“My relationship with Nic is just between us. I couldn’t care less if my friends don’t like her. Don’t care if my parents don’t like her—which I know they do. Now, whether this is a forever thing or not, I don’t know. We’re still getting to know each other.” That much was certainly true. It was also true that she could very well end up with her first truly broken heart. But she’d be damned if she’d run to Holly with it.

She stood up. “I guess our discussion is over. I’m sorry that you’re having second thoughts about Aaron and the wedding and all. But I can’t help you.”

Holly stood too. “Why won’t you give us a chance, Abby? Please?”

“A chance?” She slammed her fist on her desk. “Do you know how humiliated I was that Christmas? How depressed I was? Sleeping with you then was probably the low point in my life, Holly. You used me and I let you. And that’s on me. But that will never happen again.” She squared her shoulders. “I’ve fallen in love with someone. And I realize now that it’s the first time I’ve really been in love. Giddy in love and it feels so good. It’s completely different than what I ever felt with you. So, I’m sorry, you’ll have to find yourself someone else to screw over.”

She walked purposefully to the door and jerked it open. “Goodbye, Holly.”

Holly paused beside her and met her eyes. Abby could see embarrassment there and confusion.

“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything to Aaron about our visit.”

“Aaron and I no longer have a relationship, as you well know. Besides, if there was anything I should have told him, it’s that you crawled into my bed last year.” She paused. “Then you slithered right back to him. That’s what I should have told him.”

Holly’s eyes never wavered. “I made a mistake, Abby.”

“Again…which time?”

Chapter Fifty

Nic sat in her truck, the smell of the pizza making her stomach rumble. She stared up to the second floor, wondering if she should call first. Hell, wondering what she was even doing here in the first place. Oh, that was a lie, though, wasn’t it? She’d told herself all day that she wasn’t going to see Abby tonight. Wasn’t going to call her, certainly wasn’t going to pop over again. Because she thought she’d be absolutely crushed if there was someone in her apartment—a date, for instance. It was Friday, after all. Since there were no commitments in their relationship, Abby could date if she wanted. And surely, at some point, she would. But during these last few weeks, Abby had made no mention of it, and they’d seen each other nearly every night.