Thanks, she says, so fucking simple, and Ellie exhales through her nose, the corner of her mouth twisting as she looks up.

It hasn't occurred to her that maybe while Ellie was busy being sorry, Abby had also been thinking on it, reflecting on it.

"Yeah, I think we can say that one was on me," Ellie says with another wiggle of her leg, a grimace that comes perilously close to something that might almost be a smile.

"And thank you. For stopping me."

They've both thought a lot about it, apparently.