Broken Handcuffs [III]

xiii.

It had been two days since the Sunday Nicole was supposed to tell Leah her decision. Two days since and Leah hasn't been in contact with Nicole yet. The brunette was fed up with it and decided to visit Leah at her home which was weirdly 30 minutes away from her own place. She hummed a song to herself pulling into the driveway of the modern home. Her eyes scanned the outside of the place, mentally cataloguing where Leah lived and how the outside of the place looked.

When Nikki knocked on the door, Leah answered with bed-head and half dressed from the top down.

"Nik? What are you..." She mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and although Nikki was a little heated at her she melted at the cute visual. "How did you find out where I lived?"

"Eva."

"That's fucking creepy. Come in." She steps aside, yawning into her elbow while Nicole entered. The cool air was soothing from the heat outside and her house had a cool decor. Nikki didn't focus much on that and looked at the sleepy blonde as she blinked. "What's up?"

"What's up? I've been texting and calling you and you haven't answered anything."

Leah walks closer, "I forgot to tell you. There was a bit of an incident Sunday. Some crazed fan tried to attack me and my phone broke. My monthly budget would be fucked if I spent $600 on my replacement and the warranty phone won't be coming while I'm here which is around Thursday."

"Are you alright?"

"I got grazed on my side but I'm ok. Guy had a knife on him."

"Leah!" Nicole worried, lifting Carmella's shirt and seeing a bandage wrapped around her waist. "And I thought you weren't replying— so you didn't get my message about my decision then?"

"Nope." She smiled gummy, shaking her head. The expression changes into an inquisitive one, "But I think I could guess who you've chosen. Obviously you aren't as cold-hearted to personally visit me for the first time to say you're choosing AJ."

Nicole nods, sliding her hands from under Leah's shirt and cupping her cheeks. There was a brief pause until Nicole saw Leah smile and she kissed her. Leah of course kissed back, pulling Nicole in closer as they drunk each other in. Leah took a deep sigh when they released.

"What? You don't seem too happy." Nikki gauged Leah's mood.

"I just..." Leah looks down, head still in Nicole's hands, "you don't want to just be...friends?"

"I'm sorry?" Leah's hands stop Nicole from pulling away entirely, "I thought you liked me more than-"

"Yes, I do. But you aren't seeing this as clear as I am, and I was hoping the week would help you do that. You and AJ—"

"We're friends, Leah. That's it."

"There's so much more and you know it. You and April were never friends, you jumped from wanting to kill each other to cordial, then fucking like rabbits. Friends don't work for either of you guys."

"Leah I want this."

"You want sex. Which is something I'm glad to give you. We could be like friends with benefits or something but this is a relationship you're asking for. A relationship I want but can't have." Leah lets go and starts to head to the door.

"Why can't you just be selfish for once?!" Nicole fumed. "Why not just— just take me?! Why won't you?"

"Because the last time I was selfish, I lost a good relationship, you lost a great relationship, and you almost lost your life." Leah was rather calm, "You and I have way too much to lose now. I can't do that to you." She walked to the door opening it, "I'd like you to leave if you know what's best for you."