Beautiful Abyss (California Dreamers #3) Read Online Free

through my dark hair I stare at myself in the mirror for several moments. This is my one shot to make an impression on Abby. I don’t want to blow it. The best thing I can probably do is ask her questions about herself so I don’t have to talk about myself. That will significantly lessen the odds that I’ll say something stupid.
    ***
    “I don’t really like to talk about myself,” Abby tells me after I ask my very first question.
    So much for my plan to not talk about myself. 
    She was waiting for me outside of the nursery when I showed up at noon.
    “Your aunt was okay with you going on a date?”
    “I wouldn’t say okay exactly, but she didn’t say no.”
    We’re both quiet as we walk the few blocks to China Moon. Honestly I’m afraid to say much because I don’t want to make a fool of myself.
    Now I wonder if not saying anything is making me look like a fool anyway.
    Luckily the restaurant isn’t crowded yet and we have our choice of tables. I ask about seating us near the back where it’s quiet.
    When I glance at the menu and see the prices I’m thankful Roscoe spotted me forty bucks. I don’t remember the meals being quite this expensive.
    It’s worth it to get to spend time with Abby though.
    “Everything sounds good,” she remarks as she scans the menu.
    “I like ginger beef,” I tell her.
    “Me too. And I like the Szechuan chicken.” She tightens her thin lips. “It’s hard to decide.”
    “Maybe we could order both and split them,” I suggest.
    Her face lights up. “You don’t mind?”
    I shake my head. “Of course not. That’s what Roscoe and I usually do.”
    Her brow furrows. “Who’s Roscoe?”
    “My brother from another mother.”
    She doesn’t seem to get the joke. Or maybe it’s just not funny. It’s hard to tell. She’s definitely not an easy girl to impress and I’m failing miserably at it.
    “He’s my cousin,” I explain. “But we’re so close we’re like brothers.”
    She nods, but doesn’t comment.
    “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” I ask her.
    She shakes her head.
    “I’m an only child too,” I tell her.
    That’s when she stares at me again. It’s almost like she’s trying to look right through me. It makes my stomach knot. I actually haven’t felt so nervous since I played football.
    Luckily the waiter comes and Abby looks at him instead of me.
    “What can I get for you?” he asks.
    Before I have a chance to say anything Abby orders for both of us. “We’ll have the ginger beef and the Szechuan chicken to share. Half white and half fried rice.” She looks back at me shyly and asks, “Do you mind if I add something else?”
    “Go ahead.”
    “And egg rolls,” she adds to the order.
    She folds up her menu, hands it to the waiter then grins at me.
    I realize I don’t have a lot of experience with dating. For the most part I’ve been a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of guy. But I always thought the guy was supposed to be the one who ordered the food.
    I close my menu and hand it to the waiter. He looks at me like I’m some kind of loser.
    Once the waiter leaves Abby places her small finger to her perfect lips. “I hope you like egg rolls. I forgot to ask. Sorry.”
    I shrug. “Sure. I’ll eat almost anything.”
    “I love egg rolls.” She sounds like she’s talking about a lover rather than a food. I imagine what it would sound like if she said she loved me that way.
    Of course that will probably never happen because I’m a dumb jerk who apparently can’t even order a meal on a date.
    “So what do you do?” she asks. “When you’re not buying plants at the nursery?”
    “I’m an actor.”
    “I haven’t seen you in anything.”
    I cringe. I hate having to explain that I’m still trying to break into the business. “I just did a toothpaste commercial. It’ll be airing soon.”
    “You do have a great smile,” she tells me.
    Finally something positive. Maybe there’s hope for us after all.
    “I’ve been doing a lot of