Cabin Fire: A New Adult and College Romance (The Billionaire Romance Redemption Series Book 4) by Bella Love-Wins Page A
Authors: Bella Love-Wins
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was on his mind again. He wished things had been simpler. After another twenty minutes on the phone, he told his team to continue without him, and hung up. They were on the right track. These were highly skilled strategists, marketers, research analysts, retail analysts and business consultants. They really didn’t need him, and his mind wasn’t there.
He left the office and went out to sit on the back porch. He thought about what he could have done differently. He wished things had done more. He was mostly disappointed in himself. A mild resentment of Abby lingered as he thought about how she took steps to look into his past. Not that she was wrong in any way. He couldn’t hold that against her. He had not told her anything. It still bothered him, but not as much as it did when he charged out of her apartment that night. That was his responsibility. He was wrong. He wished he could fix things.
Deep down, though, it all seemed futile. Why would Abby want him now? Why would any woman want him now? He was damaged goods, with too many flaws and hang-ups. Holding on the hope that Abby could still want him, in spite of everything she had found online—well, it made no sense. Hope was useless.
He sat out on the porch, looking out until the sun went down. At least he had the sunsets.
Chapter Eleven
ABBY had given up. Another week went by and she had not heard from Andrew. It had been three weeks since she had seen him. She was tired of checking her phone, tired of the wasted anticipation, tired of wishing he would call. She was sick of the way her heart pounded when she stood at her doorway or window, hoping he would magically show up and pick up where they left off. She was exhausted from crying so many useless tears.
She got out of bed that morning to get ready for work, and decided it was time to let go of whatever hope she held on to. He was not going to coming around. It was no use. It was over. When she got to the hospital that morning, Paul was leaving as she walked in through the staff entrance.
“Hi Abby,” he called to her. “Just starting your shift?”
“Hi. Yes. How were things overnight?”
“Not much worse than the last time you worked overtime.”
She nodded. “Well, busy can be good.”
“True,” he answered thoughtfully. “About that rain check, think I can trade it in for dinner?”
Abby was ready to let go of Andrew, but wasn’t sure she could embrace the thought of seeing someone new. Not yet. Paul seemed like a decent guy. He was handsome, fit, perhaps three or four years older than she was, and frequently the subject of several conversations among the female nurses since she started her placement.
Even so, she couldn’t deny it—her heart wasn’t in it. As attractive as Paul was, she was still numb. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him yes and then cancel—or worse, to go out with him and not enjoy herself. She looked up at him. It seemed like her hesitation was telling.
“Maybe I was a little forward…” Paul started, shifting his stance and looking away.
“No, not at all, Paul.” Abby stopped him. “I’m actually flattered you asked. I…I can’t say I have a better answer for you this time, though.”
“It’s alright,” he answered. “I get the sense there’s someone else.”
“Not exactly, but sort of.”
“Ahhhh, one of those ‘it’s complicated’ statuses, right?”
“Yes. Something like that. I’m sorry, Paul.”
“How about we leave it open? Maybe down the road, you’ll have worked out the complications, and it would just be a matter of a simple yes or no. I don’t mind waiting. And no matter what you choose, you should still come out with us on staff night.” He relaxed a little, and smiled. “It can be quite entertaining, watching your colleagues kill it on karaoke night.”
Abby smiled at the thought. “I won’t promise you yet, but it sounds like fun. I’ll try to come out with the group, one of these days. Thanks for
He left the office and went out to sit on the back porch. He thought about what he could have done differently. He wished things had done more. He was mostly disappointed in himself. A mild resentment of Abby lingered as he thought about how she took steps to look into his past. Not that she was wrong in any way. He couldn’t hold that against her. He had not told her anything. It still bothered him, but not as much as it did when he charged out of her apartment that night. That was his responsibility. He was wrong. He wished he could fix things.
Deep down, though, it all seemed futile. Why would Abby want him now? Why would any woman want him now? He was damaged goods, with too many flaws and hang-ups. Holding on the hope that Abby could still want him, in spite of everything she had found online—well, it made no sense. Hope was useless.
He sat out on the porch, looking out until the sun went down. At least he had the sunsets.
Chapter Eleven
ABBY had given up. Another week went by and she had not heard from Andrew. It had been three weeks since she had seen him. She was tired of checking her phone, tired of the wasted anticipation, tired of wishing he would call. She was sick of the way her heart pounded when she stood at her doorway or window, hoping he would magically show up and pick up where they left off. She was exhausted from crying so many useless tears.
She got out of bed that morning to get ready for work, and decided it was time to let go of whatever hope she held on to. He was not going to coming around. It was no use. It was over. When she got to the hospital that morning, Paul was leaving as she walked in through the staff entrance.
“Hi Abby,” he called to her. “Just starting your shift?”
“Hi. Yes. How were things overnight?”
“Not much worse than the last time you worked overtime.”
She nodded. “Well, busy can be good.”
“True,” he answered thoughtfully. “About that rain check, think I can trade it in for dinner?”
Abby was ready to let go of Andrew, but wasn’t sure she could embrace the thought of seeing someone new. Not yet. Paul seemed like a decent guy. He was handsome, fit, perhaps three or four years older than she was, and frequently the subject of several conversations among the female nurses since she started her placement.
Even so, she couldn’t deny it—her heart wasn’t in it. As attractive as Paul was, she was still numb. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him yes and then cancel—or worse, to go out with him and not enjoy herself. She looked up at him. It seemed like her hesitation was telling.
“Maybe I was a little forward…” Paul started, shifting his stance and looking away.
“No, not at all, Paul.” Abby stopped him. “I’m actually flattered you asked. I…I can’t say I have a better answer for you this time, though.”
“It’s alright,” he answered. “I get the sense there’s someone else.”
“Not exactly, but sort of.”
“Ahhhh, one of those ‘it’s complicated’ statuses, right?”
“Yes. Something like that. I’m sorry, Paul.”
“How about we leave it open? Maybe down the road, you’ll have worked out the complications, and it would just be a matter of a simple yes or no. I don’t mind waiting. And no matter what you choose, you should still come out with us on staff night.” He relaxed a little, and smiled. “It can be quite entertaining, watching your colleagues kill it on karaoke night.”
Abby smiled at the thought. “I won’t promise you yet, but it sounds like fun. I’ll try to come out with the group, one of these days. Thanks for
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