Page 133 of Getting it Right (Addy's Rollercoaster)

Rachel’s brows drew together. “I should say no. I have some money saved now. I might be able to take over the rent on this place on my own if they’d allow it.”

“I want you with me.”

Her brow smoothed. “I want to be with you too. Sometimes, I get so sad, and I need you.”

Her eyes filled. I tugged my hand out from under hers so I could wrap my arms around her instead.

“It’s okay, Rach. Give yourself a break. It hasn’t been that long.”

“I know.” She sniffed. “Don’t coddle me, though, all right?” She straightened and I withdrew my arms. “I need to get tougher, be more like you.”

“Don’t be like me. Be yourself. I like who you are.”

“I used to like me too,” she said, but her shoulders slumped. “Now I just don’t know.”

“Let’s just move forward, Rach.”

Maybe it wasn’t so much about reclaiming time lost as it was about that. Couldn’t we merge who we were in the past with who we were now to make a better person? A better, fuller life?

“Take the good,” I said. “Toss the bad. Be who you want to be today and commit to being even better the next day. Fill every day with as much joy as possible. Right?”

“I can do that.” She lifted her chin. “I want to try.”

“To no more looking back.” I gave her a confirming nod. “You’re coming with me to do the shopping. We’ll swing by Barry’s place on the way. You can see how eager he is to have you stay with him, and how awesome his place is. Then we’ll have some tea and toast to all of us moving forward.”

“All of us.” She offered me a small smile. Those were so rare from her, a treasure.

“Together,” I said.

Even if Martin did make a move, he would have a hard time winning against the combined strength of all of us.

• • •

At Footit’s later, I came around the corner on my way to the storage room and came to an abrupt stop.

“Claire Finch Walsh.” Rachel stood in the hallway outside the door to Kyle and Bob’s apartment and screeched. “What the hell are you doing?”

Holy shit.

Following the direction of her glare, I saw what Rachel did—Claire in the doorway and Kyle behind her, his jeans only half done up.

“Um, I’m leaving my boyfriend’s room after having sex with him.” Caught off guard, Claire blabbed way too much information, and her eyes started to water like I noticed they did when she was nervous.

“Oh shit.” Kyle placed one hand on Claire’s shoulder and extended his other hand toward Rachel. “Kyle Murphy. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Walsh.”

“You’re the boy who sang with Claire in Lakeside.” Rachel stared at his hand like it was a foreign and offensive object. “But you’re not from Lakeside, are you?” she said accusingly.

This was new information to me and solved a mystery. Kyle and Claire had known each other a while. I wondered if singing together was how they’d met.

Fascinated, I leaned against the wall and continued to listen.

“No.” Kyle let his hand drop. “I’m not.”

“This,” Rachel looked Kyle up and down, wrinkling her nose, “is the boy who’s kind, gentle, and protective?”

“Yes, Mom,” Claire said, and the hand Kyle had on her shoulder flexed.

“The one you’re not dating but having sex with lives here at Footit’s with his uncle, the new busser.” Rachel started putting things together, and her voice rose higher. “Bob’s nephew is the one you care about?”

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