Chasing Abby(44)

“So what does that mean?” Tristan asks. “She’s going to the beach house with you all this summer? Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“I don’t know, but there’s no way I can convince Claire that it’s not. So I’m going along with it for now. And, I gotta admit, it feels really f*cking good to have her with us.”
“Is she there right now?”
“Nah, she went home to pack some things. She took Junior with her. They’re driving to the beach house with her boyfriend tonight.”
“Sounds like a perfect family reunion. Now I know why you called this emergency meeting.”
I slide the beer away and turn to Tristan. “Listen, I know Senia’s busy with Izzy’s dance stuff, but can you make sure she checks up on Claire? I know she’s going to need to talk to Senia over the next week or so. However long Abby decides to stay.”
Tristan’s eyebrows shoot up and he laughs. “Are you f*cking kidding me? When I tell Senia about Abby being at the beach house, she’ll probably pack up the whole f*cking family and drive down there herself.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “I guess so. Then, maybe don’t tell her right away.”
He turns to me with one eyebrow cocked. “Now you’ve really gotta be kidding me. You know I can’t keep shit from her.”
“All right, fine. Just don’t tell her I want her to check up on Claire.”
We sit for a few minutes in silence, just sipping our beers, then Tristan clears his throat, like he’s getting ready to say something very serious. “So what do you want to do about Xander?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you gonna come back for the funeral?”
I press my lips together as I contemplate this question. “Don’t talk about him like that. He’s not dead yet.” I slide off the barstool and nod at Link. “Later, man.”



THE HOUSE IS QUIET as I climb the steps to the second floor. My home is rarely quiet, so it always raises the hairs on my neck when I walk through the door and I’m greeted with silence. I enter the bedroom and see the door to the master bathroom is closed. I approach slowly, listening for the sound of running water, but I hear nothing. I raise my fist to knock on the door, but it opens on its own.
Claire screams when she sees me. “Shit! You scared me. I didn’t know you’d be back so soon.”
“Why are you naked? Are you taking a shower?”
She looks over my shoulder at the bedroom door. “Close the door!”
I smile as I turn around and head over to pull it closed. Then I lock the door, for good measure. When I turn around, she’s at the dresser, sifting through her panty drawer. I come up behind her and nuzzle my face in her neck so I can taste her skin.
“Where are the kids?” I murmur into her ear.
“Jimi took Ryder to get a new bodyboard. They just left.”
“Good.”
“Chris?” she whispers, her back arched as I slide my hand between her legs. “Remember that surprise I told you about?”
My finger slides between her flesh and she lets out a soft squeak when I find her clit. I pull her backward, away from the dresser, then I gently lay her belly-down on the bed. Sliding my left hand down the back of her left thigh, I pull it sideways to spread her legs.
“You said the surprise might involve you being naked, so I’ll just come right out and say that I really like this surprise.” My hand glides between us to undo my pants and she laughs. “What’s so funny?”
She tries to turn around, but she can’t with me lying on top of her. “Get up. I need to turn around.”
“Okay, fine. No doggy style today.”