Abby blinked, sure she was imagining things. This couldn’t be real. “I can’t believe you’re here. How—how are you here?”
Nadia laughed, apparently amused by Abby’s astonishment. “I left shortly after we got off the phone this morning. That is, after I made a quick stop at your storage unit.”
“My storage unit?”
“You sounded so discouraged on the phone, saying how badly you wanted to make this a nice Christmas for Max, but you didn’t see how you’d pull it off without any of your decorations. So, I thought I’d solve your problem. Although…” Nadia peered over Abby’s shoulder with a look of confusion. “It appears you’re doing just fine.”
Abby couldn’t help a smile every time she thought about the town’s generosity. “Some neighbors came by earlier today. Once they found out about Max, they all wanted to help out.”
“People in small towns really do that? I always thought Hallmark made that stuff up.”
“You mean stuff like best friends who drive all day to deliver boxes of Christmas decorations?” Abby teased.
Nadia laughed. “Yeah, stuff like that. Although, this friend might turn around and go home if someone doesn’t invite her inside.”
“I’m sorry.” Abby flashed a sheepish grin. “I think I’m still in shock.” She pulled her friend into a hug. “I just can’t believe you’re actually here.”
“I can’t believe I made it. For a tourist town, this place is off the beaten path.” Nadia suddenly noticed Logan standing awkwardly in the background, and a grin spread across her face. “You must be the new roommate. Logan, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m Nadia. Abby’s other roommate.” Her gaze fell on the rumpled blanket and half-empty bowl of popcorn in the sitting room. “Am I interrupting something?”
Abby’s cheeks flamed as images of their heated moment flashed into her mind. Thank goodness Nadia arrived when she did. “Nope. Definitely not. We were just heading to bed.”
Nadia’s eyebrows shot up.
“To our separate rooms. To sleep,” Abby rambled, so flustered the tips of her ears burned. She didn’t dare glance at Logan. “You must be hungry after your long drive.”
Please, please change the subject, she silently pleaded.
“I’m famished. But I should unload the boxes first.”
“I can do it,” Logan offered, and his kind gesture only enhanced her guilt.
She never should have let the situation go as far as it did. She should have stopped it sooner. So, why hadn’t she?
“Thanks.” Nadia handed him her car keys. “Just the stuff in the trunk is fine. I’ll get the rest of the things from the back seat later.”
“Only the trunk. Got it. It was nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Nadia grinned at his retreating back, then immediately jabbed Abby’s arm when the door shut behind him. “You were holding out on me.”
“What do you mean?” Abby feigned innocence as she led Nadia into the kitchen.
“There’s definitely something going on between you two.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You seriously want me to believe that man isn’t crazy about you? It’s written all over his face, Abs.”
Mortified, Abby stuck her head in the fridge, relishing the cool air against her flushed skin. “Nothing is going to happen between me and Logan.” As she said the words, she wasn’t sure who she needed to convince more—Nadia or herself.
“Does he know that?”
Abby pictured the smoldering glint in Logan’s eyes as he leaned over her, the heat from his body still palpable. She pushed the memory aside, retrieving a plate of leftovers.
“I’m sure the thought has never crossed his mind.”
Of course, she wasn’t sure. Not in the slightest. And the possibility made her pulse quicken.
“If you say so.” Nadia smirked, settling on one of the barstools at the kitchen island.
“How’s Brian?” Abby asked, switching gears as she slid the plate into the microwave. “It must be hard to be apart this close to Christmas. How long are you staying, anyway?”
“A few days.”
While Abby wished it could be longer, she was grateful for whatever time they had. She’d missed Nadia more than she’d realized.
“Well, tell Brian I said thanks for sharing you.”
“I will. But honestly, I think he’s glad to have me out of his hair for a few days.”
“What makes you say that?” The microwave beeped, and Abby removed the plate, setting it in front of Nadia.
Was she blushing? Nadia didn’t blush. Ever.
“I think Brian’s going to propose at our New Year’s Eve party. He’s been especially secretive, as though he’s planning something big.”
Abby merely stared, completely at a loss for words. There had always been something about Brian that bothered her, but Nadia repeatedly brushed off her concerns. Still, she’d hoped her friend would come to her senses someday, not marry the guy.
“You’ll be back in time for the party, right?” Nadia asked. “I can’t imagine getting engaged without you there.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
Satisfied, Nadia dug into the leftovers with gusto.
But Abby couldn’t shake her uneasy feeling.
Only, she wasn’t sure if it had to do with Nadia’s pending engagement…
Or the thought of leaving.
Logan set the last box on the floor, listening to the laughter drifting from the kitchen. The sound was bittersweet.
He wanted Abby to be happy, but her friend’s visit was an all-too-blatant reminder of something he’d rather forget.
Abby would be leaving soon.
And against all reason, he’d started to believe she might stay. Which not only made zero sense, it wasn’t even in his best interest. If Abby stayed in Blessings Bay, she’d obviously move into the home she owned. He’d have to be really dense to think they could play house forever.
Besides, he wasn’t even sure he’d want to live in the same house, anyway. When he imagined picking up a woman for dinner, he expected it to take a little more effort than walking down the stairs.
At the thought, a dull regret rippled through him. Who was he kidding? There would be no date with Abby, in the living room or otherwise. She deserved more than someone who could only take her to a restaurant within walking distance.
Defeated, he climbed the steps and headed toward his room, pausing to check in on Max.
From the doorway, he spotted the boy’s small frame curled beneath a pile of blankets. Logan smiled when he noticed the Top Gun teddy bear had been relocated from the nightstand to the bed, tucked beside Max.
He really was a sweet kid. In some ways, younger than his eight years, while in others, far older.
A hardness settled in Logan’s stomach at the thought of Max being shuffled off to a new home. One that may or may not be any better than that of the Hobarts, who’d apparently added taking advantage of foster kids to their criminal records.
For a split second, he wondered if he could become a single foster parent and look after Max.
But as soon as the ludicrous idea popped into his head, he dismissed it. They’d take one look at his medical record and deem him unfit. And rightfully so. There were times he could barely take care of himself, let alone a child.
Gently closing Max’s door, Logan slipped into his own room.
He probably should’ve said goodnight to Abby and her friend Nadia, but he couldn’t bring himself to face the woman’s perceptive gaze. It felt like she could see right through him and read his thoughts. And he didn’t need her to pass those thoughts along to Abby.
Logan got ready for bed, going through the motions on autopilot. But his gaze kept drifting to his nightstand.
When the niggling thought wouldn’t leave him alone, he knelt on the floor and slid out the bottom drawer. He pushed aside the stack of aviation magazines and lifted the first pamphlet.
Then the next.
Yanking out the entire drawer, he dumped it upside down, scattering the brochures across the carpet. The glossy photographs of happy patients taunted him with their sycophantic smiles.
Each physical therapist and specialist he’d seen had promised different degrees of success, but none foresaw more than marginal improvement.
They spouted words like pain management and lifestyle modification. They wanted to help him cope, not offer a cure.
He used to appreciate their candor. Now, he wouldn’t mind a snake oil salesman promising him a miraculous recovery. Or at least offer him an ounce of hope.
Abby and Max made him want more out of life. And witnessing the generosity of the town inspired him to give back.
But there was one question he couldn’t answer…
What did he have to give?