“I do.And you can borrow what you need.”Reed didn’t even pretend to be embarrassed about eavesdropping.
“I heard that,” Abby said.“Meet me at my place at, uh...eleven fifteen.I should be home by then.”
“Home from where?”The question passed his lips before he realized it was absolutely none of his business.But he couldn’t help but be curious.
“I’m going to church with my mother.”There was a slight pause.“You can come with us, if you want.”
“Church?”His instinct was to reject the offer.He hadn’t gone to church since he was young.But when he opened his mouth, he said, “Okay.”
That wasn’t what he meant to say, but now that he’d uttered it, he couldn’t take it back.After she told him where to meet her, he hung up.When he turned around, Reed was grinning at him.
“Don’t.”Brad knew his friend was about to give him a lot of grief.
“Don’t what?Notice that you have it so bad for Abby that you’re going to church with her?”
“She invited me.What was I supposed to say?”
“You know, we could always have a double wedding this spring.”
“No.”He waved off Reed’s words.“Just stop.”
Reed walked away, chuckling to himself.
A frown pulled at the corners of Brad’s mouth.However, his friend had a point: he was falling hard for Abby.Real hard.
She couldn’t stop smiling.
Even though it was below freezing, Abby lifted her face to the sun.It was a beautiful day.
After going to church, they’d both changed into snow pants.Lucky for Brad, he was the same size as Reed.With boots, gloves, and hats, they each carried an inner tube as they trudged up Barkley’s Hill.
Abby had been going there to sled ride since she was a little girl.She’d always thought she’d take her own kids there one day, but so far a family wasn’t on the horizon for her.
She glanced over at Brad and tried to imagine him with a couple kids.She could envision him as a doting father with lots of patience and propensity for fun.
Just then he turned to look at her.It was like he could tell what she was thinking.Heat pulsed up her neck and set her cheeks aflame.She glanced away.She knew she was being silly.There was absolutely no way he knew what she was thinking.
He came to a stop at the top of the hill.“There’s quite a view of the town from up here.”
She moved to stand next to him.“I always thought Bayberry looked picture-perfect from here.It’s the perfect place to raise a family.”
As soon as the words slipped past her lips, she regretted them.It was meant to be a casual observation, but she worried Brad would read too much into it.
Not wanting him to dwell on her words, she said, “I’ll race you to the bottom.”
He looked at her and smiled.“And what do I win when I beat you?”
She pressed a hand to her chest as she raised her brows.“You beat me?”
His smile broadened.“Sure.Wait.You don’t think this is my first time tubing, do you?”
She shrugged.“You’re from the Midwest.I’m not sure there are that many hills to go tubing.”
“There are a few.”He positioned his inner tube and sat down.“Now about that wager...”
“What shall the bet be?”She had nothing in mind.
“Whoever loses pays for a late lunch?”
