Free Even Angels Fall by Fay Darbyshire Page A

Her heart is beating so fast it feels as though it is going to explode out of her rib cage. She had never really given any thought to what Alex or the others looked like… she had never asked. So it is a complete shock seeing first-hand how unbelievably good looking he is.
    Liam enters the flat and Alex shakes his hand, slapping him on the back in greeting. Abbey can’t resist glancing back over her shoulder but she quickly looks away when she sees that he is still watching her. He greets Nathan in exactly the same manner, before shutting the door without once taking his eyes from Abbey’s face. She begins to feel uncomfortable under his constant stare and turns away shyly, desperately trying to control her blushing.
    “Lucy! You’re here!” An incredibly attractive, glamorous looking girl bursts into the room and dashes over to Lucy, hugging her tightly. Following calmly behind her is another girl of a similar age. She has strawberry blonde hair and freckles, and is very pretty in a much more natural, girl next door sort of way.
    “Guys this is Abbey… Abbey this is Gemma Sanders and Sophie Richardson…”
    “Hi Abbey, it’s so nice to finally meet you!” Gemma, the first and more flamboyant of the two, hugs Abbey in greeting and passes her a drink, “We’ve heard a lot about you…”
    “Thanks. All good I hope?!”
    “Of course all good…!” Lucy smiles encouragingly.
    “Yeah, she’s alright is our Abs…!” Liam winks, cracking open a can of lager and casually draping his arm around Abbey’s shoulders, “Where are tweedle dum and tweedle dee?!”
    “I thought that was you and Nathan?!” Gemma teases, but before Liam has chance to retaliate two more men enter the room.
    “EASY BRUV! Took your time didn’t you… you sort me out?!” The first makes a bee line straight for Liam and they slap hands. He has a broad build, short dark spikey hair and is obviously from London, as he speaks in a strong cockney accent.
    “Yeah mate, your beers are in the fridge. This is Abbey. Abbey this is Tom…” Tom nods and winks as he steps forward, pulling Abbey into a huge bear hug.
    “You alright darlin’? It’s good to meet you…!”
    “Yeah, you too…!” Abbey smiles back. He has a cheeky, mischievous look about him and comes across as extremely approachable. She likes him instantly. Lucy skips excitedly across the room, pulling on the hand of the other man who Abbey has yet to meet. He has long shoulder length brown hair and a full sleeve tattoo on both arms. It instantly becomes apparent that this is Lucy’s brother, Darren, as they look scarily alike. She introduces them in her usual flamboyant manner and Abbey holds out her hand.
    “Hi Darren, it’s nice to meet you…”
    “Yeah you too love, heard plenty about you. Good to have you out…” He gives Abbey a warm smile before helping himself to another beer out of the fridge and Abbey gradually starts to feel at ease as she sits and chats with the girls around the kitchen table. They go out of their way to include her in the conversation and her nerves begin to fade slightly as they all laugh and joke together. Everyone is incredibly friendly and welcoming. All but one.
    Abbey tries her hardest not to look round as she can still feel Alex’s eyes burning into her. Why is he staring at her so much? And why hasn’t he said two words to her since she walked through the door? Is this normal behaviour for him? Abbey blocks it out of her mind and tries to focus on the others and the conversation they are having, but she can’t help feeling constantly on edge due to the incredibly beautiful, unwelcoming man, assessing her intently from across the room.
    As the night goes on the atmosphere remains the same and Alex’s attitude doesn’t improve. Every time there is a lull in conversation, Abbey becomes hyper aware of his presence, and in an attempt to ignore his hostility she tries to focus her attention on absolutely anything other than him…