Page 35 of Don’t You Dare Marry Me (Love in Massachusetts #3)

twenty-seven

“I didn’t think I’d see you back here.”

Nicola froze. As long as she was with Abagail, she’d never escape that voice, would she?

“Didn’t they fire you?”

“And rehired.” Nicola spun around to face down Warren, plastering on the best smile that she could and knowing that it’d be fake in the process.

Warren looked her over head to toe, his gaze almost hungry for her.

Nicola held in her shudder, just barely.

She hadn’t seen him look at her like that in a very long time.

And she hated that he was doing it now. Wait…

why was he doing it now? He was supposed to be with Chaya, and Nicola was last week’s trash that he really wanted to get the hell out of his family.

“Your favorite spot is open.” Nicola nodded toward the back corner where she knew Warren preferred to sit. “I’ll send over someone to waitress for you.”

“That’s fine.” Warren winked at her. “I think I’ll take you tonight.”

Was that flirting? Jesus, Nicola hated this whiplash that he caused.

Saying nothing else to him, she jumped back behind the bar to catch herself a breather.

This wasn’t what she’d anticipated tonight being.

And she’d completely spaced how often Warren came to this bar to get drunk with his friends.

Because he never paid for anything, which meant that she was going to take one for the team tonight and take no tip.

Fuck.

She really needed that cash.

And the bar was busy as hell, which meant she was going to be losing out on other customers and tips just to cater to an overgrown man-child who didn’t know the realities of life. Where was Abagail when Nicola needed her?

This was her bar, certainly she’d show up often for random checks to make sure that everything was running smoothly, and she did run an insanely tight ship. Except Nicola knew for certain that Abagail absolutely wouldn’t be there today.

Because they were avoiding each other.

Well, Nicola was avoiding, that was for damn sure.

She really didn’t want to have the conversation that Abagail had promised they would have.

She was scared of what the outcome was going to be.

Because she was pretty sure that she’d be flat on her ass tonight and it wasn’t going to be from being fired at the bar this time.

Warren waved Nicola over. She sucked in a breath, plastered on another smile, and determined that she was at least going to serve him to the best of her abilities tonight. Maybe she’d still have one source of income when the clock struck midnight.

She spent three hours waiting on Warren hand and foot and ignoring some of her other customers so that she didn’t piss him off.

She couldn’t stand for him to throw a fit and have her lose her job here again.

Especially after she’d just gotten it back.

She slid his new drink order onto the table in front of her and turned to leave when Warren grabbed her by the hips and pulled her down onto his lap.

Nicola squeaked and cringed. It was a damn good thing she didn’t have a tray or a drink in her hand because it would have ended up all over her.

“Warren, this really isn’t appropriate,” Nicola muttered, trying to push herself off his lap, but he held her there firmly.

“Oh, come on, Nic. Don’t you want just one more good time? You always were a good fuck.”

Nicola shuddered, shame and disgust warring a battle within her, and she wasn’t sure which one she wanted to win out in the moment. She knew which would win later. And she wasn’t looking forward to that spiral downward.

“I have other customers, Warren.” Nicola pried herself off his lap and made her way back to the bar without glancing back. She was lucky that he had let her go without much of a fight. Perhaps it was because his friends were still around, and she had that buffer to protect herself.

“He’s handsy tonight,” Tommie mumbled. “Then again, he’s always handsy.”

Nicola swallowed down that insult. Tommie didn’t know what she was saying when it came to the history that the two of them had.

Or perhaps she did, and she just assumed that Nicola had known the entire time she’d been in a relationship with Warren.

She had known, about halfway through it, but then what was she supposed to do about it?

“He’s a dick,” Nicola muttered, making another drink. “I’m hoping he’s drunk enough to leave soon.”

“Don’t cut him off. That’ll send him over the edge into disaster.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

It was another hour before Warren was alone at the table, all his friends gone, and Nicola actually hesitated to walk over there with another drink in hand for him. She suspected he’d be volatile. He usually was when he was in this state.

“Nicky!” Warren said loudly as she approached him.

Yep, this was going to go exactly as she thought it would.

Sliding the drink down, Nicola nodded at him. “I’m not sure how much more I should serve you.”

“Oh come on! I’m not that bad.” He snagged her waist again and pulled her down. Nicola sighed heavily, not really fighting it this time and just waiting for an opportunity when he’d loosen his grip and she’d be able to get up and leave. “You smell so good.”

Warren pressed his nose into her neck and breathed in deeply. Nicola cringed. God, this man was disgusting. What had she ever seen in him? Really? Because she had more self-worth than that. Didn’t she? At least, she liked to think she did.

“You’re engaged.”

Warren growled. “Did you get your claws into Aunt Abagail?”

“What?” Nicola turned around to look at him directly in the eye, frowning with confusion. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“I bet you did.” He snorted at her, genuinely.

Nicola tried to wiggle off of him, fear rising in her chest and clogging up her throat. She’d never thought he was capable of much, but this wasn’t the Warren she was used to seeing, even when he was in one of his moods.

“She cut me off, you know.” Warren pressed his nose into her neck again, breathing her in like she was some elixir that he couldn’t get enough of.

“What are you talking about?” Nicola finally managed to wrench herself loose and she stood up to face him down, putting her hands on her hips as she stared at him.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“No. I don’t.” Nicola frowned. “What do you mean she cut you off?”

“She cut me off entirely, Nic. And I know you had something to do with it. Why else would she do it now? After we broke up?” Warren sneered.

“You mean after you broke up with me,” Nicola mumbled under her breath. She crossed her arms and frowned. “I didn’t tell her to do anything, and if you knew your aunt well, then you’d know that no one can make her do anything she doesn’t want to do.”

“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. Nicola pushed 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, what had she 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?”

“Three.”

Abagail frowned. “Three?”

“I worked a bit of overtime.”

Humming, Abagail nodded. “You were avoiding talking.”

“Wouldn’t you?” Nicola gave a light chuckle.

“Maybe.” Abagail ran her fingers through her hair and over her face again.

“Do I get to avoid it a little longer?”

“Yes.” Abagail slid forward on the chair. “But not much longer. Come on, it’s bedtime.”

Abagail stood up and picked up her glasses from the side table.

She didn’t even look at Nicola as she walked out of the room.

Nicola cringed. Had she already messed all of this up?

She followed closely, turning the lights off as she went.

When they made it to the top of the stairs, Nicola followed Abagail to her bedroom.

But then she froze.

Abagail gave her a look of confusion and distress. Nicola stepped closer and pressed against Abagail, putting on the fake smile that she was getting so good at using. “I thought we could…”

“No,” Abagail answered.

Nicola frowned but stayed pressed against Abagail. “But that’s what I’m here for?”

“It’s three in the morning.” Abagail stepped back, her hand on the doorknob. “I have to work in the morning.”

Nicola wasn’t sure what to say to that. She’d never actually been rejected before when it came to sex, and this was part of her job when it came to Abagail. It was what she was being paid for, and if they didn’t have sex, then she wouldn’t get paid. Right? Wasn’t that how this worked?

Nicola took another step closer, but Abagail put her hand up. “Not tonight, Nic. I’m too tired.”

“Right.” Nicola bit her lip as she looked Abagail over. She barely had the energy herself, and it wasn’t like she’d actually planned this out. She’d thought she was coming home to one of those conversations no one ever wanted to have. “Then tomorrow?”

“We’ll talk tomorrow.” Abagail straightened her shoulders. “Whether or not you stay late at work.”

Well, Nicola had her answer with that, didn’t she? She had to find a backup plan and soon. Because she wasn’t sure how much longer this arrangement was going to work out to her advantage.

“Okay,” Nicola answered, frowning. “See you tomorrow.”

Abagail said nothing as she shut the door. Nicola stared at it, her mind blank as she tried to figure out what to do next. She needed to keep up her end of the deal for sure. But at the same time, nothing about this felt right anymore.