He leveled a forbidding look into her eyes. “You sit. I’ll wash and dry. You’ve been working for days to make this party a success. Seems to me you must have exceeded your wildest expectations. I think everyone from Seaview Key was here at one time or another. There’s not a single crumb of food left and the recycling bin is filled with empty champagne and wine bottles.”
Abby smiled as she settled onto a chair and put her feet onto the seat of another chair. “It was a pretty great party, if I do say so myself. I had fun. How about you? You seemed to be having fun, too, at least until you and Luke got into it about something. What was that about?”
Seth winced. “You noticed, huh? I was hoping you hadn’t.”
“I’m nothing if not observant, particularly when two men I know pretty well come back from fetching drinks with matching scowls in place. What was the argument about?”
“I wouldn’t describe it as an argument,” Seth said, clearly choosing his words a little too carefully. “Luke’s worried we’re not thinking clearly.”
“About what?”
“Us.”
Abby stared at him. “What do you think?” she asked eventually.
“I think we both know what we’re doing.” He frowned. “How about you? You don’t look quite as certain of that as I thought you would.”
“No, no,” she said quickly, “I like where we are, too. We agreed—”
Seth cut her off. “Maybe what we agreed to no longer applies. At least for you.”
Abby hesitated, not willing to risk starting an argument of their own. Nor did she want to reveal feelings that might destroy what they currently had.
“Abby, it’s okay if you’ve changed your mind,” Seth said, evidently interpreting her silence as an indication that he was right. “I may not have a lot of experience, but I do know relationships are fluid.”
“But things haven’t changed for you, have they?” she asked. “You’re still not ready for anything serious, am I right?”
“Are you ready for serious?” he asked, turning the tables on her.
Abby recognized the tactic as one he’d likely use if he honestly wasn’t sure how he felt these days. That uncertainty meant it would be wise to hedge her own bets.
“Casual’s been fun,” she admitted, trying to keep any hint of longing from her voice. “It’s easy. I’m okay with it. It would be crazy to expect anything more so soon.” She rambled on with similar disclaimers, hoping to reassure him. She had a hunch she’d gone a little overboard, especially with Seth watching her so intently.
Abby could tell how badly Seth wanted to believe her. That expression convinced her she was right to skirt the truth, though she probably should have done it with one convincing lie.
“That’s quite a defense of the casual fling,” he commented dryly.
“I meant every word,” she insisted.
“And we both know that serious is something else entirely,” he responded, watching her closely, his gaze intense. “It can lead to heartbreak.”
“And neither one of us wants that,” she said more firmly. Who could possibly argue with that?
“Absolutely not.”
She nodded. “Then it’s all good.”
He tossed aside the dish towel and moved toward her. “It’s all good,” he agreed.
Abby stood and moved into his open arms. For now—for this minute—she had everything she needed. Hopefully she could continue to convince herself that it was enough.
* * *
“What is going on between those two?” Luke asked Hannah over a light snack after leaving Abby’s open house. Neither of them were interested in an actual meal after all the hors d’oeuvres they’d consumed. “They certainly were behaving as if they were a couple at the party. They were practically finishing each other’s sentences.”
Hannah chuckled. “You sound as if that’s a crime. We do it all the time.”
“But we are a couple,” he said. “Seth claims they’re keeping things light. He swears neither of them has any expectations, as if that’s even humanly possible. Have you spoken to Abby? What’s she saying?”
“That she’s having the time of her life, that she’s never been happier,” Hannah said. “I’m taking that at face value. Why can’t you?”
“Because it’s wrong,” Luke grumbled. “That’s not who they are. Abby should be with someone who respects and loves her, who’s ready to make a commitment.”
Hannah frowned at him. “You seem awfully concerned about her.”
“She’s our friend. Of course I’m concerned. Aren’t you?”
“I’m thinking she knows her own mind,” Hannah said. “She told me she’s not ready for anything more serious.”
“And you believed her?”
“No reason not to,” she said.
“I thought you of all people would be eager to see this thing between her and Seth get to the next level,” he said.
Hannah stilled. She knew exactly what he was implying. “So I won’t feel insecure anymore?” she asked.
Luke looked as if he regretted going there, but he nodded. “I thought you’d be reassured by now, but I can still see how tense you are whenever we’re all together.”
“I’m handling it,” she said tightly, wishing she were completely free of doubts. Mostly she was, but every once in a while one stray bit of insecurity would creep into her head. She had no idea how to turn off her mind and keep it from giving in to fear. “Abby and I are getting close again. I have to trust her. And I’m not going to disrespect what you and I have by doubting you, either.”
Luke actually grinned at that. “Brave words. Are you there yet?”
She frowned at him. “I’m working on it. And the last thing I want is to see Abby jump into something she’s not ready for just to keep me from freaking out.”
“What about Seth? Have you given any thought to his feelings? This limbo isn’t good for him. When Cara died, you weren’t around. I was still in rehab, but I could hear the pain in his voice. Even after he came here, that pain was still visible whenever I looked into his eyes. For a while there, he was a shadow of
