Page 33 of Everlasting Vows

And stop deflecting, you know what I’m asking

Abbi

I don't know where to start

So many emotions

I feel like I’m on a roller coaster

Callie

We can FaceTime if you like

She’s so sweet. I’m sure she has enough on her plate without worrying about me and my broken marriage. I never should have told her what was happening.

Abbi

Maybe another time

I’m beat and just need some time to process everything

Nix is really trying to make this work

Callie

I’m glad he’s trying, but don’t give in too easily

I smile. I love that she has my back.

Abbi

I won’t

Give your gorgeous girls a big hug from me

Callie

I will and right back at ya

12

NIX

A heavy sigh falls from my lips as I open another email in the quiet of the dark kitchen. There’s no way to get all of my work done during regular nine-to-five hours, but I’m determined to give Abbi all of my attention and have the backyard ready for Prue’s wedding. I realize I’m spreading myself thin, but what else can I do? I still have a business to operate, and until I can find more employees, this is the way it has to be.

I’m so fucking tired, which is ironic considering I struggle to sleep when I go to bed. It doesn’t help that I can’t focus for shit at the moment, so it takes twice as long to do a simple task, or I have to do a job twice to fix a fuck-up I’ve made. I shake my head and dig my fingers into my closed eyes to stave off a headache and clear my mind. I’ll do anything to save my marriage, even if that means spending my nights at my laptop to keep on top of things.

I read the email twice, and still, some details don’t register properly. Toggling over to the office calendar, I double-check the dates and then check the availability of staff. I think we can swing enough guys to make this job work, but I’m too tired to be certain. I fucked up last week and double-booked Len on a bodyguard job for an upcoming starlet while she was in the city for her press tour when he should have been working with Akerman on another job. Luckily, Gabe stepped in and supported Akerman, but I can’t afford to keep fucking up. My company’s reputation is at stake, and I’ve sacrificed too much to have it tank now.

I feel her before I look up from my screen. Her closeness makes my breath catch, and I lower the lid of my laptop, unwilling to ignore her ever again. I can sort out the job tomorrow. The calendar can wait. Abbi can’t.

When I lift my eyes, she’s leaning against the doorjamb with her arms crossed beneath her breasts, pushing them up high. Without a bra, I can’t miss the way her nipples pebble in the cool of the early morning hours. I push away from the table and head toward her. “What are you doing up?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she responds, ignoring my question.

Tension tightens the muscles at the back of my neck, so I reach up and squeeze them, tilting my head from side to side. “Needed to catch up on some work.” I shrug, hoping she’ll drop it.

She’s been quiet again since last week, more introspective after her breakdown in my lap. I felt her pull away even though she said she was willing to give me a second chance, giving me whiplash. Not gonna lie, her silence has cut deep and eroded the hope I was holding onto that we could find our way back to each other. I’m on shaky ground, and I fear one wrong move could be catastrophic.