I left my parent's house feeling a lot better. I had a plan in mind of what I was going to do about Abby. I hoped it would work. Once she got to know me I hoped we could be friends. I wasn't trying to take Reed from her, and I thought that making that clear to her may help with our relationship.

I used the Bluetooth in my car to call Reed as I head back home.

"Hey Babe," he answered sounding out of breath.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I was just catching a workout with one of the guys I work with. What's up?"

"I wanted to see if you had some time this evening. I want to talk to you about something."

"Ok, sure. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little worried that you want to talk about something. It sounds like you want to have the talk."

"Oh crud, no I should have worded that better. I don't want to have the talk. You can't get rid of me that easy."

I could hear him release a breath on the other end of the phone.

"I get off of work at six today. I can come by your house after."

"That will work. I'll see you then."

"Alright baby, see you then."

Was it weird that I wanted to squeal like a schoolgirl when he called me baby? I had a goofy smile on my face that I couldn't wipe off if I tried. I didn't think I'd ever get used to it, but I sure loved it.

***

When six rolled around I started to feel butterflies in my stomach. I knew that it wouldn't be long before Reed got to my house. I decided to cook a surprise candle lit dinner and this time I would be sure that he ate.

At six twenty-five there was a knock at the door. I went to let him in.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself," he said pulling me in for a kiss.

"I missed you today," he mumbled against my lips.

"I missed you too."

He leaned his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes.

"We're pathetic."

I laughed.

"Yep, I think we are."

I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward my little dining room.

"I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise, huh? What kind of surprise?"

“This,” I said standing in the opening of my dining room. The table was set with my best dishes. They were just some pretty plates I found at Target, but they matched. I had two large candles in the center of the table and then small tea candles scattered across the table.

Reed wrapped his strong arms around me.

“This is awesome, Pen.”

His lips lightly touched my ear as he spoke sending a chill through my body. I allowed my head to rest back on him.

“I thought you may be hungry after a long day of work. You never got to eat the last time you were here.”

"I got to eat plenty.” He winked down at me, “I am hungry, but not just for food."

He nibbled at my ear and neck making my pulse race.

"You need to eat your dinner first mister and if you clean your plate, maybe you can have dessert."

"Um, sounds delightful."

We enjoyed our meal. Talking about a little of everything. At the end of the meal, I decided it was time to bring up me having lunch with Abby. I thought he wouldn't mind, but I still wanted to run it by him. Abby was in a fragile situation with her road to recovery and I didn't want to overstep my bounds.

"So you know I wanted to talk to you."

"Yeah, I remember. What did you want to talk about?"

"How about we take our drinks and talk on my patio?"

We were both indulging in a glass of wine. Reed was sticking to one small glass because he had to drive home. I was on my second, and last, because I had to work in the morning. The last thing I needed was a hangover.

Reed settled into a seat and motioned for me to sit on his lap. Alec had never been openly affectionate. Sitting on his lap would have never happened. He would’ve been more inclined to make a comment about my weight or the size of my butt. I tried to push those thoughts out of my mind and remember that Reed was nothing like him. I wanted to experience what a real relationship was like when the other person actually cared about you.

I moved over to him and slowly sat down. I kept my feet on the ground trying to keep some of my weight distributed off of him. Reed took his arm and snaked it under my legs and turned me so that my legs were laying across his.

"Sweetheart, I don't like to brag, but I'm about 230 pounds of muscle. You can't hurt me. I want to be able to hold you."

It was like he read my mind and crushed my doubts all in the same second. I loved the way he made me feel. The way he was breaking down my insecurities.

"So now that we're comfortable go ahead and talk."

"I wanted to see about me taking Abby out for lunch. I thought if we got to know each other better she may feel more comfortable around me. Right now it seems like she doesn't want me around. I wanted to run the idea by you first to get your thoughts."

"I don't think that she doesn't you around. I think that this is all just new to her. It may take her time to adjust to treatment and being clean. Her whole world has been turned upside down. She'll come around, but I think that lunch would be a great idea. It may help her to know she has a friend that isn't me or Uncle Dwight."

I waited a few minutes before I answered debating what to say. Should I point out how Abby acted  around me? I decided to let things go for now.

"Okay, can you give me her phone number so I can set it up? If you wouldn't mind could you give her a heads up that I'll be contacting her?"

"Of course, babe."

I hoped Reed was right about Abby. I wasn't so sure about her wanting me around. Lunch would be a perfect way to feel her out. I'd already been through a bad relationship. I wanted to be with Reed, but if Abby was going to be a constant interference, I didn't think I'd be able to put up with it. I said a silent prayer that this would be the start of something good and not the end of the best thing that ever happened to me.