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Something about Kamryn grabbed hold of her and held on tightly. Something that Elia loved feeling again.

“What do you suggest?” Elia asked, taking another bite of her home fries, but not tasting them this time. “Since HR is your area of expertise.”

That had been invaluable the first time Elia had gone through some of this drama. She’d leaned so heavily on Abagail during that time, and she’d never forget what her friend had done for her, the advice she’d ignored then that had landed her in the situation that she’d found herself in. Although Elia wasn’t convinced that informing the board of her relationship with a student’s parent really would have prevented the repercussions of their break up.

Nothing could have prepared her for that.

“I’m so glad you asked.” Abagail seemed delighted again, and as much as Elia wanted to share in that enjoyment, she just couldn’t bring herself to. “Because of what happened the last time…” Abagail wasn’t actually saying the details out loud, and Elia was so grateful for it. “…you and Kam need to sit down and have a discussion about what you want from each other, and then you need to inform the board about the conflict of interest that you’ve now created.”

Elia clenched her jaw tightly, the muscles in her cheeks hurting from how hard she did it. She hadn’t done that in a longtime, now that she thought about it, and the muscles weren’t used to the pressure. So much for kicking that bad habit.

“And what do I do whenotherquestions arise?” Elia again skittered around the topic. She wasn’t ready to open that can of worms, to experience that hurt and pain again. It would be too hard, and she wasn’t ready for it. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for it.

“You phone a friend and have a lawyer on retainer.”

Elia dropped her fork with a loud clatter. “You think it’ll be that bad?”

“I always plan and prepare for the worst, Elia, you know that. And I won’t lie to you, this could get ugly, and it could easily cost you both of your jobs. And if you don’t tell Kam what happened eighteen years ago, she’s going to be blindsided by everything. Youhaveto warn her.”

Elia shook her head sharply. She definitely wasn’t ready for that. “It’ll change everything if I tell her that.”

“It’s part of who you are, and it’s part of your job at this point. She needs to know.” Abagail continued eating, but she kept her eyes on Elia the entire time. The silent message was clear.

This was non-optional.

This was do or die.

This would be her greatest downfall.

“There’s no other option?” Elia asked, needing to be entirely sure that she was going to be stuck in this. That there was no way out without the entire school finding out about what had happened eighteen years ago. Not again. She’d barely survived it the first time. She wouldn’t survive a second round of it.

“Quit. Retire. Leave Windermere. And end your relationship with Kam immediately. That’s the only other option, and even then, I can’t guarantee that it won’t get out and come back to bite you in your pretty little ass.”

None of that settled well with Elia. She’d been impulsive with Kamryn, that was for certain. And now they might very well be in over their heads. “And if I don’t want to do any of that?”

“You really like this girl, don’t you?” Abagail took another large bite of her food.

“I do,” Elia admitted quietly. Why did that feel so dangerous to suggest? “We haven’t talked much since… since that night, but I have a date with her in a few days, and we can talk then.” Elia finally settled into that knowledge. She hated admitting things before she was ready, and Abagail was really good at making her do that. “I mean, we will talk then. We need to.”

“That sounds more like the Elia I know.”

“Really?” Elia frowned at her plate. None of this sounded like her at all.

“No!” Abagail laughed. “You in a relationship? One that you’re this excited about? Doesn’t sound like you. You’ve dated since Yara, yes, but no one has seemed to turn your head like this Kam. I’ll have to meet her soon.”

“Maybe.” Elia wasn’t sure she was ready for that, or that Kamryn was. Putting the two of them in a room would likely end in some sort of pissing match. Elia had never told Abagail this, but when she and Yara broke up, it had been mutual, but a lot of it had been because of Abagail. She and Elia weretoo intimate with each otheraccording to Yara, and it had continued to put a wedge between them. And Elia hadn’t been willing to give up the strongest friendship she had.

And she’d left Abagail out of that entirely.

Although she had put more distance between them after, wanting to be able to find love again at some point. Though over the years, she’d given up on that hope. Or at least, she thought she had. Still, whatever was between her and Kamryn felt good, and she wanted to continue exploring it.

“Yeah, let’s do it when I come down for Thanksgiving.”

“Hmm.” Elia hadn’t thought about that. She’d already forgotten to call her mother and let her know that Abagail would be coming that year. In fact, it had been way too long since she’d talked to her mother. She’d have to add that to her list of things to do for the week. “I’ll have to talk to Kam and see what she has planned. We haven’t exactly shared our schedules with each other yet.”

“No, just swapping spit.”

Elia rolled her eyes. Abagail could be so crass sometimes. Settled into the fact that a conversation desperately needed to happen—and sooner rather than later—Elia finished her meal in peace, still with the small fluttering of hope inside her chest.