Page 12 of Absolution (Favorite Malady Trilogy #3)

ABIGAIL

“ A bby! You’re back!” Franklin hugs me in a quick but warm embrace. My friend has always been respectful of my physical boundaries, and it’s one of the reasons I’m so grateful to have him in my life.

He steps into my shabby little apartment with the ease of familiarity, and I welcome him in with a broad smile. Stacy is right behind him, bottle of red wine in hand.

I’ve only been back in Charleston for a few hours, but my friends have already descended on my apartment to welcome me home. In the warmth of their presence, the lingering chill from my nightmare in York yesterday fades away completely.

“You were gone for ages.” Stacy pouts her berry-painted lips and pulls me into a hug too. “The café isn’t the same without you. Don’t get me wrong,” she says quickly. “I’m not trying to guilt you into coming back. I’m so happy that you’re going to pursue your art fulltime.”

“Do you have an English accent now?” Franklin teases before I can respond. “I bet you sound more like your hot boyfriend than a Carolina girl.”

I scoff. “I was only away for a few weeks.”

Stacy blows out a dreamy sigh. “I wish I could go on vacation to Europe with a sexy man for weeks. You’re living the dream, girl.”

I wave her off, but before I can say something dismissive, Franklin grabs my left hand with a gasp.

“Excuse me, what is this rock on your ring finger?” He stares at the glittering emerald with open-mouthed shock.

“That’s Abigail’s engagement ring,” Dane rumbles from behind me, emerging from my bedroom with a packed suitcase in one hand.

We only stopped by my old place to grab my clothes. I’ll be all moved out within a few days, and then Dane and I can start to make a home together in his house in Harleston Village.

We haven’t spoken about the powder blue house across the street. I don’t think either of us is keen to revisit the painful day when I found his secret shrine to me.

The momentary darkness of that thought immediately dissipates when his arm drapes over my shoulders, and he drops a kiss on the top of my head. Warmth suffuses my chest, and a happy grin nearly splits my features.

“Oh my god, you’re glowing!” Stacy exclaims, glossy black curls bouncing as she does a little shimmy of excitement on my behalf. “Are you really engaged?”

“We are,” Dane declares, his accented voice deep with pride.

“Dane proposed in York,” I say.

“So romantic,” Franklin gushes. “You have to tell us all about it. When did this happen?”

“Two days ago,” I say, still smiling. “It was deeply romantic and absolutely perfect.”

Dane beams at me. “I’m glad you think so.”

“Could you two be more stunning together?” Franklin enthuses. “Abby, you found your prince!”

I giggle, and my cheeks flush with a touch of embarrassment. I’ve secretly thought of Dane as my dashing prince, but I’ve never told him that.

His long fingers brush over my cheek, testing the warmth of my blush. His sensual lips curve in that cocky smirk that makes my knees weak.

“I’m opening this bottle,” Stacy announces. “We’re celebrating.”

I peek up at Dane. “I don’t know…” I say slowly. “We were going to move my stuff to Dane’s house.”

“ Our house,” he corrects me. “And don’t worry about that. Spend time with your friends. I should go to the office and meet with Meadows. He’s texted me five times since we landed. I’ll finish moving your things over the weekend.”

“Perfect,” Franklin says, as though it’s settled. “Then we’re going out for karaoke and dancing.”

Stacy claps her hands. “Yes! A bachelorette party!”

A giddy laugh bubbles from my chest. “I don’t even have a date set yet for the wedding. It’s too soon for a bachelorette party.”

“We’ll have another one,” Stacy insists.

“At least three,” Franklin agrees.

“You’d better plan those quickly,” Dane says. “I’m marrying you as soon as possible.”

His tone lightens the fierce declaration, but I hear the dark warning beneath the words. He told me that we were returning to South Carolina to get married because it’s faster than the process in England. If Dane has his way, I’ll be his wife within a few days.

I go up onto my toes and press a quick kiss to his lips, a silent promise of my acceptance and eagerness to be married to him.

“Text me when you’re ready for me to pick you up,” he says, a subtle command. “I don’t care how late it is. Enjoy your celebration.”

My heart lifts. Until this moment, some part of me had still worried that Dane might be an overbearing husband. After what happened with Stephen, I know it will be difficult for him to let me out of his sight.

But he’s not a mindless, possessive beast. He knows I value my autonomy, and he won’t stop me from spending time with my friends.

“Thank you,” I say, imbuing my gratitude with so much more than just simple thanks for the celebratory night out.

He’s trusting that I can handle myself.

“I’ll call you if I need anything,” I promise.

He drops a quick, fierce kiss on my lips.

“Abby, you’d better put wine glasses on your registry because I’m tired of drinking out of these juice glasses,” Stacy teases, breaking into our private moment before I can get lost in our potent chemistry.

“I don’t need any wedding gifts,” I reply with a laugh. “Just celebrating with y’all tonight is enough.”

“Well, you’re not buying a single drink tonight,” Franklin declares. “The bride doesn’t pay for her drinks.”

The moment seems surreal. I can hardly believe that I’m going to be Dane’s bride.

He’d said our wedding day was coming soon like it’s a threat, but I can hardly wait.

“I’ll see you tonight,” Dane promises.

Then my dark god is out the door, and I’m alone with my two closest friends.

“I’m texting the girls,” Stacy declares. “We’re getting tacos before karaoke.”

Franklin places a juice cup filled with red wine into my hand.

“We’ve seen the ring, but are we going to talk about that necklace?” he teases, gesturing at my throat. “Those can’t be real diamonds. Is any of this real? Are we in some sort of crazy dream world where you ended up with the hottest man on the planet, and he’s rich?”

I touch my collar with a dreamy smile. “I know, it’s crazy.”

“It’s so fast,” Stacy says, her voice dropping to a more serious tone now that Dane is gone. “Are you sure he’s not too good to be true?”

I think about how he stalked and kidnapped me. Nothing about that was good.

“Dane has his flaws,” I assure her. “But I love him anyway.”

“Abby is in love!” Franklin declares, my romantic friend practically buzzing for me. “You deserve it.”

“Just make sure he treats you right,” Stacy says sternly. “The diamonds are a good start, but he’d better cherish the fuck out of you, or he’ll have to answer to us.”

“He does,” I assure her. “No need to go on the attack. But I appreciate you so much for being in my corner.”

“Well, if you’re sure about him, I’m thrilled for you,” she says earnestly. “Cheers to Abby and Dane!”

Franklin clinks his glass against each of ours and joins in the toast. I beam at my friends and take my first sip of wine. I don’t intend to get drunk, but I’m more than happy to get a little tipsy. It’s my first bachelorette party, after all.

Two hours later, the bottle of red is empty, and I’m wearing my favorite party outfit.

It’s a form-fitting silver dress that comes down to mid-thigh, but the halter-top neckline is high enough to compensate for the amount of leg I’m showing.

Pale pink cowgirl boots complete my whimsical, sparkly ensemble.

I think about Dane seeing me in this outfit later. I decide I’ll keep the boots on while he fucks me.

“You’ve got it bad,” Franklin observes, studying my sly, silly smile at the dirty thought. “You really are too dreamy with your handsome doctor.”

“What’s it like to hear that accent when you’re in bed together?” Stacy asks with a giggle. “Is he a proper gentleman, or does he secretly have a dirty mouth?”

My cheeks flame, and Franklin comes to my rescue.

“Abby isn’t one to kiss and tell. Come on, we have to go, or we’ll be late to meet the girls for tacos. You need sustenance if you’re going to drink more. I don’t want to be wrangling you two before midnight if you get too tipsy.”

Grateful for the reprieve, I grab my favorite pink handbag and head for the door. My friends follow without any more awkward questions about my intimate life with Dane.

When I turn from locking my door, my stomach drops.

Ron is standing in the breezeway, his lascivious eyes lingering on my cowgirl boots, up my legs, and flicking over my chest before finding my face. His round features split in a boyish grin.

“Well, hello there. Where are you headed off to, all dressed up like that?”

“We’re going out,” Franklin says coldly.

“Sounds fun,” Ron says, eyes still on me. “Mind if I join?”

My skin crawls, but I straighten my shoulders and fix him with a glower like he’s a disgusting bug I’ve just crushed beneath my boot.

“Yes, we do mind. You’re not invited.”

I recall the day Dane found me in the powder blue house. He’d been covered in mud and blood.

I’d assumed the worst, but it seems Ron survived whatever Dane did to him.

For a savage, vindictive moment, I wish he were dead. The way he’s looking at me makes my stomach churn. He’s a predator, just like Stephen. Just like Tom, my debutante date who raped me.

I blink and clear the murderous thought from my mind. Ron eyes my shame-heated cheeks, studying my expression intently.

“There’s no need to be like that,” he says, all good-ol’-boy charm. “I don’t bite.”

“No, but you do corner women when they’re alone and force yourself on them,” Franklin snaps back. “Leave us alone, or I’ll let Abby kick you in the balls again.”

His jaw goes slack with shock, as though he can’t believe my friend would speak to him that way.

“We’re celebrating her engagement,” Stacy tells Ron pointedly. “Have you ever met her fiancé? He seems like a perfect gentleman, but I’m sure he can kick your scrawny ass.”

“If Abby doesn’t kick it first,” Franklin declares. “We’ll help.”

Ron’s brows draw together. “Now, wait a minute.”

“No,” Franklin refuses. “For god’s sake, I thought you moved out weeks ago, and now you’re back like a bad fucking penny. You might live here, but you will not speak to our Abby ever again.”

“Come on,” Stacy urges. “Let’s go. This creep isn’t going to ruin our night.”

I glower at him. “Definitely not. If you try to touch me again, you’ll regret it.”

Dane won’t hesitate to kill him if he dares to harass me again.

Ron seems to understand, because he presses his lips to a grim line and crosses his arms over his chest. I can still feel his eyes glaring daggers into the back of my skull as I stride away.

For a moment, I consider calling Dane. I promised I would if I needed his protection.

But I’m with my friends, and we handled the situation. Dane will only be upset if I tell him that I had another creepy interaction with Ron. I don’t want to spoil the euphoria of our new life together in Charleston with any more ugliness.

Besides, Ron isn’t my neighbor anymore. I’m moving into Dane’s house.

Our house.

Ron will never bother me again.