NO STRINGS ATTACHED

TWELVE

Abby paced back and forth the small balcony with her phone glued to her ear. "I'm telling you she just showed up"

She was breathing too quickly and her heart thundered in her chest. Jealous confusion twisted inside her.

Who the hell did this woman think she was? Calling him pet names and mispronouncing her name purposely. To hell with is they were engaged at the navel strings, Nick belonged to her now.

"I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about," Milan's voice came through on the other end. "A lot of men gets flustered when they've seen an ex, especially one you must've been engaged too."

"He's was out of it, Milan, he completely forgot I was even there." Abby rolled her eyes. She spotted him on a call out by the pool and entered back into the room. "She's like the perfect southern belle with her ass length blonde hair, size zero, flawless skin."

"What's her name, I can do a quick background and email it to you." Milan suggested. She heard him whisper which was followed by laughter.

How dense could she be, she was ruining his date night having the apartment all to himself.

"Chelsea Cheltenham." Abby dropped herself on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh. She rubbed at her temple. "But that's okay, no need. I'm sorry if I'm ruining your night with my paranoia."

"None-sense, you know I always got you. Besides, so what if she's hotter than Beyoncé. He's your man!" Milan said and she laughed a little.

"I can't compete with that." Abby said solemnly. "He'd been hounding me for being closed off and he's never mentioned that he was engaged to be married to the perfect woman."

"Why should there even be a competition? He chose you and he's dammed lucky to have a great woman like you in his life." Milan said as a matter-of-fact. "Only way to find out what he feels is to talk to him. Hear what he has to say."

"Tell that to him, its been over an hour and he hasn't even came up to ____" Abby hushed. There was a knock on the door before Nick came in. "Milan, I'll have to call you back. I love you." Abby whispered softly before hanging up.

Hands tucked in jeans Nick came and sat next to her on the edge of the bed.

Silence. Silence. Silence.

"Should I go fix you something to eat?" Abby asked.

"I called to decline our invites, sorry it took me so long." He said . "I know you must have a thousand questions going through your mind right now and ___"

"It's fine, Nickel." Abby had never considered herself as the jealous type. "I'm not some love sick teenager." She brushed off as she stood. She needed to put a little distance between them.

She'd gotten just about two steps before his arms came around her, pulling her back into his embrace.

"I know, I'm sorry." He says as he buried his face in her back. "I called Lulu and Sam, they're sending over a lunch basket filled with all your favorite foods. We'll spend the evening up at the lake."

Abby sighed heavily, wishing she could let it go.
"You let her kiss you and she was being a bitch. Purposely calling me by the wrong name, that I was your friend and you just stood there, frozen."

"I know." His voice came out defeated. "I was just in shock. I haven't seen her in over fourteen years. The day our engagement ended it was the day my father passed."
He turnt her around so that she was standing between his thugs.

"I'm sorry." She saw the pain in his eyes. She wrapped up her anger, tucked it away in the back of her mind and focused on him. "What was your father like?"

"Stubborn, pig headed, he saw a specific life for me and he'd have done everything to make sure I stayed on path, Nick hadn't spoken about his father in years to anyone. "But he was the most loving and kind hearted husband and father. He was great and I miss him everyday ... You?"

Abby shifted her stance. "I've always been a stray."  She let out in a rush. "Ran from foster home to the other. Milan in high school, got adopted."

"You never told me that much before."

Abby shrugged. "Past's not pretty. I don't have fond memories like you do."

"I wanna give you so much it kills me every-time you run away."  He squeezed her hips.

"You think you can buy me, Nickel?" She said softly as she fisted her hands in his T-shirt and tugged gently.

"How did I get back to Nickel?" He made a soft face up at her. "And you're not the kind of girl that can be bought."

Abby tried her absolute best to not give in but she failed as she grinned down at him.

"You better not forget it ... Nickel." She laughed and her pulled her down for a kiss.
His hands rounded to her butt and squeezed as he slipped his tongue in her mouth.

Abby moaned as she welcomed him giving him permission. She'd rather do this all evening. Exploring him rather than the outdoors.