Ricki stared at Abby for so long it made Abby uncomfortable. What had she missed? Regardless of their feelings, did Ricki consider it a mistake? Perhaps she’d come to say goodbye, but their libidos took over.
Panic rose inside Abby, and she blinked back the tears welling in her eyes.
“Oh, my god.” Ricki slapped her hand against her forehead. “How did I miss it? You didn’t understand what I meant.”
Abby shook her head, not trusting her voice.
“I love you. I want to spend as much time as I can with you.”
“Are you saying you want to date me?”
“Yes, of course.” Ricki shook her head in disbelief. “Abby Wilder, you are bolder than you think. You did all this…all this with me, without knowing that I wanted a future with you.”
Abby nodded. “I guess I did. I hoped, but I wasn’t sure considering the circumstances.”
“You mean Blythe?”
Abby cringed at the mention of Blythe.
A concerned look crossed Ricki’s face before fear filled her eyes. “Are you hung up on Blythe?”
“No.” Abby grabbed Ricki’s shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. I wouldn’t have slept with you if I was, but how will Blythe feel about this?”
Ricki laughed, but she must have seen the look of horror on Abby’s face because she stopped and put her hand against Abby’s cheek. “Sorry. I thought you understood. Who do you think encouraged me to come?”
“Blythe?”
“The one and only.” Ricki smiled. “She’s a weirdo, but I love her. She’s hounded me all week about pulling my head out of my ass.
“I kept telling her no because I wouldn’t do that to her no matter how much I loved you.”
Abby gaped. “You told her you loved me?”
“Uh, well, yeah.” Ricki looked away. “She is my best friend.”
“When?”
“Uh—”
“Look at me,” Abby said.
Ricki met Abby’s eyes. “I told her on the Sunday night after you left our house. I didn’t mean to tell her. Typical Blythe, she kept pushing me until it just tumbled out of my mouth.”
Abby ran her hand over Ricki’s chest. “Is that why she broke up with me?”
Ricki nodded. “Does that change anything?” Fear flickered in her eyes.
Abby smiled. “No. Except maybe it makes me love her again. I mean that in a strictly platonic way.”
Ricki grinned and ran her hand through Abby’s hair. “After she broke up with you, she pressed me to come see you last Friday.”
“Why didn’t you?” Abby asked.
“Because I didn’t believe her. I didn’t believe she wouldn’t change her mind and reach out to you. No matter how much my heart was breaking, I couldn’t do it to her.”
“That little asshole,” Abby said. “Is that why she kept posting our breakup all over TikTok?”
“I assume.” Ricki sighed. “We got into a huge fight after she did it. I was so pissed that she had disrespected you. Do you know what she said?”
