Free Beautiful Abyss (California Dreamers #3) by Dakota Madison

favorite color is grey.”
    She frowns. “Seriously?”
    “It’s relaxing. Kind of like a rainy day. Now do I get to ask you something?”
    “My favorite color?” She raises an eyebrow.
    I shake my head. “I already know that.”
    Her lips tighten. “How? I never told you.”
    “Easy. Every time I’ve seen you you’ve worn this.” I point to the green bracelet on her wrist. “I could tell it was your favorite color.”
    “Very observant. So what do you want to know?”
    “What’s your relationship with Dex?”             
    The expression on her face quickly turns from joy to sadness. I want to punch myself for asking the question.
    She lets out a breath before she says, “It’s complicated.”
    That’s not really the word I wanted to hear. Over would have been a much better one.
    “What’s complicated about it?” I prod.
    She bites her bottom lip for several moments.
    “Are you two still together?” I ask. I’m not sure of a better way to ask if he’s still screwing her, and if she’s letting him.
    She gulps. “We’re not together. I know he sees other girls when he’s away at school.”
    “Does he still see you too?”
    More lip biting. I know I’m about to hear something that I don’t really want to hear.
    “When he comes home from school we sometimes get back together.”
    I feel like she just stabbed me in the heart with a knife. “You mean like a bootie call when he comes home for breaks?”
    “Something like that.” Her voice sounds small and weak. “I don’t want to be with him. I don’t even like being with him. I guess I thought I’d never meet anyone who’d want me because I’m a mother. And part of me thought that if I didn’t give him what he wants, he’d stop seeing Sadie.”
    I resist the urge to leave the theater, get into Roscoe’s car, drive all the way to Yale wherever the hell it is, hunt the guy down, and punch him right in the nose.
    “Are you disappointed in me?” Abby sounds likes she’s going to cry.
    “You deserve a lot better than Dex.”
    “Sometimes a girl’s got to take what she can get.”
    “You deserve someone devoted to you and only you.”
    She blinks back tears. “Guys aren’t exactly lining up to be with me.”
    “I’m here.” I look right into her beautiful brown eyes so she can see how serious I am. “I’m right at the head of the line. Just waiting to be with you.”
    She places the softest of kisses on my lips. My entire body responds to the contact.
    That’s when I know it’s over.
    My days of being a player are done. That’s the moment I realize I’ll be spending the rest of my life devoted to Abby.
    When the server brings our food the conversation is over…at least for now. The burger and fries become the sole focus of Abby’s attention.
    The girl doesn’t even slow down the take a breath. She’s got her entire meal, including both of her pickles, downed before I even have a chance to kill half of my burger.
    When I see her eyeing my French fries hungrily I offer them to her. “Dig in.”
    She doesn’t hesitate to grab half of them and put them on her plate. “Are you going to eat your pickle?”
    I can’t help but laugh. “Do your aunt and uncle feed you?”
    “They have plenty of food, but it’s all healthy gluten free vegan crap. It’s disgusting. They won’t allow me to have junk food in the house. Basically anything that tastes good is forbidden.”
    “That explains a lot.”
    The server takes our plates just before the movie starts. Then we settle into our reclining chairs, hold hands and watch the show.
    ***
    “Can we go back to your place?” Abby suggests even before I have a chance to start the Jeep.
    “Maybe it’s better if I take you home.” I can’t help thinking about her uncle and his gun. Would the guy really shoot me? I don’t want to find out.
    “I’m an adult. I don’t have a curfew.”
    “As much as I’d love to take you back to my place I’m not sure it’s such