Page 26 of Salvage Him

Abbie jumped back up and walked around the apartment and touchedeverything.

"It's a long way from Carroll Gardens," Abbie said andgrinned.

"I miss Brooklyn." I shook my head. "What's going on? Tell me what you've beenupto.”

"I will but, first . . . what do Texans eat for breakfast?" She crawled over the back of the couch and held herstomach.

"The same thing you eat for breakfast." I scrunched my nose and shookmyhead.

"Come on. Take me out for brunch," Abbie said in her fake Southern accent. "I'mstarving."

Ten minutes later, we sat in a booth at a local diner that reminded me of New York. We both ordered pancakes with two sides of bacon. Abbie sipped her apple juice while I drankcoffee.

"So how do you like living in Texas?" sheasked.

"Ilikeit."

She narrowedhereyes.

"What? I really do. The place is beautiful, and it has so many big beautiful homes. I figured I would be working on making a twelve hundred square foot space look like four thousand. Here, the homes are actually four thousandsquarefeet."

"You like the space." She nodded. I grew up in a small apartment and we moved into a smaller apartment after highschool.

"I do. The people here are nice, and I love driving. Not having to wait on the bus or the subway or even for a taxi to pickmeup."

"Well, good. I'm glad you're happy." Shenodded.

I nodded back and tookanothersip.

"You're not happy.” She shookherhead.

"What?" I held myhandout.

"Brooklyn. I know you. You seem sad. Is it Paul?" She couldn't disguise the amusement in hervoice.

"He's never here," I said. It should bother me, but itdidn't.

"That's a goodthing."

"Abbie."

"Brooklyn," she mimicked my singsongvoice.

"You're not happy." She tilted her head andnodded.

"Are you asking me or telling me?" I looked down at thetable.

"Telling you. I can see right through you." She reached out and rubbed my forearm. "You haven't been happy sinceMalcolm."

I squeezed my eyes shut, counted to three, and opened them. I hoped it was enough to make the subjectchange.

Itwasn't.

The waitress delivered our food and left withoutaword.

Abbiecontinued.

"I'm not saying you should have stayed with Malcolm. He was a dick, but you were happy when you were your true self. You have to admit that." Abbie focused on herpancakes.