It was 6 in the morning and Nikki turned over in bed gingerly, feeling sore where her ribs were bruised. As she moved, Trish, who was lying beside her stirred but didn't wake. Nikki decided to get up not having managed to sleep most of the night. She carefully got out of bed and grabbing a robe made her way to the kitchen. She put the kettle on, and after it had boiled made a mug of coffee. She then sat down at the kitchen table.
God Nikki, what are you doing? Nikki thought as she watched the steam rising off the top of the mug. Her ribs ached and she was wondering if any were broken rather that just bruised.. But she wasn't going to get them checked out. She knew it would raise too many awkward questions. No, better she just dealt with it and got on with things as if nothing had happened.

As she sat contemplating things, the phone rang, making her jump. She quickly looked at the time to see it was still only 6-30. Puzzled Nikki answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Nikki god I'm pleased I got hold of you. We have a problem with covering the shift at the club tonight. Dominic and Zandra are both off with food poisoning. Ate a dodgy curry or something. Denny and Shaz are away on holiday. It only leaves me and the part timers to work." Richard sounded desperate as he spoke. Nikki groaned.
"Shit. OK, I will talk to Trish and get back to you, alright." Nikki was cursing at the sudden lack of staff, knowing Trish wasn't going to like it one bit.
Trish walked into the kitchen just as Nikki got off the phone, looking bleary eyed.
"Who was that?" Trish said as she also headed for the kettle.
"Richard. We're short staffed at the club tonight. Big time." Nikki waited for Trish to respond.

The mug was slammed down on the kitchen work surface.
"What the fuck do we pay these morons for Nikki. It's the first time we have had a couple of days off in months and this happens."
"Trish, shit happens. We need to think about getting a manager in or something if we don't want this kind of thing happening when we take time off." Nikki was watching Trish apprehensively.
Nikki ducked just in time as the mug flew across the room, narrowly missing her head.
"Manager, what, watch some twat ball's up all we have built on in the last six years. No fucking way Nikki."
"Trish love calm down." Nikki spoke softly, hoping to get Trish to unwind, knowing it was almost certainly futile.

Nikki put her arms out as Trish then launched into her, punching indiscriminately as she stood over Nikki. Nikki was finding it difficult to grab Trish's wrists because of her ribs hurting but managed to hold them eventually and stop Trish from hitting her any more.
"Trish!" Nikki yelled trying to calm her down. Trish suddenly seemed to realise what she was doing and stopped as abruptly as she had started.
"Oh christ Nikki I'm sorry." Trish started crying and Nikki took her into a hug.
"Hey it's alright. I'm ok." Nikki was trying to move carefully not wanting to alert Trish to the damage that had been inflicted the previous night on her ribs.
"No it's not alright Nikki. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have taken it out on you." Trish managed to say between sobs.
Ultimately Trish calmed down and the crying subsided. She looked into Nikki's eyes feeling ashamed at her behaviour, and Nikki could see the shame.
"God Nikki, I love you so much. I don't deserve you. Christ I acted like a right shit." Trish looked so despondent as she spoke Nikki felt her chest tighten.
"I know you love me Trish. Come here." and Nikki pulled Trish into another hug to try and convey it was alright.

Later in the day, Nikki had eventually talked to Trish rationally about the lack of staff at the club, and Trish had agreed that Nikki should go in and work, and she would come in as well, and if it got busy she could help out if needed. So far Trish hadn't seemed to notice that Nikki was moving rather awkwardly from the ribs and Nikki was hoping it would stay that way. The last thing she needed right now was another emotional roller coaster ride.
Nikki stood in the bathroom quickly getting changed, noting the ugly bruises that had already appeared on her abdomen. She was hoping that Trish didn't walk in and see her. Fortunately it didn't happen. Now Nikki just had to hope that Trish didn't get all amorous over the next few days. But these days Nikki thought sadly, that seemed to be happening less and less anyway.
Nikki inspected herself one final time before making her way downstairs.
"Trish love, I'm going to the club now. I'll see you later." Nikki found Trish in the sitting room watching the television. She bent down to give her a kiss, repressing a groan of pain as she did so.

Richard saw Nikki walking in and heaved a sigh of relief. Although Nikki had phoned to say she would be coming in, he was grateful to see her, knowing how fickle Trish could be. Nikki might not have got there if Trish had changed her mind.
"Nikki, god am I pleased to see you."
Nikki could see the sincerity in Richard's face. She liked Richard, who was the bar manager. In fact, if she could persuade Trish to get a main manager in, Nikki felt Richard would be the best person to offer it too.
"Hi. So, what have we got tonight? Any special bookings?" Nikki and Richard headed to the office.
"Only one, a lesbian 'hen' party." Nikki grinned as she heard Richard refer to it in that way. While they accepted Hen or stag parties of any kind, it had become a custom to define whether it was a heterosexual party or not.
"Poor bugger. Can't see the point in it myself." Nikki said as she sat down at her desk.
"Nikki your all heart!"

Although Richard was joking, Nikki immediately suppressed the thoughts of regret that emerged. She had hoped, long ago that maybe she and Trish might make some kind of commitment. But she knew that wasn't going to happen now. Despite that, it sometimes still hurt her to think it wouldn't happen. She quickly changed the subject and went over the booking with Richard, getting everything sorted for the evening.