Chapter 45

Rick packed away his scuba diving equipment before heading upstairs in search of Abigail.

He pushed open the door to his room and found her pushing clothes into her bag.

“Abby? What are you doing?”

She didn’t answer but he heard her sniffling and in two strides, he took her in his arms turning her to face him. It was then he saw the tears.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

She shrugged out of his grasp and resumed packing.

“You’re such a bastard.” She told him.

Rick sat down on the bed and looked up at her.

“What? What did I do?” his eyebrows raised in confusion.

“Oh don’t play games with me Rick.” She paused to look at him, “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”

“Find out what?” Rick asked exasperated.

She put her hands on her hips.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the prank?”

He was not prepared for that question at all.

“Umm.”

“And don’t you dare give me some lame-ass excuse like you forgot!” she warned.

“I didn’t think it was important.” He replied with a shrug.

Her temper exploded then.

“Not important! Rick, someone is trying to kill you! Have you not gotten that fact into that thick, blond head of yours? That prank may have just been the trigger that started it!” She took a deep breath to calm herself, “You promised not to keep anything from me and you broke that promise. Now you’re going to have to do this on your own.”

“What? No! You can’t do this to me Abby! You can’t leave. I need you!” He got up and took both her arms as he faced her.

“You’ve already gotten what you wanted, why do you care if I leave?” she threw at him.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he asked, his temper rising as well.

“I know why I’m here Rick.” She told him, “I know what you and Jason did and I still can’t believe that you did it.”

He released her then.

“What are you talking about?”

She brushed furiously at the tears before she answered him.

“You really made me believe that you’d changed, Rick. But you haven’t. I don’t think you ever will.”

“Abby—“

“You just wanted to get me in bed!” she shouted at him, “Tell me that’s not true! Tell me that’s not why Jason sent me here, because you wanted me!”

He took a step back because she looked capable of violence.

“That is why he sent you here but—“

“So it’s true! You admit it!” She stormed, “You used me.” Her voice broke and she started crying again.

“Baby—“ he made a move to hold her.

“Don’t touch me!” she backed away from him, “I don’t ever want you to touch me again!”

“You don’t mean that.” He told her, holding his arms stiffly to his sides.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

She didn’t. She looked dead serious and that fact sent him into a panic. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not when he needed her most.

“Abby, you can’t leave.” He said when she resumed packing, “I need you.”

She closed her bags and faced him.

“I’m sure Jason would help you out, seeing that you two seem to do anything for each other.” She said sarcastically.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean?” she asked standing before him, bags in hand.

When he faltered, she continued.

“You can’t say it can you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Tell me you love me, Rick.” She told him, “Tell me that these few weeks meant more to you than just getting me in bed.”

He swallowed hard, opened his mouth yet nothing could come out.

“Right.” She brushed past him and walked towards the door before pausing to look back at him, “Just for the record, you might not have wanted me to fall in love with you, but I did anyway.”

. With that she left him staring after her.