Page 41 of Don't You Dare Marry Me

She was always saving up money and yet she never had any. Nicola wanted to rip Simone from this life and give her the new start that she deserved, but unless Simone actually wanted that, it was never going to work. She had to fight her own battles. But it was so damn hard for Nicola to continually support her through the ups and downs, and through the inaction.

It was the inaction that killed Nicola every time.

“I hope you do leave him.” Nicola took a long sip of her tea, not sure what else to say. She’d come here to escape and have a warm place to sleep for one night before heading back to the job and home she didn’t actually have. Maybe she should just move out here. But then the thought of leaving Alanna so far away sickened her.

“I will,” Simone whispered. “I don’t want to say that too loud. He has ears everywhere.” Simone giggled lightly. “I do like my new daughter-in-law, though. She should be moving into the house soon.”

“Garett is moving back in?” Nicola wrinkled her nose. “What, his lazy ass can’t get a job?”

“What job do you have?” Simone fired back. “He has a degree and he can’t find a job, it’s not an easy market out there.”

Nicola squinted. Had Simone just insulted her? “I can get a job.”

“I know you can. You know how to work hard. He doesn’t.”

“Because he’s a pampered baby,” Nicola mumbled under her breath. “So when’s he moving back in?”

“At the end of the month. It’ll be nice to have some people in the house.”

“A buffer, you mean.” Nicola knew exactly what Simone wasn’t saying. Having Garett back in the house, and having Andra there, would add a buffer to the cruelty that Howie dished out on her.

“Yes, a buffer.” Simone cringed, then she spun the mug in her hand. “I know you don’t like Howie.”

“That’s an understatement. I think he’s an abusive prick?—”

“Nicola.” Simone’s warning was clear. “I know you don’t like him. But this is my life.”

“I thought you were leaving it.” Nicola gave her a pointed look.

“I am.” Simone halted. “Just… I swear he hears everything in this house sometimes. It’s not as easy as just picking up and going.”

“I know.” Nicola frowned. She’d put herself in such a similar situation with Warren, and in the end, she hadn’t been the one with the courage to leave. The whole Chaya drama had taken its toll, and finally, Warren had been the one strong enough to break it off and end the relationship. Still, that stung.

She couldn’t do anything but thank him for ending her misery.

Even if she hated him in the process.

“Where have you been staying?” Simone asked, back to sipping her tea like nothing was amiss between the two of them. How did she manage to do that so well? Those masks she wore were thick.

“With Warren’s aunt.” Nicola swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “She helped fix up my car, only reason I could make it out here today.”

“That was nice of her.”

“Hmm.” Nicola wasn’t exactly sure that’s what she’d call it, but it had been a roof over her head instead of her cramped car. “Did she feel bad because of Warren?”

“What?” Nicola scrunched her face up. “No, actually. I think she was happy about it?” Nicola said it like a question, but she thought back over all the interactions from the moment she’d shown up at that stupid engagement party to when she’d stormed out of the house. “No, I don’t think she felt bad about it.”

“She didn’t? Not even a little guilty?”

Nicola shook her head. “No.” And if there was any guilt, they’d breezed right through that the first night that they’d fucked. They hadn’t even dipped a toe into the emotional realm. It was purely a business arrangement. One that Nicola was never going to get paid for now, because like hell would she talk to Abagail again. Not unless she had to.

The phone buzzing in her pocket distracted her. Nicola slipped it out and stared at the number. “It’s the rehabilitation center.”

She showed the screen to Simone before answering. She would tell Simone whatever it was later anyway—wouldn’t she? So it didn’t matter if Simone was there to listen in on this.

“H-hello?” Were they coming after her for the money that she definitely didn’t have now? Not only that, but she’d missed her damn interview because she was so jittered from the argument and when she’d called to reschedule, they told her it wasn’t even worth the try.

“Ms. Bolsinger, this is Freya.”

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