My arms slip around her, holding her close to me. It’s a little awkward with my cast, but I make it work.
I know they’re happy tears, but I still hate seeing her cry.
“Thank you,” she mumbles against the fabric of my shirt.
“You’re welcome.” Sliding my fingers into her hair, I angle her head back, so she’s looking at me. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart.”
I’ve been trying to avoid that endearment but fuck it. I don’t care right now.
I desperately want to press my lips to hers, but I settle for kissing her temple. It’s not the same, but it’s still her.
Her hands move up to slide around my neck. She rests her forehead against mine. Our breaths mingle together, bodies pressed like two puzzle pieces meant to click into place.
“I can’t keep fighting this.” The only way she’s able to hear my barely audible words is because she’s practically connected to me right now.
She’s silent for a moment. I can feel her swallow. “Then don’t.”
I pull back enough to look at her. My hands cup the sides of her face. “What?”
“I can’t do it either. It’s just too much… and not nearly enough.” She makes sure I’m staring directly into her eyes before she continues. “I would never let anything come between Mav and Oliver’s friendship, regardless of anything that happens between us.”
On some level, I already knew this because I know Abby, but hearing the words hits different. I lean so close that if either of us breathes, our lips will touch.
“Abs,” a female voice shouts a moment before Avery walks around the corner.
Abby and I stumble apart from each other. We weren’t doing anything wrong, but it felt like what needed to be done after such an intimate moment had been snapped.
Avery grabs Abby’s hand. “I hate to break up whatever this was,” she says with a smirk. “But we need the birthday girl, or the singing and the cake are kind of pointless.”
Abby follows along behind her friend before pulling her hand free and jogging back to me. Her body smacks against me as she hugs me again.
I happily band my arms around her, even if I am a little confused.
“Thank you for my gift. I love it.”
“You’re welcome.”
“This conversation isn’t over.” This comes out quiet enough that I’m the only one to hear it.
I jerk my head in a nod, anticipation curling inside of me.
She kisses my cheek, and then she’s gone.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Wyatt
“Bye,”Abby yells over her shoulder. I close the front door of the bar as the last of the guests leave.
Cole looks right at me. “Take care of her.”
“Scout’s honor,” I say with a salute. I was never a Boy Scout, but who the fuck cares?
“Yeah, take care of her,” Riley says, waggling her eyebrows.
“We need to get you home, woman,” Finn says, sweeping Riley into his arms. “Too many pregnancy hormones making you all crazy.”
Cole stands there, still staring at me.
