Page 11 of A Little Light

“I’ll see you this evening. If anything changes, just let me know. I’ll bring all the initial paperwork with me. It’ll just be a case of some finalising once the sale is going through, okay?”

“Of course. That works for me.” Rachel exhaled a calming breath. Her heart rate was far too high with excitement. “See you later.”

“Bye, Rachel.”

As Andi ended the call, Rachel immediately brought up her best friend’s number. Kelly was going to be beside herself when she heard this news. Rachel hadn’t told her about meeting Andi or the offer that came after she’d spoken to her so rudely. This was huge for Rachel.

The moment the call connected, Rachel rushed out, “It’s happening! It’s really fucking happening!”

“What is?” Kelly asked, her voice laced with confusion. “Are you okay?”

“Okay? I’m amazing. I found a loft!”

“Oh! Where? How?!”

Rachel could cry; she was so happy. “On the dock. When I got off the phone to you a few nights ago, a woman had overheard my conversation and mentioned that she was selling hers.”

“Oh, is this the same woman who didn’t know how to mind her own business by any chance?”

Rachel winced. She’d never not feel embarrassed about that moment. “Yeah. That’s the one.”

“Well, that’ll teach you to have a face on about something, won’t it?”

“I know. I know.” Rachel dragged a hand through her hair, sitting upright and swinging her legs off the couch. “And the worst thing is that Andi is so lovely.”

“Why is she moving? Don’t forget to have a survey done and everything else. Be sure it’s the right place for you.”

“It is, Kelly. I fell in love with it when I walked in.” Rachel rested her head back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. She’d practically memorised every feature she’d laid eyes on. “Andi is selling up because she lost her wife. I don’t think she wants to be there anymore. Too many memories, you know?”

“A fellow gay, how interesting!”

Rachel laughed, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“Maybe she’ll end up being your client. You know how to woo women like the best of them.”

Kelly was surely joking. Rachel had only mentioned Andi briefly, and now she was putting these ideas into her head. “I’m pretty sure she’s not looking for an escort. And even if she was, I couldn’t be that escort.”

“Why?”

“Just…because.” Rachel got to her feet and slung the blanket she’d been snuggled under over the back of the couch. “Anyway, I should probably get ready. I have a client tonight, but I need to go to the loft and sign some paperwork.”

“Oh, no. Hold on. What do you mean you can’t be her escort? Since when do you care who you have dinner with?”

“S-since Juliet.”

Kelly fell silent.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. I just don’t think Andi and I as business would be a wise idea. And as I said, she’s not even looking for an escort. That’s not how we met, Kel.”

“You’re into her, aren’t you?”

Rachel cleared her throat. “Maybe. Sort of. I don’t know.”

“Is…she looking to move on?” Kelly hesitated as she spoke those words, but Rachel understood. To lose your wife…how does someone even begin to piece their life back together?

“Doubtful.”

“Maybe you should test the water. Like, ask her out to dinner, but don’t make a big deal of it. She probably doesn’t know what to do with herself. Still, it could just grow organically.”

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