“Very well,” he finally says. “If it doesn’t succeed within the six months, I’ll step down and relinquish control to you. But if I’m not happy with your governance within twelve months after that, I’ll want to hold another election. A real one, this time.” “Fair enough,” I say, nodding once again.
Abby The snow crunches under my boots as we make our way up the back steps of the police headquarters. Despite Karl’s solid presence at my back, I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine. My hands tremble ever so slightly in their gloves—whether it’s simply from cold or my jittery nerves, I
Just before the doors shut behind us, I take one last look over my shoulder to glimpse the crowd one last time. Their faces shine with conviction and solidarity. My vision blurs slightly as I look at them. After facing so much cruelty and derision for what feels like forever, this sort of open sup
Abby The thumping bass pulses through my body as Karl and I sway together on the crowded dance floor. His hands span my waist, guiding my hips to move in time with his to the rhythmic music. I revel in the solid warmth of his torso pressed to my back, his breath fanning over the sensitive spot b
I pause and glance at Karl. “We are,” he replies coolly. A grin stretches across Adam’s face. “I’m happy for you guys. Really. Actually, I’d like you to meet my new partner, Liam.” As Adam speaks, a young man with smooth blond hair walks up to him. Adam’s arm slips around his waist, pulling me c
Abby Karl and I finally step into my apartment after a long night, the door clicking shut behind us. I slide my heels off with a sigh of relief as Karl loosens his tie, tossing it aside. An easy silence hangs between us for a few minutes; we’re both lost in our own thoughts after the chance enco
Karl smiles, clearly pleased by my enthusiasm over his suggestion. “Anything for you, Abby. You know that.” Overcome with emotion, I throw my arms around his neck in a fierce hug. “Have I mentioned lately how amazing you are?” I mumble into his skin. Chuckling, Karl just holds me tighter. After
Abby I push through the swinging doors into the already bustling kitchen of Adam’s restaurant, the rich and familiar scents enveloping me like a warm hug. My staff look up with a mixture of surprise and excitement to see me striding in so early. “Abby!” Daisy spots me first, her face lighting up
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha