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Simone smiled up at her from the chair that Nicola typically occupied during her visits. She wasn’t looking any better than the last time Nicola had seen her. In fact, she looked far more worn out and stressed this time. The lines around her eyes and lips were deeper, her hair looked a bit knotted, and she certainly hadn’t dyed it in a while since her roots were showing. From what Nicola remembered, Howie hated it when Simone didn’ttake care of herself.

Warren had made similar comments about her on occasion, and that stark reminder of how much Nicola hated how Howie treated Simone was a really good reason she and Warren weren’t together anymore.

Simone frowned up at her. “I told you I was coming this weekend.”

“I…” Nicola trailed off. Between Warren and her new job and Abagail, she’d lost track of everything outside of her own little world. She really had to do better than that. Alanna needed to be her priority. She always needed to be the priority. “I forgot. Sorry.”

Nicola slid onto the end of Alanna’s bed, making sure to avoid her sister’s legs and feet since she couldn’t feel them. It was rare that the three of them were able to get together like this, and Nicola wanted to take full advantage of it.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Before she could even say anything to Alanna, she read the name on the text and winced.

Warren.

What the hell was he texting her about? To apologize for the other night? Ha, that’d be royal, wouldn’t it? That man would never apologize for anything. So what the hell could he possibly want?

“Alanna said you’ve been staying with Warren’s aunt.”

Well that was a segue if Nicola had ever heard one. Was this going to be some kind of intervention on her part? Were they trying to drag her back into the world of reality and away from all the problems she’d managed to create in the last few months? Because that would be preciously ironic, wouldn’t it? Especially with all the issues Simone seemed to be having.

“I have been, at least for a little bit.” Nicola wasn’t entirely sure how much longer that would last. Especially after yesterday. That had been… odd. It was the only word that she could use to describe it. Abagail had come on to her, nearly ripping her clothes off before they could make it to a bed, and then she’d just stopped. Suddenly. With no explanation. With no conversation. Just aget out and go to work. Well, technically that was Nicola’s work. Even if it didn’t really feel like that anymore.

“That’s very nice of her.” Simone stared at her directly, her hazel eyes unwavering as if she could sense something else was amiss.

And this was exactly why phone calls and texts were better between them. Simone couldn’t interfere as much as she probably wanted to, and Nicola was free to make her ownmistakes without judgment. And Simone’s gaze reminded her so much of her mother’s gaze that it was impossible not to feel the shame that would start up as soon as Simone did that.

“Are you paying her rent?” Simone asked.

There it was. Because the answer wasnot in cashand still Nicola was struggling to give any kind of answer. She winced and stared down at her folded hands in her lap. Her phone buzzed again. Warren. Could she seriously never escape this damn family?

“Nicola?” Simone asked.

Alanna chuckled. “She’s in love and doesn’t know it.”

“What?” Nicola said sharply, eyeing Alanna over. Had she seriously just said that? Oh God, this was going to turn into some sort of weird intervention, wasn’t it?

“Love?” Simone seemed confused by that.

“It’s not that at all.” Nicola jumped in, needing to correct the situation immediately. “Abagail has been giving me a place to stay since Warren and I broke up. That’s all it is.”

“It’s more than that.” Alanna pointed at Nicola, her lips quirking to the side in that adorable half-smile that she had.

Nicola melted at it. She always would no matter what. And Alanna knew that, and she’d absolutely use it to her advantage.

“It’s really not.” Nicola shifted uncomfortably on the edge of the bed. “How’s Howie?”

Simone narrowed her gaze at her. “We’re not talking about Howie.”

“Wasn’t his jerk of a kid moving in with you and his new wife?”

“They did.” Simone canted her head to the side. “And it’s been an adjustment.” Her cheeks reddened. Nicola wanted to pry into that. It was the escape that she needed. “But we’re not talking about my home life. We’re talking about yours.”

So much for that.

“I don’t have a home life.” Nicola’s phone vibrated again. Seriously, what the hell was up with Warren now? “I have you two and that’s it.”

“Don’t you think you deserve more than just us?” Alanna asked.

“You’re all I need,” Nicola answered, unlocking her phone and skimming the texts Warren sent. Except they were novels, so she wasn’t exactly retaining any of the information in them.