“Yeah,” Blythe said. “The third one of us doesn’t have that problem. I always have plenty to say.”
Ricki let out a small chuckle. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
“I’m sorry.” The words spilled out of Abby’s mouth. “I never would have said yes if I knew it’d turn out this way. I miss you, Ricki, and it’s breaking my heart.” Blythe wasn’t the only one who had a lot to say. “I don’t want you hiding from me. I want things the way they were.”
Ricki turned around slowly. Her eyes glistened. “You can’t shove the genie back in the bottle. What happened, happened.”
“Dude.” Blythe took a step toward Ricki. “You’re acting like we killed someone, committed a crime. It was sex. Big deal. Let it go already.”
Ricki looked at Blythe. “So it doesn’t bother you? You’re not creeped out that I slept with your girlfriend?”
“No, why would I be? I was a willing participant.” Blythe grinned. “Now if you’d have touched me, I might never have gotten over that.”
Ricki tried to give Blythe a stern look, but Abby noticed the corners of her mouth twitching. Humor was what Blythe said got them through everything. Perhaps this time would be no different.
“You wouldn’t have gotten over it,” Ricki said. “Because I would have punched you in the nose if you did.”
Blythe laughed. “In your dreams. I would have used my jujitsu moves on your ass.” Blythe raised her leg and swept it out beside her while windmilling her arms.
Ricki glanced at Abby. “She doesn’t know jujitsu.”
“I gathered,” Abby said, happy that Ricki involved her in the conversation.
“Come on,” Blythe said. “Sit down. Let’s talk and figure out how we get back to normal.”
Ricki shook her head, and Abby’s happiness plummeted. “Things can never be how they were.”
“Why not?” Blythe said.
A pained expression settled on Ricki’s face. “I shouldn’t have been enmeshed in your lives. Yours and Abby’s life.” Ricki avoided looking at Abby as she spoke.
“Come on.” Blythe raised her voice. “We’ve always been enmeshed in each other’s lives. There isn’t anything wrong with that. You’re my ride or die.”
Ricki gave Blythe a sad smile. “Don’t act like I’m ending our friendship. I’m not. I’m just giving you and Abby a little space. It’s not that big of a deal.”
It felt like a huge deal to Abby, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
“But why now?” Blythe asked. “Was it the sex thing? Can’t we just pretend it never happened?”
As if, Abby thought.
Ricki ran her hand through her hair, and her exasperation showed on her face. “It’s not just the sex. We spent way too much time together. I never spent that much time with you and your other girlfriends.”
Blythe grinned. “That’s because you couldn’t stand being around them.”
Ricki shot Abby a quick glance. “That’s true. Two hours was more than enough.”
“Then don’t you see? This is perfect. I finally brought home someone who you want to be around.”
“Damn it, Blythe.” Ricki raised her voice. “That’s not the point. You and Abby need your own lives, and I need mine.”
Abby sat in silence, feeling defeated. She could tell by Ricki’s expression that she wouldn’t change her mind, but Blythe seemed ignorant to the set of her jaw.
“Sure, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hang out together,” Blythe said.
“Maybe someday but not right now.”
Each word Ricki spoke was like a knife cleaving away Abby’s hope. Why had she thought this was a good idea? With her heart breaking, she wanted to run away—go home.
