Page 43 of Don’t You Dare Marry Me (Love in Massachusetts #3)

thirty-five

“You good to finish sweeping the floors?” Tommie asked as she untied the apron around her waist.

“Sure. I can do that.” Nicola had stayed late, trying to be the last one there.

Ever since her week staying on Tommie’s couch was up, she’d been back to trying to crash wherever she could find someplace comfortable and warm.

The bar’s small break room in the back was a welcome change from her car, although not always as comfortable.

Nicola pressed her hand into the side of her back, the part that hadn’t stopped aching in two days.

“Cool. Lock up when you’re done!” Tommie grinned at her and snagged the deposit bag. “I’m bringing this to the bank.”

“Got it.” Would Nicola ever be trusted to do that? Maybe if she’d been there longer than a year she would be. But up until that point, they had no reason to actually trust her. Maybe someday she would stay at a job long enough to actually try her hand at more than basic responsibility.

Every place she’d worked told her that she was a great employee, minus the fact that she was inconsistent with her hours and often had to leave randomly because of Alanna. Then again, it had been a while since that had been the problem. Hadn’t it? Alanna had been mostly stable lately.

Maybe this could work. Maybe Nicola could actually get an apartment and settle down and live her own life.

She finished sweeping the floor and took out the trash.

She locked up the bar, double checked everything, and then settled into the comfy chair that was in the corner of the break room.

At least this room had heat, since it was still a bit chilly outside, and she hated that she couldn’t keep her car running all night.

She pulled the small blanket she’d stashed in her locker over her legs and chest and curled up in a ball. She’d be out before the first person came in, and she’d just come right back after showering at the gym and pretend like nothing was amiss. Just like she’d done a million times over already.

“Um… hello?” Tommie’s voice resounded through the room.

Nicola’s heart thundered loudly.

“What are you doing here?”

There was no escape this time. Nicola was caught red-handed. She’d been in this situation before, and she knew exactly what was going to happen next. She was going to be out on her ass, faster than she could say I’m sorry.

“I uh…” Words weren’t coming.

“Are you sleeping here?” Tommie’s voice screeched as she stared at Nicola in shock.

“Yeah?” Nicola said as a question, not entirely sure what else to say. Lying would be out of the question, and maybe if she told the truth, it’d give her the upper hand in trying to get out of this.

“Nicola…” Tommie put her hands on her hips. “You can’t stay here, and quite frankly, I’m not sure what to do about this. I’m going to have to talk to the boss.”

“I can’t lose this job,” Nicola murmured.

“You should have thought about that before you decided to sleep here. Have you been doing this since you left my place?”

Nicola nodded slowly, clenching her fists into the blanket. “I was just going to do it until it warmed up a bit. It’s still cold outside, and I just wanted to be warm.”

Tommie sighed heavily and ran her fingers through her hair. “Get out, Nicola.”

“But—”

“We’ll figure it out tomorrow, but you can’t stay here tonight.”

Nicola wasn’t going to fight it. She’d known she was wrong from the start.

She shoved the blanket into the backpack that she’d brought inside, and slung it over her shoulder.

Once again, she had no idea what to say.

Tommie was being way nicer than she needed to be about everything.

She could have screamed and yelled, or she could have called the police.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Nicola had dealt with something like that, and she was pretty damn sure that now it wouldn’t be the last time either.

She was silent as she stepped outside, as Tommie made sure to lock up after her and stared her down. “You don’t have any keys, right?”

“No,” Nicola answered and shivered in the cold. “Why’d you come back?”

“Left my phone.” Tommie frowned and sighed heavily. “I hope he doesn’t fire you for this. I actually like you.”

Nicola snorted lightly. “Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the outcome. Go on, don’t feel bad about it. It was my choice.”

“Yeah, it was.” Tommie still shook her head with guilt though. “See you tomorrow.”

“To face the music!” Nicola gave a nervous chuckle and watched as Tommie walked off.

She started toward her car and halted, frozen on the spot, at the dark SUV that was parked on the street and the short, spunky, fiery woman standing outside the back door with her shoulders square, an upset look on her face, and no way to actually avoid her.

“Fuck.”

“Explain to me why it’s well after closing, and you’re just now leaving the bar,” Abagail’s voice burst through the air. “Better yet, explain to me why you look like you were just kicked out on your ass again.”

“I-I wasn’t,” Nicola stuttered as she strode toward Abagail. Two could play at this game, and while she hadn’t been prepared for a fight, she wasn’t going to avoid one either. She could use the burst of energy to keep her going for the rest of the night.

“The truth, Nicola.” Abagail’s tone was a warning if Nicola had ever heard one.

“It’s none of your business anyway! What do you care?

” Nicola tightened her grip on the strap to her backpack and walked toward Abagail.

She wasn’t going to shout down the street at each other so the cops could actually get called on her and she’d be hauled off then.

Because they damn sure would believe Abagail over her.

“Oh, I care.” Abagail’s jaw clenched, her eyes narrowed, and her hands fisted at her sides.

The lights from the streetlamps were barely enough to illuminate her, but Nicola would know that look anywhere.

She was about to get the shit scolded out of her.

“And if you think for one second that I don’t, then I haven’t explained myself well enough. ”

Nicola stopped at that. “What?”

“Nic, everything okay?” Tommie stepped up on the sidewalk, staring at the two of them.

“Uh… yeah.” Nicola nodded. “We’re fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I can handle it. Thanks.” Nicola didn’t want to seem too dismissive, but she also really didn’t want Tommie involved in this. It’d absolutely ruin any chance of her keeping her job if they found out she had fucked the owner.

She waited until Tommie walked off before stepping in even closer to Abagail.

“I don’t want to hear anything of it,” she growled out. “I’m done with you.”

“Why?” Abagail frowned, reaching out and touching Nicola’s arm. “I thought we left on a good note.”

“Good note?” Nicola furrowed her brow. “I mean, yeah, it wasn’t a bad note. But you’re done with me now, so why are you here even? You told me it was over. So it’s over.”

“I…” Abagail cocked her head. “Where have you been staying?”

“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Nicola curled her fingers around the strap to her backpack, trying to keep her hands to herself, but Abagail’s fingers wrapped around her wrist burned her. “I’m not yours to keep.”

“I never wanted to keep you.” Abagail let go of her and leaned against the car, heaving out a breath. “I never wanted to do anything but help you, and I told you that you could stay at the house longer if you needed.”

“No, not if our agreement was over.”

“What was the agreement?” Abagail’s lips thinned. “Because I’m not even sure if I remember it anymore.”

“Sex for money. You stopped paying me, so I moved out.”

Humming, Abagail nodded slowly. “That’s my fault then.”

“What’s your fault?”

“For letting you think that’s all I wanted you for, and for letting you think that’s all you deserved.”

A weight lifted from Nicola’s chest that she hadn’t even known was there.

She struggled to grasp it and keep it in place, but it was gone before she could manage to do that.

What had that even been? Shame? That word settled into place as right and truthful.

Nicola breathed deeply through it. She hadn’t even realized it was there.

“When I ended our arrangement, it was because none of this felt right anymore.” Abagail stepped closer, reaching up and cupping Nicola’s cheek. “I never want you to think that you don’t deserve everything that you want.”

“What I want…” Nicola trailed off. She’d never thought about it before. Ever since she was a teenager, her entire life had been focused on trying to figure out what everyone else wanted and attempting to find some way to provide that to them. And she failed miserably at that time and time again.

“I ended our arrangement because you deserve better than what I was giving you.” Abagail’s eyes crinkled in the corners as her lips turned up slightly. “And I’m here because I don’t think I made that very clear to you.”

“You didn’t,” Nicola agreed, softening instantly, “I didn’t get fired tonight, for the record. But I’m pretty sure I will be tomorrow.”

“Because you were sleeping here?” Abagail asked, but it didn’t seem like a question that needed answered.

Nicola nodded anyway.

“Come home,” Abagail whispered.

Nicola’s heart leaped. That was something she was looking for.

She’d always wanted that. Home. And staying with Abagail, despite the oddities of their relationship, had always felt like that.

She was comfortable there, independent, free, and able to be exactly who she wanted and needed to be in every moment.

“I’ll come home,” Nicola murmured.

She stepped toward Abagail, finding herself pulled as much as she moved willingly.

Their mouths connected. Abagail slid her hand behind Nicola’s neck, holding her tightly as she turned and pressed Nicola into the side of the car, covering her.

The backpack dug into Nicola’s shoulder, and she dropped it loudly to the ground, reaching up and wrapping her arms around Abagail’s neck and tugging her in even tighter.

Their lips touched.

Nicola sighed and closed her eyes, Abagail against her and in complete and total control of the situation.

She parted her lips and slid her tongue out to meet Abagail’s, moaning as she pulled herself tightly against Abagail’s warmth and passion and command.

She wanted nothing more than to be touched by Abagail, to be fucked by her, to be loved by her.

Because Nicola was in love.

She’d avoided that thought for weeks now, but it was impossible to ignore right now, with Abagail’s mouth and body against hers, with the heat of their passion blending together and getting ready to combust. She was in love.

Not with what Abagail could give her and be for her, but who she was and how she allowed Nicola to be authentically herself in so many ways even when Nicola didn’t know who that person was.

Abagail trailed her hand down Nicola’s side and back up over her stomach and her breasts.

She moved her hand to capture Nicola’s neck, holding her firmly—tight enough that Nicola felt possessed, but not so tight as to make her lose herself entirely.

Nicola groaned, digging her fingers into Abagail’s jacket and holding on as tight as she possibly could.

She rocked her hips, her knees going weak.

Abagail stepped in closer, making completely sure that Nicola wasn’t going anywhere—by her own choice or if her body gave out.

Nicola hummed and moved one hand around to the front of Abagail’s jacket, trying desperately to pull the buttons so she could weasel her hands inside and just touch.

She wanted nothing more than touch right now—passionate, pure, loving touch. Abagail could give that to her. She’d done it so many times already. Nicola nipped Abagail’s lip and whispered, “I could come just from this.”

Abagail chuckled, then tightened her grip on Nicola’s neck, lifting her chin a little higher before pulling it down so that they were looking at each other eye to eye. “Don’t come yet.”

“Fuck,” Nicola murmured.

Abagail mischievously winked as she dove back in for another kiss, this time holding absolutely nothing back.

Their mouths melded together, and Nicola had to press her thighs together to keep the tension and arousal confined as best as she could.

Finally, Abagail pulled away, putting enough space between them that Nicola could breathe, but she was still locked between the car and Abagail.

“Get in.”

“Are we going home?” Nicola asked, a smile curving onto her lips at just the thought.

“Yes.” Abagail stepped back and put enough space between them that Nicola could move again. Abagail opened the back door and held the handle while Nicola scrambled for her backpack and crawled inside the back seat.

“Hey, Cal,” Nicola said, cheerfully.

“Ms. Bolsinger,” he said, a smile in his tone. “Good to see you again.”

“You too.” She giggled as Abagail sat next to her. “We’re going home.”

“Home it is,” Cal answered.