Lincoln’s POV
I stand outside the guest room, shamelessly eavesdropping as Abbey tries to soften the blow on her daughter over the fact that she believes that they have to leave. The sadness in the little girl’s voice, and the barely noticeable tremble of fear in my Kitten’s words, damn near killing me.
I can’t let them go, I just can’t, I need to protect them, as a friend, I need to help them. I swallow down the tiny voice in the back of my head that tries to shove forward that night once again, whispering that in that moment, that we were decidedly not just friends, and nor did I want to be. That was a mistake, Abbey actually said those words, and she was damn well certain of it when she stormed away from me. Bitterness climbs up my throat, but I force it away, I’m not who she wants, b
