NO STRINGS ATTACHED

TWENTY-NINE

Eight months later....

Nick found himself aimlessly skipping small rocks across the tranquil surface of the lake. Creating ripples as the rocks bounced. He should have never listened to Kevin's insistence that they'd spend the weekend at the cabin; it was too full of memories. Of Abby.

He heard his cousin's footsteps padding down the track behind him. "Brought you a beer and pizza." Kevin dropped the the ground besides him with a six pack and a large pizza.

Wiping his hands down on his cargo pants, he took out a large slice of pepperoni pizza mixed with onions and pepper, just how he loved it, and gabbed a open beer. "Thanks."

Since at the airport, Nick had given Kevin the barest of explanation: Abby had left him, she's pregnant and hopes of asking her to marry him was off. Since then he'd spoken off everything except Abby.

"Did you bring me here in hopes I'd go back to being a bachelor?" Nick took a large bite of his pizza.

"You got it." Kevin grinned. He knew just how to get his cousin to open up.

They'd pass as brothers but Kevin's hair was sun streaked blonde hair.

"I've been thinking, it's a great thing that you're rid of Abby, she'd done nothing but led you on then showed you the door."

"She's pregnant." Nick stared out at the setting sun as it kissed the horizon.

"You didn't tell me that." Choking on that but if information, Kevin frowned. "And you think it's yours?"

"Dammit, I know its mines!"

They were quiet for a while as they drank from their beers. "So do you want this kid?"

"Its mines." Nick said, hearing his own Fathers voice in him when his mom had Ardella. His mother had an affair with a co-star then but his father was still positive Della was his kid.

"It's yours and hers." Kevin says. "She after your money? You're no where close to a pauper."

"She wouldn't have left me a million times if she was, you don't know Abby."

"Women can be devious." Kevin said, giving Nick a side glance.

"She's not Chelsea, I know that's what you mean," Nick defended. "There's not one devious bone in that girl body, so back off Kev."

Kevin took a large bite out of his pizza. Silence again, then he spoke. "You really love this woman huh?"

"You and everyone can see that except her." Nick said in a tight voice. "I wished everyone would stop scrutinize my feelings for me and let me make my own decisions." Especially Abby, he thought wearily.

"If you do love her, I don't know why you're here eating pizza and drinking beer, you should be out searching for her."

"She doesn't want me coming after her." He was exasperated.

Kevin drained his beer. "Lets be serious, Nick. You love this girl. Its driving you insane sitting around waiting for her to come back to you. I can get a good private investigator to find out where she'd ran off to, and put your mind at rest. I still plan on being the best man at your surprise wedding ... But to have a wedding we need a bride ... Abby."

"You think I haven't thought of hiring an investigator, I've dialed six so far and hung up on them. But if she doesn't want me to find her, whats the use turning up on her doorsteps wherever she is?"

"She'll come back, Nick, she has too." Kevin rested and assuring arm on his cousin.

"But you're right, I should be searching for her."

He was in love with Abby, he wanted her to be his wife and have his kids. To live with him. But most of all he wanted her to love him back on her own free will.

Taking a swig of his beer, Nicki stared out at the horizon.

                                  ☀️☀️☀️

Abby was staring at the horizon Sunday evening. She glanced down at the maternity picture she'd sent for Carey and her parents. She was loving her new look.

She'd been in the same spot in the balcony of her hotel room for almost four hours now. She couldn't find a single thing to watch on television: not sitcoms, cartoons, news, not even her favorite cooking shows. So she just sat there.

Her room was great and the view of the beach was like a seen out of a movie, and why shouldn't it be? Ricky was paying top dollar for the safest yet most beautiful things for her. She might as well be unhappy in style.

She was no where close in figuring out her life now as she had been eight months ago. She'd spent her day yesterday shopping, buying herself a few more maternity outfits and a basket load for the baby with a few other things necessary.

By running away she was saying to her child that one parent was enough. Was it true? Or was she robbing her unborn baby of what every child should expect as birthright, a father? Two loving parents and a stable happy home.

Feeling a chill, she headed back into her room just as the news came on. She clambered on the bed, fluffing her pillow. Then something terrifying caught her attention.

The news camera had zoomed in on one particular car, a slate grey Bentley. The same as Nicki's. It was crushed between a tank truck and the wreckage of a garbage truck.

There was no sign of the driver. Abby's heart sank to pit of her stomach, with shaky hands she grabbed the phone book from the bedside table. Her hands were shaking so badly she barely was able to dial the number she'd searched for. She contacted the hospital on the TV. After a frustrating five minutes delay, the receptionist on the other end informed that they couldn't give out any names.

Even as she watched and listened she was crying. It couldn't be Nicki, no not her Nickel.
What if he was dead?!

She listened to the lady on the other end as she assured her it wasn't Nickel.

"Ma'am? Are you still there ma'am?"

"Yes. Thank you very much." Abby replaced the receiver and said a prayer for both the unknown driver and for Nick.

Her knees were still trembling as she got off the bed. She felt light headed. She couldn't have borne it if he had died. Not before she saw him again to tell him how much she love him.

She really did. She was bearing his child, a fact that brought the most beautiful smile to her face as she hugged her belly. She could go back home and be with him. She'd leave first thing in the morning.

Quickly she reached for the phone again an punched in his number. She got his voicemail and put down the receiver.

But when she tried back at midnight he still wasn't there. Could he be with someone else?

Nick wasn't anything like that, she argued with herself. He might be arrogant and stubborn but he wasn't shallow. He wouldn't go from her to another woman.

But it had been months, he didn't owe her nothing.

Abby took a quick warm bath, put on her night gown and got into bed.

So where was he?