Page 15 of Spring Fling
Ipull my Jeep into an affluent neighborhood, passing by one hundred thousand dollar cars in the driveways until I reach Abbi’s childhood home. I park in the circle drive and when I exit the car, I find myself looking at yet another ridiculously flashy vehicle.
The double front doors loom ahead as I saunter down the flower bordered walkway. It’s getting dark as the sun dips below the horizon and I think about the day I’ve had. I was so damn proud of my girl as she danced across the stage to receive her diploma. I wanted to shout it out, so everyone knew this amazing woman was mine. I was a little irritated to see her reach for the scroll, her hand devoid of the sparkling diamond I proposed to her with last night.
I consoled myself with the knowledge that tonight, we will stop hiding our relationship and the ring will be permanently affixed to her hand. And, her sexy little ass will be permanently installed in my bed.
Punching the button for the doorbell, I wait for a few minutes before it swings open to reveal my Abbi. I grin at her, but it falters when I see the harassed and fearful look on her face.
“Hey, baby,” I say quietly as I step over the threshold ... into a fucking mausoleum. Holy shit. The house is cold (literally, the air conditioning must be set very low) and perfectly decorated, not one thing out of place. Except my sexily disheveled Abbi. I draw her close and kiss her softly.
“Get your hands off my daughter,” a snide voice snaps. I step back from Abbi, keeping her hand in mine and turn my head to survey an older man with dark hair, streaked with gray. At first glance he looks distinguished and respectable, but when I examine him closer, I see the pinch in his lips, the haughty look in his eyes, and a slimy aura that is already making me feel like I need a shower.
“You must be Mr. James,” another voice says, dripping with distain. It belongs to a woman who couldn’t be anyone but Abbi’s mother. They share the same blonde hair, blue eyes, and build. Except this woman is stiff, and her eyes are icy with condescension. “Abigail tells us you’ve taken advantage of her. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Abbi gasps and I squeeze her hand to reassure her that I know they are full of shit. She shuffles closer to my side and I want to kiss her for making such a blatant show of choosing me. But, I need to deal with this Stepford couple first.
“We will be calling the police,” the man I’m assuming is her father says. “As well as reporting you to the schoolboard unless you agree never to contact our daughter again. Now, get off my property.”
There is a familiarity in the burn that comes from anger or rage, each cause having its own unique feel. But, at this moment, the fire inside me is foreign and yet, stronger than anything I’ve ever felt other than my love for Abbi. This thought sparks a recognition for the new brand of fury. It’s a result of someone, anyone, threatening to keep me from my woman. I would go to hell and back for her.
“Abbi is eighteen, sir,” I grit out. I attempt to be respectful knowing it could make things easier on her. “There is no wrong doing as far as the legality of our relationship. As for the school board, I handed in my resignation yesterday.”
Abbi gasps again and I glance to the side and wink at her. “I received an offer to teach at a university and I accepted it three days ago.”
She looks hurt and whispers, “You didn’t tell me.”
I kiss her forehead, ignoring the harrumphs from the peanut gallery. “The paperwork wasn’t final until yesterday, so I was going to surprise you tonight.”
Her expression softens and she leans into my side. “Congra—” She starts to speak, but her mother railroads over her.
“Regardless. Abbi isn’t going anywhere and you are not to contact her again.” Her mother was looking at me but now her contemptuous gaze swings to Abbi. “Do you have any idea how this would look if word got out, Abigail? We’d be ruined. Absolutely ruined. I could not be more disappointed in you. I don’t know why I ever expected more of you. Now go upstairs to your room and your father will show Mr. James out.”
My hand tightens but it’s an unnecessary precaution. Abbi wraps her free arm around her stomach and tucks herself even more into my side. I let go of her hand in favor of sliding my arm around her waist.
“Abigail!” Her mother’s voice is shrill. “What will people think?”
Is that all they care about? They haven’t even taken one moment to get to know me, or paid any attention to how Abbi shrinks into me when they speak to her. It’s always been clear to me that she was striving to be everything they expected of her and just as clear, was the toll it takes on her. Just from the things she says when telling me about her life, it was obvious that they constantly cut her down. In a backhanded way, but the insults land none-the-less.
Abbi shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Mother. I don’t care what the neighbors might think. I’m moving out”—she pauses to take a deep breath and slips her arm around me, hugging me close—“and in with the father of my child.”
WHAT. THE. FUCK?
Her parents’ gasps can probably be heard up and down the whole fucking block, but my mind has already dismissed them.
My jaw drops and I stare down at Abbi as she peeks up at me. “I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you in a special way, but I figured I should make it clear how serious we are.”
I nod, still having no words. She’s pregnant? A slow smile spreads across my face and elation fills me like rays of sunshine, lighting every dark nook and cranny inside me. At the shift in my expression, her lips lift in response and we are suddenly staring at each other with what I’m sure are goofy grins.
“Get out.”
Our bubble of happiness bursts when her father’s cold command rents the air.
Abbi’s face falls and I fight the urge to punch the man for taking away her smile. She looks to her dad and nods. “Okay. I’ll go now. We can talk in a few days when we’ve all had a chance to process everything.”
“Don’t bother,” her mother snips. “We don’t want to see you two, or that bastard of yours, ever again.”
Abbi seems to crumple before me, her eyes welling with tears, her body sagging as though it’s too heavy for her to gold herself up. I’m so fucking done with this. Scooping her up into my arms, I give her pathetic excuse for parents one last, hard look. “I’ll send movers to gather her things tomorrow.”
Her mother shrugs and turns, leaving the room without another word. I don’t wait for anything else, carrying Abbie close to me, I manage to open the front door and out to my car. I click the remote and reach for the door handle, my other arm holding her snug so she doesn’t fall. Then I gently set her in the passenger seat and buckle her in. Squatting at her side, I cup her beautiful face and pain hits my chest at the anguish in her blue eyes.
“I know it won’t stop hurting, baby. But, try to focus on the new direction of your life. I love you and you are having my baby. Fuck, Abbi, you couldn’t have given me me a greater gift than your love and a family of my own.”
Her lips tip up at the corners and some of the sadness fades from her eyes as her hands move to rest over her flat belly. “I love you too,” she murmurs, then her eyes drop to where our little one grows. “Both of you.”
“We are going to make our own little slice of heaven, Abbi. And, it doesn’t matter what anyone else in the world thinks, it’s all about us, baby. Got it?”
She nods and her smile grows to full wattage, blinding me with its brightness. I will never get enough of seeing her like this. After dropping a kiss on her lips, I stand and shut her door. I cross to the driver’s side, get in, start the car, and we pull away, neither of us looking back.