The story continues...
Ed returned to the suite and slammed the door. Abby took a deep breath and entered the suite. Ed had his shirt off and was rummaging through his suitcase for a replacement since the first t-shirt was wet with humidity and sweat. Abby admired Ed’s chest, the smattering of dark chest hair, the color of his nipples. She had seen a lot of men’s chests as a doctor. Ed had an ordinary chest, not perfect or chiseled like a statue, but he looked perfect to her. He found a red shirt with black faded lettering, that had a design and the words “courage” and “live.” He turned and realized that Abby was studying him. He couldn’t read her expression.
“Not polite to stare,” he growled after pulling the t-shirt over her head.
Abby could hear the tension in Ed’s voice. She had to drag her eyes away from him.
“I’ll get my purse and leave you alone,” she said.
“I shouldn’t have brought you here,” he said.
Abby could see the tension in his face, his neck, his arms. She paused and tried to decide how to answer. She felt a quick barb of rejection; but mostly she realized that she loved him.
“Well, I’m here,” she said, clutching her purse under her arm. Ed’s brow was furrowed and he didn’t speak.
Abby put her hand on the doorknob then turned back to Ed. “For what’s it worth, your brother and your mother are full of it. I like who you are. I like what you are,” she told him then quickly left the room because her eyes were filling with tears.
“Abby,” he called after her. Abby’s words still buzzed in his head. Abby was already down the stairs, wiping her eyes and trying to pull herself together since there was a crowd of people in the foyer. Ed sighed and leaned on the railing.
After being introduced to the bridesmaids and the groom, the group moved toward the driveway and climbed into a limo. Ed was the last to get into the limo.
“You changed your shirt,” Bethany exclaimed.
“Uh-yeah,” Ed grunted. Abby read the lettering on his t-shirt and smiled. The groom, Teddy, was blond with green eyes and a slight gap between his front teeth. He was warm and friendly and he and Bethany seemed so in love. Ed stayed quiet on the ride into town. Abby wondered why William didn’t come along; however, after her introduction to him screaming at Ed and Bethany, she was a bit relieved he wasn’t there.
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