sunroof.”
Maria nodded her head. “It kills me, but you’re right.” Maria cut her eyes at her husband. “You. I’ll deal with you later. Help me get the laundry finished.”
Knowing there wasn’t anything else she could do until tomorrow, Abby made a beeline for the pool house. What she really wanted right now was a cold drink and to put her feet up.
Ben was home and actually sitting in the living room getting his rugby gear together when she entered. Instead of greeting him or making any acknowledgment of his presence, Abby came in and went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. When she pulled her head out of the fridge, Ben had joined her. In fact, he was blocking the doorway so she wasn’t able to really get out of the kitchen.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m going to play rugby in a few minutes, and I wanted to know if --” Ben was swallowing hard here -- “well, if you wanted to come out and maybe meet some more people. See a rugby match.”
Abby was surprised, and was sure it showed in her expression. She took a sip from her bottle and slowly nodded her head.
“That would be really nice, Ben. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Well, I know you and Trace have been hanging out. She really likes you.” He looked away, searching for some words. “I’m not an easy person to be around, Abby, especially the last few months. And that’s not your fault.”
Wow, Abby thought, communication from Ben. This is a monumental moment.
As if reading her mind, Ben cleared his throat and said, “This doesn’t mean I’m okay with things now. It just means . . . well, it means I’m going to try.”
“Fair enough.” Abby put out her hand for Ben to shake. “I promise not to be pushy nor will I try to clean.”
Ben took her hand. “Actually, Abby, I’d be crazy to not let you clean this place.” He looked around sheepishly. “You’re right.”
Abby was such a sicko when it came to being orderly that her face lit up at the prospect of getting to really attack, clean and organize the pool house.
“I feel like it’s my birthday,” she replied dreamily while batting her lashes jokingly in his direction.
Ben laughed and pointed to the clock on the stove. “I’m out of here in the next ten minutes. Meet me by the car, and we’ll head over to the field. Oh, I forgot.” He pointed to a cell phone on the counter in the kitchen. “Maria dropped that here for you earlier. The number’s written down on the paper beside it. She said it’s filled with fifty EC for you to start.”
Abby’s face twisted, not understanding what he meant.
“That means a decent amount of pay-as-you-go time. But don’t make calls if you can help it. Best to text here. If you want to make any local calls, use the phone in the main house. I programmed my number and a few others for you.”
With that, Ben slipped out the door to stretch and run drills by the pool before they took off.
Abby couldn’t believe the change of events. What had happened to make Ben be nicer to her? Maybe Tracey had said something to him? Maybe Maria and Ziggy or Cutty? Who cared, as long as there was some kind of conversation happening.
She picked up the phone. It was ancient, reminiscent of when cell phones were getting popular a few years back in the States. Not quite the technology she was used to, but it would do for the purpose it was meant to serve. She scrolled through the names and saw Ben had added not only his and Tracey’s numbers, but the numbers of Leigh, Maria, Ziggy and Cutty, too. She took the piece of paper with her new number scribbled on it and put it in her pocket. She would memorize it as soon as she could.
Abby felt a swat on her leg. Looking down, she saw that one of the two felines was giving her an unusual amount of love.
“Want something, sticky paws?” Abby narrowed her eyes and glared at the small, manipulative creature. She looked at the food dishes on the floor and realized they were empty.
Maria nodded her head. “It kills me, but you’re right.” Maria cut her eyes at her husband. “You. I’ll deal with you later. Help me get the laundry finished.”
Knowing there wasn’t anything else she could do until tomorrow, Abby made a beeline for the pool house. What she really wanted right now was a cold drink and to put her feet up.
Ben was home and actually sitting in the living room getting his rugby gear together when she entered. Instead of greeting him or making any acknowledgment of his presence, Abby came in and went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. When she pulled her head out of the fridge, Ben had joined her. In fact, he was blocking the doorway so she wasn’t able to really get out of the kitchen.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m going to play rugby in a few minutes, and I wanted to know if --” Ben was swallowing hard here -- “well, if you wanted to come out and maybe meet some more people. See a rugby match.”
Abby was surprised, and was sure it showed in her expression. She took a sip from her bottle and slowly nodded her head.
“That would be really nice, Ben. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Well, I know you and Trace have been hanging out. She really likes you.” He looked away, searching for some words. “I’m not an easy person to be around, Abby, especially the last few months. And that’s not your fault.”
Wow, Abby thought, communication from Ben. This is a monumental moment.
As if reading her mind, Ben cleared his throat and said, “This doesn’t mean I’m okay with things now. It just means . . . well, it means I’m going to try.”
“Fair enough.” Abby put out her hand for Ben to shake. “I promise not to be pushy nor will I try to clean.”
Ben took her hand. “Actually, Abby, I’d be crazy to not let you clean this place.” He looked around sheepishly. “You’re right.”
Abby was such a sicko when it came to being orderly that her face lit up at the prospect of getting to really attack, clean and organize the pool house.
“I feel like it’s my birthday,” she replied dreamily while batting her lashes jokingly in his direction.
Ben laughed and pointed to the clock on the stove. “I’m out of here in the next ten minutes. Meet me by the car, and we’ll head over to the field. Oh, I forgot.” He pointed to a cell phone on the counter in the kitchen. “Maria dropped that here for you earlier. The number’s written down on the paper beside it. She said it’s filled with fifty EC for you to start.”
Abby’s face twisted, not understanding what he meant.
“That means a decent amount of pay-as-you-go time. But don’t make calls if you can help it. Best to text here. If you want to make any local calls, use the phone in the main house. I programmed my number and a few others for you.”
With that, Ben slipped out the door to stretch and run drills by the pool before they took off.
Abby couldn’t believe the change of events. What had happened to make Ben be nicer to her? Maybe Tracey had said something to him? Maybe Maria and Ziggy or Cutty? Who cared, as long as there was some kind of conversation happening.
She picked up the phone. It was ancient, reminiscent of when cell phones were getting popular a few years back in the States. Not quite the technology she was used to, but it would do for the purpose it was meant to serve. She scrolled through the names and saw Ben had added not only his and Tracey’s numbers, but the numbers of Leigh, Maria, Ziggy and Cutty, too. She took the piece of paper with her new number scribbled on it and put it in her pocket. She would memorize it as soon as she could.
Abby felt a swat on her leg. Looking down, she saw that one of the two felines was giving her an unusual amount of love.
“Want something, sticky paws?” Abby narrowed her eyes and glared at the small, manipulative creature. She looked at the food dishes on the floor and realized they were empty.
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