Page 40 of A Little Light

As she opened the fridge and sighed, there was a knock at the door.

Great! It was probably one of the neighbours coming to complain about the furniture she’d spent most of the afternoon moving. Rachel squared her shoulders and pulled her apartment door open.

“O-oh, hi.” Rachel squeezed the handle, taken aback when Andi stared at her from the corridor. “I… Is everything okay?”

Andi lowered her eyes momentarily. When she looked back up at Rachel, wearing a weak smile, she seemed wary. “I’ve been calling you.”

Rachel dragged her fingers through her hair. She would tell Andi the same lie she’d told Kelly. “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve been moving things around here. It’s been a busy few days.”

“Right. Well, then, can I come in?”

Damn. That hadn’t been her brightest idea. “I mean, sure. Yeah.” Andi brushed past Rachel, her perfume sending a shiver down Rachel’s spine. When the door closed and she turned to face Andi, Rachel swallowed. “Are you okay, Andi?”

“I don’t know. Something feels off. Did I…do something wrong at the weekend?”

Yes. Yes, you did. “What makes you think that?”

Andi’s shoulders slumped as she ran a hand down her face. “Again, I don’t know. But have you really been too busy to pick up the phone, or are you avoiding me?”

Rachel couldn’t do this to Andi. She seemed tormented. “I’m sorry. But yes, I’ve been avoiding you.”

“So, something is going on?” Andi exhaled a long breath, shaking her head. “I’d like to believe we’re adult enough to talk through whatever it is, Rachel. I’m fifty; I can apologise when I’m in the wrong. Having said that, I don’t know what it is that I’ve done to upset you, so I can’t apologise until you communicate with me.”

“You want me to be your escort, Andi.” Rachel frowned, unable to comprehend how Andi didn’t realise the issue they faced. “I thought I was your friend, but on Saturday night, it became quite apparent that I’m not. It seems that this has been your plan all along. But, I’m sorry, I can’t do it.”

With genuine shock now staring back at Rachel, she had to wonder if Andi was completely oblivious to her faux pas. “Excuse me?”

“Look, I get it, okay? I’m an escort, and I don’t have any right to be offended when someone wants to pay me for my time. I just thought you were different. It felt different with you. And you can correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve told you that on several occasions now.”

“First of all, you have every right to be offended. Being an escort doesn’t make you any less of a human being. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be treated with fucking respect. And secondly, if that’s what you thought of me…what you think of me, then I’m truly sorry.”

“You asked to book me, Andi. We were having a great night together, and you asked if you could book me.” Rachel slumped back against the counter, her voice unexpectedly betraying her. She shouldn’t be surprised by Andi’s decision to book her; it was her job, after all. Yet here she was. “I know life is tough for you, and I completely understand your need to not be alone. For you to feel a part of something. Trust me when I tell you that you deserve the fucking world for how sweet you are, but…this, with me? No. I’m sorry, but you can’t be my client.” Rachel had finally said what she needed to say. If she’d hurt Andi’s feelings, she would take it on the chin and deal with it. “I know a lot of great girls at the agency; I’ll put you in touch with someone who will look after you. If you need more than just…you know, a dinner date, I can also arrange that for you.” Rachel didn’t particularly want to imagine Andi sleeping with someone else, but here she was…offering to put that plan in motion. Maybe this was why she would always be single. Because she put everyone else before herself.

Andi scoffed and held up a hand. “Have you just offered to book sex for me?”

“I… Yes. Everyone is different. Some people need things that others don’t. I just want to get this right for you. It’s important that the experience is tailored to you.”

With her head hung on her shoulders, Andi took a step towards the door. Rachel heard a sniffle, one which shocked her back to reality, but still, she continued to stare at Andi’s back.

“I…can’t believe you’ve just said those things to me.” Andi pressed her palm to the back of the door, her voice barely audible. “I’ve been nothing other than respectful, and you—” She shook her head. “It…doesn’t matter.”

“Andi.”

Andi turned. She had a look in her eyes that Rachel had never witnessed from her before. Hurt, pain, disappointment? It could have been all three…and then some. “Take care of yourself, okay? Whether it’s at work or in your downtime…just take care of yourself.” Andi opened the door and slipped out, closing it gently behind her.

Rachel rushed out behind her, devastated when she heard sobbing from the direction of the lift. “Andi, wait!” Fuck, she’d messed up. She didn’t know how, but Andi seemed to be genuinely hurt by something she’d said. “Andi, hold the door, please.”

Rachel made it to the lift, but the door closed, and the whooshing of the carriage only mirrored the whooshing in her stomach. Andi had left, but in turn, a million questions had landed in Rachel’s lap.

Chapter 13

Andi stood in the kitchen at the office, mindlessly stirring the cup of coffee she’d made five minutes ago. Jean was waiting on her morning cup of tea, just the two of them working today. She had one or two agents out on viewings, but they were mostly winding down for Christmas now. Well, Andi had given people the option to lessen their load. She was a good boss like that.

It’s a shame I don’t know how to look after myself!

“Are you ever going to bring me my tea, or do I need to be spitting feathers before you remember?”

Andi snapped out of her thoughts, turning to Jean. “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep last night, and I just about made it here this morning.” She handed Jean her tea and followed her back out into the main area filled with empty desks. “How was the traffic this morning?”

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