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“What ways?” Abagail asked, coming closer and leaning against the counter, effectively blocking Nicola onto the stool she was sitting at, her side pressed into the marble.

“Different websites.” Nicola shook her head, already distracted by the strength in Abagail’s stance, in the confidence that moved from her into the world around her. Nicola wouldnever have that. “I’ll check into the bank and have a solution for you in the morning.”

Abagail snagged Nicola’s chin, forcing Nicola to turn her head upward and look deep into Abagail’s eyes. Her heart stuttered. Was there more there than simply being annoyed that she couldn’t pay her? Nicola found herself leaning forward. Abagail’s hand dropped from her chin, sliding around the side of her neck to the back of her neck.

Nicola’s heart thudded wildly, the tension in her shoulders almost disappearing as she moved in and captured Abagail’s lips. The kiss wasn’t heated, which surprised her. But it was warm and comforting. Abagail had no idea what was going on in the back of Nicola’s mind, all the worries and stresses that she was facing, but that didn’t mean anything in this moment. Abagail was concerned about her, about how she could be supported. Wasn’t she?

Abagail hummed, pressing in a little deeper. She curled her hand around Nicola’s side and pressed her palm fully against the middle of Nicola’s back and pulled her in so they were closer. Nicola’s eyes fluttered shut as she deepened the kiss.

She wasn’t mistaking this simple attraction for something else, was she?

Abagail had never said anything about feelings being involved or not, but Nicola was damn sure they weren’t supposed to be feeling anything for each other. At least nothing more than mere attraction and perhaps some kind of affection akin to friendship.

Abagail jerked back suddenly. She stepped out of the circle of Nicola’s grasp and reached for the envelopes she’d slapped down onto the counter earlier. Her face was drawn, her eyes narrowed. “I had a visit from Warren today.”

“Really?” Nicola squeaked out the word. “What the hell did he want?”

“The ring.” Abagail flicked her gaze toward Nicola.

“Oh.” Nicola’s heart sank. She’d tried her damnedest not to think about that ring. She still felt the weight of it on her finger sometimes. It wasn’t the ring itself that she didn’t want to be reminded of. It was the fact that Warren was gone, that the relationship they’d spent years building had been ripped out from under her in one brief second and she’d never fully understood why he’d done it. His explanation had been shit, and the reason that Abagail had hated her didn’t quite seem to fit anymore.

“I thought we were doing this for revenge.” Abagail was looking directly at her. “But you haven’t told him.”

No, she hadn’t. She hadn’t found the time to even mention it to Warren, mostly because she’d wanted to avoid him. But there was something sacred about what she and Abagail were doing, and she wanted to keep that for herself. It wasn’t just about revenge anymore—that much had been clear since the morning she’d woken up in Abagail’s house after their first night of romping.

Nicola took her bowl and moved toward the sink to dump what was left into the disposal.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Abagail asked, her tone a lot harsher and more demanding than it had been just minutes ago.

Was it the physical distance that did that?

“I haven’t talked to him.” Nicola rinsed out the bowl and set it in the dishwasher. “That’s why.”

“And the bank account?”

Nicola sighed harshly. “I told you, I’ll fix it or I’ll have an alternative solution to you by the morning.”

“That’s not the point,” Abagail snapped.

“Then what is the point?” Nicola threw her hands out to the side. The uncomfortable feeling that had taken root during that kiss—or rather as soon as it ended—grew even more. She hatedit. It didn’t feel right. And that word bounced through her brain again.

Dirty.

This wasn’t right, was it? What they were doing? They should stop it immediately. Nicola ran her sweaty palms over her thighs. This was a bad idea. It had all been a mistake, because now she didn’t feel right about it. She’d been drunk when she’d first fucked Abagail, and to be fair, it wasn’t the fucking that she regretted.

No.

It wasthis.

Whateverthiswas.

“The point is that you should have a working bank account. How are you supposed to pay for things if you don’t?” Abagail wouldn’t even look at her.

Nicola’s face pinched in confusion. “This is about my bank account? Jesus. Just write me a check or give me some cash. My bank account isn’t your business.”

Abagail sighed heavily and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling on the ends briefly before she turned on Nicola. Their eyes locked in a battle for control and power. Nicola would never win this one, she knew that. In every scenario that involved the two of them, she would be the one to lose out. And it’d be better for her to accept that now than later.

She was broke.