Page 75

“Bullshit!” Warren yelled, his words slurring.

“Warren.” Tommie stepped next to Nicola, hands on her shoulders and moved her toward the side. “Your car is out front.”

He grunted.

“It’s time to go, it’s closing time,” Tommie added.

Warren looked around the bar like a lost little boy. Had he really not noticed how late it had gotten? Nicola held her breath. This would be the time of truth, wouldn’t it? He was going to either leave without a fight, or cause another commotion and potentially put her job on the line.

Getting up from his perch, Warren nearly fell over. Nicola managed to catch him. “I’ll get you out to the car.”

She wrapped an arm around his waist and started to walk with him. She’d never thought that she’d have to do this again. The alcohol reeked on him. Her stomach churned when it reached her nose. She tried to hold her breath against it, but it was impossible.

Sure enough, his driver was outside, and Nicola scrunched her nose at it. “I thought you said Abagail cut you off.”

“She did,” he slurred again.

“So how are you still paying for your driver?”

Warren grunted but didn’t answer the question. Well, he was going to be in for a whole world of surprise when he finally got the rude awakening. Maybe Estelle was still paying for it. Nicolapushed Warren inside. He grabbed her by the chin and dragged her forward like he was going to kiss her, but she jerked back and out of his reach.

“Take some painkillers when you wake up in the morning,” Nicola said as she slammed the door shut.

God, whathadshe ever seen in him? He was such a loser.

Nicola went back inside to finish out her shift and clean everything up now that they were officially closed. She’d stayed late to get the extra hours, and now she was regretting her decisions. Her feet were dragging, and she just wanted to go home and climb in bed and pass out.

But she was supposed to talk to Abagail.

Nicola swallowed the lump in her throat—or at least she tried to. It didn’t exactly go down easily. Taking her time with cleaning, she finally wrapped up when it was clear Tommie was done and ready to go home. Sliding behind the wheel of her car, Nicola drove back to Abagail’s and parked in the garage. She’d honestly thought about just sleeping in her car that night. She had the blankets and makeshift bed she’d used still in there.

At this point, she just wanted to be done with this family. They were taking up too much of her head space, and she wanted out. But that would be impossible. She needed the cash from Abagail, and she still worked at a bar owned by them. Unless she found another job, then she was certain that she was going to run into Warren and Abagail on occasion.

Well, maybe not Warren if Abagail had truly cut him off.

Speaking of which, why would she do that?

It made absolutely no sense. Nicola climbed out of her car and made her way inside. She stopped by the kitchen to grab herself a drink and a snack and then made her way to the library. The side lights were still on, and she knew she’d find Abagail in there.

What she didn’t expect was Abagail asleep on the chair that she so often occupied so she could read. Nicola stood quietly, watching Abagail’s deep breathing. Had she ever watched Abagail sleep? She didn’t look comfortable at all. Nicola sat down in the chair next to her, munching on the granola bar and drinking the water she’d snagged while she waited.

Maybe Abagail would wake up in the meantime.

But she didn’t.

After cleaning up her mess, Nicola went back into the room and brushed her fingers along Abagail’s arm, trying to stir her. Either way, Abagail needed to get into a bed. Nicola couldn’t imagine the kinks in her neck that she’d wake up with if she didn’t move to a better sleeping surface.

“Abs,” Nicola said quietly, her voice hushed. “Abs, wake up.”

Abagail didn’t budge from her sleep.

“Abagail.” Nicola shook her arm a little harder and used a much louder voice.

Abagail jerked with a start, her entire body lifting up from the chair before she locked eyes on Nicola and instantly relaxed. She looked confused though. Nicola softened her touch.

“You fell asleep waiting for me.”

“Right.” Abagail pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes tight, clearly trying to wake up more. “What time is it?”