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Abagail sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window where the sun was shining. It was such a stunning late spring day, and if she’d been another person, she’d venture outside and let the sun shine on her face. But that wasn’t her. She was someone who hid away from other people and lived in her own little world. If it wasn’t for Elia, she’d rarely allow herself to be dragged out from her circle that she enjoyed so much.

It wasn’t Warren.

Abagail could definitively say that now. But it also wasn’t just Nicola and what Abagail had figured out about Nicola either. Abagail sighed and toed off her shoes. She pulled herself back farther on the bed so that she wasn’t about to topple off of it.

So what was it?

Her?

Could she have really been the one to change while they were at the Cape? But more importantly than that, how had she changed? Abagail frowned at no one but herself as she sorted through every moment that came to mind, all the thoughts, actions, and words she had shared with Nicola since that fateful night at the bar.

About the fact that ring stashed in her closet still felt like it belonged to Nicola and to no one else.

Abagail wasn’t sure why it did, but it did. She was tempted to pull it out and slide it in Nicola’s bedroom while she was gone, giving it back to its rightful owner, someone who would appreciate it and savor it.

She just had to figure out what she was feeling.

Why was that so difficult lately?

thirty-three

Nicola must have checked her phone a dozen times, waiting for the next text from Warren, but it was silent. Blocking his number hadn’t relieved the anxiety that she was feeling from it, or the fact that Abagail had given her a bit more insight than she’d had before.

Warren wanted her back.

But it wasn’t because he loved her, or because he’d realized the mistake he’d made. It was because he wanted her to fix his problems and he knew she could. Well, there was at least a vote of confidence in there for her. She wasn’t a complete idiot when it came to life.

Sometimes.

So what was she supposed to do now? Abagail had ended their arrangement, not that Nicola had truly enjoyed that part of everything anyway. But the break felt clean and easy—at least she was trying to tell herself that. Abagail wasn’t upset with her, and Nicola wasn’t either. She just really needed to figure out what she was going to do next and work toward it immediately. Like today, immediately.

With an hour left before her shift started, Nicola started to pack up what little belongings she’d brought into the house fromher car. It should all fit into the backpack that she had. She started with the clothes she’d brought and then stopped at the ones Abagail had bought for her. They were the ones she’d need for work, so she had to take them. But it felt wrong.

Nicola ran her fingers over the fabric. It was soft. More expensive than she’d normally buy for herself, but she’d taken advantage when she could. She frowned. She hadn’t expected their relationship—whatever it was going to be labeled as—to end quite like this.

But then again, how else would it have ended?

This was best for everyone. Nicola knew she wasn’t good enough to stick around, and that Abagail hadn’t ever wanted that. Why she’d allowed herself to dream that something else could happen between them was a mystery to her. She should have kept to herself like she always did and protected her heart.

“Well, it’s time to grow up, Nic,” she murmured to herself.

And it really was. She had to stop relying on other people to do the things that she needed to be doing. Grow up. That was the option now. She finished packing up her things and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She took the credit card that Abagail had given her and set it on the dresser.

Without a word, Nicola slipped out of the bedroom and walked toward the garage to get into her car. She’d have to send Abagail a thank you note for fixing it, because that was worth more than any of the cash Abagail had paid her. It’d get her to and from anywhere she needed to go, and it’d likely end up being her home again for a little while at least.

Groaning, Nicola pulled herself together. She looked at Abagail’s house one last time before she backed out of the driveway. She wouldn’t ever be back there. Something in her heart told her that. It was time for her to have a clean split from this family, and Abagail had given her that by blocking Warren for her.

It was on to new and better things.

She pulled up outside of work well before the bar even opened. Well, she couldn’t escape the family if she wanted to because she still worked here. She’d have to change that, but she needed some consistency in job history first. Which meant she was stuck here for a little bit longer.

Turning the engine off, Nicola picked up her phone and called her aunt. Surely she’d be back by now. She was supposed to leave that morning. Nicola had skipped having breakfast with her and Alanna. She played it off that she wanted to give the two of them some more time alone, but she really just couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed knowing what was coming.

“Missed you this morning,” Simone said as she answered.

“Yeah.” Guilt ate away at Nicola’s stomach. She was usually much better than this, but everything with Abagail was throwing her for a loop. “It’s been a rough night.”

“What happened?”