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“What happened to the Abagail who avoids these kinds of confrontations?”

“She’s on vacation.”

“A permanent one?” Elia asked.

“Unfortunately, probably not. But today, I sent her on vacation, and I’m not sure when she’ll be back.” Abagail downed the rest of her drink, fully intending to order another one. She turned to get the waitress’s attention when she froze.

Nicola stood in front of her, a tray full of drinks in her hand and a surprised look on her face as she equally seemed just as frozen as Abagail.

“Abs…” Nicola murmured.

Abagail frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“I uh… have your drink order.” Nicola placed the glass of wine in front of Elia and straightened her back again, still holding the drinks in place without tipping them over. That was a skill Abagail had never intended to master.

“You’re working here again?”

“Yes.” Nicola squared her shoulders, that defensiveness coming right back up into her body. Abagail hated seeing that. “I need to get back to my other customers.”

“Nicola.” Abagail reached out and touched Nicola’s arm to keep her attention. “You’re talking to the owner, surely they can’t?—”

“I can’t afford to be fired again because one of the Kerrboxes decides to mess with my job.”

Abagail put her hand up and pulled away from Nicola.

“I’ll put in for another drink for you.” Nicola nodded at her hard and then stalked off.

Abagail sat back heavily in her chair and sighed. What the hell was that all about? And how had Nicola managed to convince them to hire her back? She better not have used Abagail’s name to do it. Not that she would think any worse of Nicola for using whatever advantage she had, but she didn’t exactly want that on her record either—especially with Estelle and Warren coming after her.

“What was that about?” Elia asked, eyes wide with wonder.

“Nothing.”

“Oh that wasn’t nothing.” Elia pointed at Nicola. “What happened?”

Abagail dashed her tongue against her lips and debated for a brief second before she opened up. That’s what they were here for, wasn’t it? Diving back into friendship territory and away from whatever Abagail had dropped them into.

“Nicola and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks now.”

“Seeing each other.” Elia’s brow wrinkled. “You don’t use that phrasing when you’re talking about a fuck buddy.”

Abagail hummed and nodded. “You’re right, I don’t. What started as a quick revenge fuck turned into more, that’s for certain.” She played her fingers over the table and stared atthem, debating exactly how to explain to Elia everything that had happened since the last time they’d met up. “I quite like Nicola. She’s spicy—in the bedroom—but also in life. She doesn’t hold back, and I appreciate that. Not a lot of people will.”

“Feisty?”

“Sure, that’s a better word.” Abagail’s lips quirked upward. “But she’s Warren’s ex, and that’s caused quite a few issues, some that she’s not even aware of.”

“You haven’t told her?”

“We haven’t had a chance to talk lately, and the latest issue I just found out about. I’m not sure I want to tell her.” Abagail felt like she was falling into a bottomless pit of something. Again, one of those big emotions that she struggled to label, not that she was all that willing to try either.

“Abagail…” Elia leaned in, putting her hand on top of Abagail’s to still the nervous movements that she was making with them. “Are you two still in a relationship?”

Abagail shrugged. “She’s still staying at my house, yes.”

“I didn’t ask that.”

“Yes,” Abagail answered, timidly. “I…” She glanced around the bar, making sure that Nicola wasn’t anywhere near them. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this one to end. There’s something about her, something that I can’t quite give up yet.”