“Are you sure?”Brad asked.“I could order both.”
Abby shook her head.“That would be too much food.Chinese sounds good.”
“Maybe another time.”When Sadie and Reed turned to each other to speak softly, he sent Abby a wink.
Color filled her cheeks, but she didn’t say anything as he got up to go place the dinner order.
It was nice having them over for the game.He could get used to the four of them hanging out together.But in order for that to happen, he had to convince Reed and Sadie to move to Chicago.If they did, he wondered if Abby could be convinced to open a coffeeshop in the city.He would be her biggest customer.
When the game paused for advertisements, Brad turned to Abby and Sadie, who were kicked back on the sectional.“Did you guys have a successful shopping trip?”
Sadie beamed.“It was excellent.I got my wedding party gifts.I think everyone is going to like them.”
“They will,” Abby said confidently.
His attention turned to Abby.“Did you find anything for yourself?”
Abby shook her head and glanced away.
It wasn’t until he’d uttered the words that he realized he’d put her on the spot.After the episode with the espresso machine, he already knew money was tight for her.He’d only meant to make conversation with her because ever since they’d kissed, things had changed between them.She didn’t really talk to him.In fact, she hadn’t called him about wedding plans.And even his text messages had been met with an overwhelming number of one-word answers.
Surely, she wasn’t still upset about the kiss.It was no big deal—at least that was what he kept telling himself.
Turning his attention away from Abby, he looked at Reed.“Did you see that they have some condo openings in your old building?”
Reed shook his head.“I hadn’t noticed.”
Brad kept going.“I hear they’re creating larger units by combining two units into one.”
Reed took a drink and swallowed.“That will be good for families.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”Since the subtle approach wasn’t achieving his objective, he decided on the direct approach.“After the wedding, you and Sadie could purchase a condo and settle down here.”
Both Abby and Sadie frowned at him.He’d have thought after their successful shopping trip that they might have warmed up to Chicago—might have discovered the benefits of living in the city.
Reed shook his head.“Sorry, buddy.Looks like you’re going to have to come to Bayberry next year to watch the big game.”
“It’s a date.”Though he still hadn’t given up hope of bringing Reed back to Chicago.He just hadn’t found the right incentive.
It was half-time when the Chinese takeout was delivered.He began spreading out the various dishes from fried rice and kung pao chicken to shrimp lo mein as well as a few other dishes.
“What can I do?”Abby’s voice came from behind him.
Ding.
He reached for his phone.It was a message from his mother.
I’m home.I’m tired.We’ll talk tomorrow.Love you.
His mother had been at her friend’s house to play cards.He’d asked her to let him know when she got home.He worried about her.She wasn’t as young as she used to be.
After he responded to his mother’s message that he loved her, too, he glanced up to find Abby frowning at him.It seemed like she’d been frowning at him all weekend.
He’d been trying to get her alone all weekend without any luck.They weren’t exactly alone, but they at least had a chance to have a private word.
He smiled at her.“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’ve been avoiding me.”
She leaned against the counter and stared at him.“Why are you trying to talk Reed into moving back to Chicago?”
