NO STRINGS ATTACHED

TWENTY

She had hurt him, badly, she'd taken more out of him than she'd realised.

"Why don't I take you out for that dinner?" He smiled at her.

☀️☀️☀️

"Dinner.... did you say dinner?" In a horror-like expression, Abby bolted upright in bed.

"Whats the matter?" Nick demanded as she tried to scramble from him, he grabbed her wrist. "We've gone out before what's so wrong with going out with me tonight?"

She tugged vainly at his grip. "Let me go Nick!" She slapped at his wrist. "My parents are coming for dinner." Her gaze fell on the bedside clock. They're going to arrive in three-quarters of an hour.

"I'll do the dishes." Nick said promptly. "You get sorted out then cook."

Abby looked at him as if he'd grown two heads. "You're not staying for dinner to meet my parents."

"Yes ... Yes, I guess I am." The decision excited him.

"No way! I'm not letting them within a mile of you. Nick let go, please."

He did anything but her request and tightened his hold of her. "What's the big deal with your parents, Abby?"

"I'm not gonna tell you my life story when my parents are exactly forty something minutes away." Abby struck his hand. Abby let out a moan of despair. "They're always punctual, precisely on time sometimes five minutes early. One look at you and they'd know what we've been doing."

"I'm important to you know." He frowned.

"How could I have forgotten." How could she argue with him either. She was the one who thrown herself at him ... but she needed him gone.

Nick released her so suddenly she almost fell over. "You want me out of here so badly?"

"Of course!"

His voice hardened and his jaw clenched. "There's no of course about it, not from my view. We just made love Abby. And now you're hustling me out of here so your parents won't catch sight of me. Is it a big deal that you've been with a man? How old are you for heaven's sake?"

"So what?" She mumbled as she searched for her scattered clothes.

Nick stood up, towering over her, completely naked and angrier than she'd ever seen him.

"Fine. I'll leave. But we are going to meet tomorrow. At the park, a restaurant, hell even at my apartment, I don't give a damn where, Abbigail. But we are going to meet. To talk. You're going to tell me why you've never had a serious relationship in your life, and how it relates to your parents. You got that?!"

It was hard for her to play cool when she was confronted by a large, angry and entirely glorious naked man; but she did her best.

"That's your plans," she tried her best to sound cold.

"I don't care if you've already got plans, Abbigail, cancel them or I'll do it my way." He bent to pick up his scattered clothes and Abby tried her best to avert her eyes from the long curve of his spine and his sculpted backside.

She still wanted him, she thought, how could she? What was wrong with her?!

She wasn't some sex maniac. Then her reality dawned on her. She was pregnant! Chilled to the bone, Abby wrapped her arms around her. What was she thinking?!

"I --- I don't think we should see each other for a while. I need more time to think." She said.

Nick's hand stilled at his belt buckle. "Mind repeating that?"

"You heard." Her hand wen to her stomach.

"What the hell are you so fucking scared off Abbigail?!"

"I just need some time, Nick!" She fought back her tears. She needed to be strong, its what was best for both of them.

"Do you have to sound so heartless?" He asked, his eyes never leaving her face as he reached for his shirt.

Abby flinched. "I'm trying to avoid disappointment for you in the future." Her hand went to her belly.

"You let me look after myself." He said grimly.

"Can you just go away! Please." She sunk to the floor in tears.

"You don't have to ask again." Nick said savagely, turned on his heel and left the bedroom.

Abby gathered herself and shoved on some clothes. She heard the apartment door opened then slammed shut.

He'd gone.

She'd done the right thing. She knew she had. Yet.... All she wanted was to throw herself across the bed and cry her eyes out. Dead despair.

Her parents, she needed to get moving.