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“Nic!” Alanna’s cheeks tinged red.

Abagail stayed still, listening intently.

“So one morning, when he was working, she decided she would try to jump into his arms, and instead they both ended up in a pile of unmovable limbs on the floor. He still teases her about it to this day and it happened nearly a year ago now.”

“I can’t believe you told her that.” Alanna lifted her hands to cover her face and shake her head. “Now the whole facility’s going to know about it.”

“They already know about it,” Nicola countered.

“Yeah, but now they’ll bring it up again,” Alanna mumbled under her breath.

“I swear I won’t tell anyone!” Abagail put a hand over her heart. “Though that does seem an innovative way to get someone’s attention.”

“Oh and she did get his attention.” Nicola winked at Alanna. “But not in the way she intended.”

Alanna looked so embarrassed, but in a good way, not like Nicola was pushing this too far. Abagail settled into that feeling. This was definitely what family should be—gentle teasing, love,care. What had happened to her family that none of this was present?

“So how do you two know each other?” Alanna asked.

Abagail snapped out of her reverie. She must have missed the shift in conversation, because she hadn’t been expecting that question. Nicola sucked in a slow breath, flicking her gaze to lock her eyes on Abagail before looking directly at Alanna.

“We met, I think for the first time at the bar Abagail owns. Though that’s not the first time we actually met.”

Alanna squinted. “I smell a story.”

“There is a story.” Nicola patted her sister’s hand. “And maybe I’ll share that story with you sometime, but not today.”

“Why not?” Now Alanna was staring at Abagail.

“I can… leave if you’d prefer to tell her while I’m not here.” Abagail pointed toward the door.

Immediately, Nicola stood up and came right to her. “No. I don’t want you to leave.” Nicola skimmed her hand down Abagail’s arm, but she didn’t stay there. Instead, she put space between them. And never before had Abagail felt so distant from her. Not even after their argument when Nicola had left without telling her what was happening or where she was going or if she would even be back.

“Oh, I smell a really good story.” Alanna chuckled and put her hands up next to her face.

Abagail smiled at her. She’d never seen someone just so happy with life. It was contagious. Nicola rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner and moved back to sit next to Alanna. “You’ll get it, maybe. Someday.”

“You can spare me the smutty details.”

“Alanna!” Nicola squeaked.

“And that’s definitely my cue.” Abagail nodded toward Alanna. “It was good to meet you.”

Without waiting for Nicola’s reply, Abagail walked out of the room and toward a waiting area with couches and a fireplace. She sat down, immediately crossing her legs and pulling out her tablet and phone. She had a few things she needed to tidy up at work before she could just leave Ivy in charge for the next week. Not that she wouldn’t be checking in while she was gone, especially since this trip had been so last minute.

Staying in there and knowing what Nicola was going to say about her was definitely not something she needed to do. She wasn’t sure how long it took, but she was right in the middle of an email to Nathalie Coeur when Nicola stepped into her line of sight. Abagail nodded toward her, finished the email, and then closed her tablet so she could focus on Nicola.

“All done?” Abagail asked.

“Yes.” Nicola’s cheeks were rosy, but she had a forlorn look in her eyes that Abagail hated seeing. “We can go.”

“Are you sure?” Abagail reached out and touched Nicola’s arm lightly.

“Yes. I’m sure.” Nicola stepped away and broke the physical contact.

Again, that same feeling swept over Abagail, the one that felt so out of place and not at the same time. She longed to lean forward and brush her fingers across Nicola’s arm, maybe even fold their hands together. And that unsettled her. She recoiled from it and kept herself locked where she was.

Nicola started to walk away and halted, staring back at her. “Are we going?”