were watching a movie in the living room, and Abby sighed in relief.
“Hey, how was your night?” Stacy asked.
“It was great,” Abby said. “How were things here?”
“Quiet,” Justin said. “I’m staying at Stacy’s tonight. And I have to work til six tomorrow, is that okay?”
“You can’t pick the girls up from school, then?” Abby said.
“No, sorry. I don’t have class tomorrow, so they asked me to stay late at work.”
“Hmm. Okay,” Abby said. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Goodnight, guys,” Justin said as he and Stacy left.
Abby scrolled through the contacts on her phone and called the mother of one of Audrey’s friends to see if she could watch the girls after school, but found out she already had someone else picking her daughter up.
“Hey, I can get the girls for you,” Chris said, leaning against the refrigerator. “I don’t have to be at work til 7.”
Abby looked away silently.
“Um, I can try the babysitter I use sometimes. Or I can leave work and get them and bring them to the office,” she said.
“Buy why? I’m offering, Abby. I don’t mind.”
“No, you have other things to do,” she said, crossing the kitchen to run dishwater.
“I want to help. I’ll take them to the bookstore by my apartment or something.”
“That’s okay.”
The silence in the room was uncomfortable, and Abby tried to fill it with clattering dishes.
“We can watch a movie when I’m done if you want,” she offered.
“Abby,” Chris said. “Turn around and look at me.”
She sighed, drying her hands as she whirled to face him.
“Really, Chris, I don’t need…”
He put a hand up to stop her.
“Do you not want me to be alone with Audrey and Sara?” he asked. The look of hurt and surprise on his face crushed Abby. She couldn’t find the words to answer him.
“Chris…” she said,