Chapter 19: Kisses and Confrontation
Abby's P.O.V
When I woke up the next morning, Ray was gone.
I stretched, moaning quietly as a sharp pain shot through my lower back.
"Ugh, hotel beds suck!" I thought to myself.
"Hey, you okay?" I heard from somewhere to the left of me.
I jack-knifed up, looking around to see where the voice had come from, my eyes finally lighting on Ray, sitting in a chair by the window.
"Jesus Ray, you just scared the shit out of me!" And yes, I'm fine; my back always hurts when I get up in the morning."
He looked at me, almost as if he was trying to figure out whether I was lying or something. I guess I pulled the innocent act off pretty well, cause he seemed to believe me.
"Come here."
I climbed out of bed gingerly, not wanting to jar my back and cause more pain than I was already in. I walked the short distance to where he was seated, and he gently spun me around so my back was to him, before pulling me down onto his lap and massaging my back and shoulders.
"On the days after my father would knock my mom around, she would be really sore, and she would ask me to do this, and she always said that it made her feel better, I guess I'll never know." He explained.
"Ah," I sighed, feeling myself relax under his touch. "That feels so good, you really should have thought about being a masseuse."
"Maybe, but then I never would have met you." He whispered; mouth close to my ear.
I turned my head slowly, and our mouths connected softly, in a kiss that stole my breath.
'Why hasn't this happened before?' I asked myself, before shifting so that I faced him, straddling his lap.
We kissed again, with more passion, and it deepened into a make-your-head-spin-want-to-rip-your-clothes-off kinda kiss.
I ran my hands through his spiked chestnut hair, and he slid his hands under my shirt, rubbing my back in slow circles.
RING!
"FUCK!" he groaned, and ignored him, but I reminded him that it might be Madi, and he should probably answer it.
"What!" he answered upon answering his phone. "Oh shit, sorry JT, I thought you were someone else." He said, making up a quick excuse, "Not-uh, we were supposed to meet up with you guys at 10."
I could hear the other person's exasperated response,
"Ray, it is 10."
He looked at the clock on the nightstand, it read 10:01.
"SHIT! You're right; I guess time just got away from us." He said, winking at me, "Um, listen, we'll be there in…"
Looking at me,
"20 minutes?"
I nodded.
"In 20 minutes, c'ya bye."
I quickly dressed in my fave hip hugger jeans, and a black spaghetti strap tank top, before pulling on my black Chucks, and topping it off with a silver studded belt. Then pulling my blonde hair up into a messy bun, adding black eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, and a hint of eye shadow before emerging from the tiny "bathroom."
I smirked when Ray's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's impolite to stare?" I teased, walking over and pushing on his chin so his mouth closed.
He still stared.
"Alright Ray, we better go before you get in anymore trouble with your friends."
"Abby!" he whined, "They won't care if we're a few more minutes late; he's been waiting since 10."
"But I don't want to make a bad impression." I whined back.
He let out an exaggerated sigh.
We finally left, and walked to the diner, which was only a few blocks away.
At the restaurant, I was introduced to JT, an slightly older looking carbon copy of Nick, but with a goatee and eyes that seemed wiser then his age; and Leslie, a tall, fair skinned auburn haired girl with striking green eyes.
"Hi, I'm Leslie." She said, with a slight southern drawl, extending her hand and smiling.
We all hit it off really well; they spent some time catching up on what had happened in each others lives since they'd last seen each other. Leslie had recently become engaged, and had moved to South Carolina, which explained her slight accent; but had come up as soon as she heard what happened to Madison. JT had stayed to "hold down the fort" and keep an eye on Nick and Madison, helping her out whenever he could.
Leslie and I sat together, facing the entrance, and Ray and JT sat backs to the entrance. They had just gotten up to go to the restroom, when the bell rang, signaling a new arrival.
"Oh shit. This is NOT gonna be good." Leslie muttered; her eyes wide.
"What's not gonna be good?" I asked, concerned, cause she looked scared.
She nodded toward the door, "See that guy that just walked in? That's Ray's father."
I looked and my mouth dropped open. I sensed more than saw Ray come up beside the booth.
"Abby? You okay?" he asked, sounding concerned and curious at the same time.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" I asked.
"You look like you just saw a ghost. He's not here, is he?" I knew he was referring to Richard, but Leslie didn't, and she looked nervous, like she thought I was gonna tell Ray that his father was here.
"No, he's not. I hope to God he doesn't show up. We actually used to come here a lot, I haven't come since everything that happened, but I don't know if he still comes here anymore."
Leslie had a bewildered expression on her face, like she had just entered a conversation that she had no idea what anyone was talking about.
I turned to her,
"He's talking about my ex-husband, Richard."
"Oh." She said, sounding relieved.
"Who did you think I was asking about, Les?"
"Um…I don't know, I thought maybe she knew someone here that she didn't want to see, or something." She said, sounding uncertain, but Ray didn't seem to pick up on it.
Unfortunately he chose that exact moment to look up, coming face to fave with his father,
"You fucking bastard, what do you think you're doing back here? You don't belong here anymore." His father hissed.
"I'm the bastard?" Ray scoffed, "I'm not the one drinking themselves to death, and beating their daughter." He shot back.
Leslie's eyes widened.
"You son of a bitch, how do you even know? It's not like you call her or come see her."
'Oh, low blow' I thought, cringing inwardly.
"Let's just say I have my ways." Ray said, smirking.
Before we even saw what was happening, Chris' arm shot out, attempting to deck Ray.
Leslie screamed.
Ray ducked, and quick as lighting, his hand shot out, grabbing Chris' arm and twisting, cop style, shoving him against the table.
"I swear to God, if you come within a hundred feet of Madison, you're a dead man Chris. A dead man."
He released his hold, brushing off his hand, glaring at the man who had given him life.
"Watch your back Chris. You know I mean what I say."
Chris stalked off, never looking back.
I looked around, trying to figure out where JT had been during this whole event, and noticed that every pair of eyes in the diner were on us.
I drew in a sharp breath when my eyes locked with a pair that was all too familiar.
go on...push that little button...you know you want to!
luv ya'll!