Sadie saw immediately that Rebecca was right—there was no way Nikki was up to bottoming. Her pretty face was strained and drawn, her eyes dull with pain. Her normally glowing olive complexion held a tinge of gray, and she had her booted foot propped on the low table in front of the sofa. Though her makeup was flawless and her dark hair was carefully done in a crown of braids, her exhaustion was plain.

“I’m fine,” Nikki said.

Sadie eased down next to her. “What happened?”

Nikki sighed. “I was at work this morning in the warehouse, and one of the guys was coming through with a pallet jack. He ran into my ankle.”

Sadie winced in sympathy. “How bad is the break?”

“It’s not, really, but I have to wear the boot for eight weeks, and I can’t work,” Nikki said, and Sadie saw the worry in her eyes. “I should get some disability pay, but I don’t know…”

“Don’t worry about that,” Sadie said, and saw Rebecca’s nod out of the corner of her eye. If disability didn’t cover what Nikki needed, they’d figure something out. “You can’t do the demo, Nik.”

“I have to,” Nikki said, grim determination hardening her delicate features. “I promised Jack.”

“Jack will lose his shit if you try to play like this,” Rebecca declared.

“I’m not actually playing,” Nikki countered. “It’s a demo, not a scene. And there’s no reason I can’t do it. I didn’t take any of the pain pills they gave me, so I’m not altered.”

“I can tell.” Sadie tapped a gentle finger under Nikki’s eye, where she’d tried and failed to cover up the dark circles. “I can also tell you need one.”

“I promised Jack,” Nikki repeated, her mouth set in a stubborn line. “It’s too late for him to find someone else.”

“He’ll understand,” Rebecca insisted.

Nikki just shook her head, and Sadie exchanged a look with Rebecca.

“How about I go get Jack?” Rebecca offered.

“I don’t want him to be mad at me,” Nikki said softly.

Sadie mouthed “Go,” then turned back to Nikki as Rebecca dashed off. “Honey, he’s not going to be mad at you for something that isn’t your fault.”

“I don’t know,” Nikki began. “He’s pretty stern.”

“Stern, yes. Asshole, no. He’s not going to let you play—or demo,” she amended, anticipating Nikki’s protest, “with a broken ankle.”

“I just hate canceling at the last minute.”

“Of course you do.” Sadie patted the younger woman’s hand. “But if you try to play in this shape, you won’t sit for a month.”

Nikki’s eyes widened. “You think he’d paddle me?”

“If he doesn’t, I will,” Sadie said, pleased when Nikki laughed. “Now, let’s figure out how to get you home. Did you drive yourself?”

Nikki shook her head, her crown of braids gleaming in the overhead lights. “I took a rideshare.”

“Then you need a lift home.”

“Oh, I can just take another rideshare.” Nikki bit her lip as Sadie started looking around. “I don’t want to put anyone out. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t trust your judgment, Miss I Can Play With A Broken Ankle,” Sadie said, and lifted a hand to wave at the top dressed as a cowhand by the bar. “Kody!”

“Oh, no,” Nikki moaned.

“Something wrong with Kody?” Sadie asked, keeping her voice low, and noted with interest that Nikki’s cheeks turned pink at the question.

“I kind of have a crush on them,” Nikki whispered back and lifted a hand to her hair. “Do I look okay?”