Chapter Text
Nicole sat at Shorty’s Saloon with her hands resting on the bar top, her fingertips tapping along to a song only she could hear as the silence stretched between her and her best friend, Wynonna. She’d been having an internal debate while watching Wynonna out of her peripherals, her shoulders tense and jaw tight as she struggled to keep her legs from bouncing.
I shouldn’t have said anything, Nicole couldn’t help thinking as she tried — and failed — to prepare herself for how she expected the rest of their conversation to go.
She wasn’t ready to lose her best friend.
After what felt like an eternity, Wynonna turned to face her, the old bar stool squeaking under the shift of her weight. She just stared, silently willing the redhead to look up and meet her gaze — and eventually, it worked.
Nicole turned toward her, and Wynonna found herself biting her lip to suppress a fond smile as she noticed the awkward hesitancy in her best friend’s movements. Where is that confidence of yours hiding now, Haught?
Clearing her throat, Wynonna barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she broke the silence. “So, you’re telling me you’re in love with my baby sister?” she prompted. What was supposed to be a question sounded much more like a statement to her own ears. Furrowing her brow, she thought back to less than half an hour earlier, when Nicole had barged into the bar, walked straight up to her, and blurted out that she had feelings for Waverly.
Why hadn’t I realized my best friend has feelings for Waverly? Wynonna shook her head, unable to shake the annoyance at her own obliviousness. I’m supposed to be her best friend, damn it. Shouldn’t I have some foresight into her feelings or some shit?
“Uh… yeah,” Nicole answered hesitantly, barely suppressing the urge to wince at how unsure she sounded.
“Uh, are you sure about that, Haught?” Wynonna asked, unable to stop herself from teasing her, even now. “Because if you ask me, you didn’t sound too confident about your feelings with that answer.”
“Look, Wynonna…” Nicole began. “Waverly is so — honestly, I can’t even begin to explain what she is, what she means to me. I can’t put into words how she makes me feel,” she admitted, turning her gaze away to the Drink Where Wyatt Earp Drank sign above the bar. “I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I realized I was falling for her, but looking back at every moment, every interaction we’ve had… I know my heart never stood a chance. I mean — Waverly is perfect. She’s everything, and I know I don’t deserve someone as extraordinary as Wave—”
“Okay, I know you’re not stupid enough to think I’m going to let you even consider finishing that sentence, Haught,” Wynonna interrupted sternly, a frown settling onto her face. “You don’t get to talk about yourself like that. Not now, not ever. I wouldn’t let any of the dumb fucks in this town — or this goddamn world — get away with that crap, and I’m sure as shit not letting you do it.”
Nicole took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she gave herself a few seconds to gather her thoughts.
Honestly, Wynonna’s reaction to her confession had been completely unexpected. She’d half expected the hotheaded, stubborn woman to punch her in the face. Nicole had spent most of the day preparing herself for the daunting task of reining in Wynonna’s anger because — other than Waverly — nobody was better equipped to keep Wynonna Earp from completely losing her shit than Nicole.
But this… this calm conversation at Shorty’s? She didn’t know what to do with it.
“I’m sorry, Wy.”
“What the hell for?” Wynonna asked, brow furrowed.
Nicole’s lips twitched into a small, involuntary smile at the protective edge in Wynonna’s voice. “Honestly? I’m not even sure,” she admitted cautiously. “I just… wasn’t expecting our conversation today to go quite so smoothly.” She exhaled, frustrated with how hard it was to articulate how confusing Wynonna’s lack of anger felt.
“Well, that’s just fucking rude,” Wynonna shot back, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips before it faded into something more serious. “Do you want to tell me why it took you so damn long to tell me about your feelings for Waverly?”
“I — I just wasn’t sure how you’d react,” Nicole admitted reluctantly. “And that made me hesitate. I know firsthand how you’ve reacted to anybody — everybody — who’s shown interest in your baby sister before, so… I wasn’t expecting you to react any differently when it came to me.”
“Okay, look… I’m not going to pretend I don’t get where you’re coming from,” Wynonna said with an understanding nod. “But here’s what you’re not getting, Nicole — I might still be resisting the urge to knock your lights out, but I can guaran-fucking-tee that it has nothing to do with whatever bullshit you cooked up under those fiery locks of yours.” She laughed lightly at the absurdity of their situation, the sound breaking the stern edge she’d been holding onto.
Taking a breath, Wynonna lightly bumped Nicole’s shin with her boot and waited until she met her gaze.
“Nicole Rayleigh Haught — yeah, I just middle-named your ass — don’t you ever put yourself in the same category as someone as downright stupid as Champ Hardy again. He is — and always will be — the biggest idiot I’ve ever met. He never deserved Waverly’s attention. Thankfully, you’re nothing like that ridiculous man-child. We wouldn’t be best friends if you were. Trust me.”
Nicole couldn’t help smiling at how fiercely Wynonna defended her. She always had. Hell, their sophomore year, Wynonna had tackled her to the ground, knocked the wind out of her, and sat precariously on her chest while repeatedly assuring her everything would be okay after sixteen-year-old Nicole had come out to her.
“Are you thinking about when I kicked Stupid Carl in the nuts?” Wynonna asked, snapping them out of the comfortable silence they’d slipped into while sipping their beers. “Because I’ve got to be honest, that shit-eating grin on your face is kind of putting me on edge.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Nicole laughed. “But I am now.”
“What’s really on your mind, Haught?” Wynonna asked gently. Anyone else — excluding Waverly, obviously — would’ve already exhausted her patience. But she knew Nicole was struggling. Not just with her feelings for Waverly, but with deciding whether she was brave enough to act on them. And Wynonna knew better than anyone how selfless Nicole could be, especially when something she wanted might affect either Earp sister.
“I don’t think it’s smart to tell Waverly any of this,” Nicole admitted, her smile fading. “I don’t want to make things awkward between us — or between you two — if things don’t work out… if she doesn’t reciprocate.”
“Seriously?” Wynonna asked incredulously. “You won’t know how she feels unless you take the chance and talk to her.”
“Wy—”
“Look, Nicole — I’m not pretending to know what Waverly’s thinking or feeling when it comes to you.” She paused. “Okay, let’s be honest — I don’t want to know what she’s thinking where you’re concerned. I really don’t need to imagine my best friend and my little sister banging someday. Ugh.”
“Seriously?!” Nicole hissed, cheeks flushing deeper as she stared at her. “Were you trying to make a point?”
Wynonna took a long sip of her beer, clearly trying to purge whatever mental images she’d created, then nodded sheepishly.
“Then make it, Wy.”
“You’ve got to get out of your head,” Wynonna said. “You’re selling yourself short — seriously, stop doing that — and you’re making assumptions about what Waverly wants and who she wants.” She shrugged. “And look, I’m not trying to pressure you into anything. But I know you. And I know Waverly. So… you should consider taking that chance.”
Nicole stared at her in stunned silence while Wynonna deliberately ignored her and took another drink.
“Wy—”
“Waverly’s not scheduled at Shorty’s tonight. She’s probably at the homestead watching documentaries or some shit. Why don’t you go keep her company? Talk or something,” Wynonna suggested.
Nicole sat quietly beside her, her beer now completely forgotten as she weighed her options. The conversation replayed in her mind while her thoughts drifted inevitably back to Waverly.
Honestly, she was itching to tell Waverly how deeply her feelings ran.
She was just still hesitating.
“Nicole, go talk to Waverly,” Wynonna said firmly, pulling her out of her thoughts. “But buy me a shot of whiskey before you go.”
Nicole smiled sincerely, sliding off her barstool and pulling her wallet from her back pocket. “Make it a double. I’ll make sure Doc takes you home,” she said, counting out bills and setting them on the bar. “Thanks, Wynonna.”
“Yeah, yeah… don’t mention it,” Wynonna said as she brought her beer glass back up, pausing before it reached her lips. “Good luck, Haught Shot.”
Nicole smiled, slid off the barstool, and grabbed her wallet. After settling Wynonna’s promised whiskey tab, she stepped out of Shorty’s feeling lighter than she had all day. Wynonna’s words echoed in her mind as she crossed the parking lot.
Just talk to her.