Ricki shook her head. “That’s on me. Not you.” Ricki shoved her hand into the pocket of her shorts. “I need to stop talking before I say something else stupid.” She turned.
Blythe grabbed Ricki’s arm. “You’re not walking away. We’re having this conversation.”
“What more is there to say?”
“I’ll get a real job. Pay my share of the expenses. If it will get you to leave that job and keep you away from that cunt.” Blythe cringed. She hated that word and never used it, but Missy was the one exception.
“What if I want to see what could happen between us?” Ricki ran her hand through her hair. “It’s been two years. Maybe she’s changed.”
Blythe yanked Ricki’s phone from her pocket and thrust the picture of Missy toward her. “Does this look like a changed woman to you?”
Ricki winced and then snatched the phone from Blythe’s grasp. “Maybe not. But she fucking wants me. There’s zero percent chance we wouldn’t end up in bed together.”
Abby stepped up beside Ricki and put her hand on Ricki’s arm. Ricki jumped as if she’d forgotten Abby was even there.
“This is about getting laid?” Blythe didn’t disguise the disdain in her voice.
“Maybe,” Ricki responded.
“Bullshit.”
“Easy for you to say. You bring home another woman every three months.” Ricki’s eyes widened, and she froze. She turnedto Abby, who stood gape-jawed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I’m just spewing ugliness. That’s why I need to do something.”
The hurt in Abby’s eyes lessened, and she rubbed Ricki’s arm. “It’s okay. You’re in pain.” Abby glanced at Blythe. “We can both see it.”
“But it doesn’t give me a license to be an asshole.” Tears welled in Ricki’s eyes. “God. I’m such a fucking loser. What am I doing here?”
Blythe’s heart raced. She grabbed Ricki by the arm. “Taking your life is never the answer.”
Ricki stepped back. “Oh, god, did you think I was going to kill myself?”
Abby grabbed Ricki’s hand. “You just said you didn’t belong here.”
“No!” Ricki ran her hand through her hair. “I mean here. With you two. How pathetic is it that I’ve spent every weekend hanging out with my best friend and her girlfriend?”
“But we want you with us.” Blythe turned to Abby. “Don’t we?”
“Absolutely.” Abby squeezed Ricki’s hand. “Last weekend when you weren’t around, it seemed weird. I missed you.”
Ricki gave Abby a half-smile.
“There’s a simple solution,” Blythe said. “Madeline was big-time hitting on you last night.” Blythe tilted her head toward Abby. “If Abby hadn’t discouraged her, you could have scored.”
“Absolutely not!” Abby’s loud voice surprised Blythe, and by the way Ricki flinched, it had startled her, too. Abby put her hand against her chest. “Sorry, it’s just—”
“I get it.” Ricki took a step back. “You don’t think I’m good dating material for your friend.”
“No, that’s not it. I don’t think Madeline is dating material for you.”
Ricki gave her a puzzled stare.
“I love Madeline. She’s my best friend, but…I just don’t see her for Ricki.”
Blythe tilted her head. “And you’re afraid it’d be awkward between you and Ricki if it didn’t work out?”
“Exactly.” Relief flooded across Abby’s face. “I never want things to be awkward between us.”
Blythe nodded, understanding Abby’s concern.
