Page 16 of A Little Light

Andi’s heart jumped a little at that. She didn’t want it to or need it to, but it did. “That would be lovely.” For a brief moment, it had felt foreign to her, but Andi was learning that she was quite fond of these moments with Rachel.

“You should keep the loft keys on you for nights like this. I’m sure you’d rather just go back there than travel home.” Rachel linked an arm through Andi’s, still wearing Andi’s coat.

She’d offered it back before they finished their drinks, but Andi had insisted she keep a hold of it until they went their separate ways. Three layers and menopause meant Andi didn’t have any issue keeping warm this evening.

“If I wasn’t selling up, I probably would. But I have to cut ties with it at some point.”

Rachel slowed their pace, her breath misting in the evening air. “You don’t want to let it go, do you?”

“Part of me does. But the other part of me wonders if I’m going to let go of the memories we made there. My friends are insufferable when it comes to me moving on, but I felt as though now was the right time. I’ve done a lot of reflecting this year, especially since I spent last Christmas alone, and I’ve realised that they’re right. Jane wanted me to move on and be happy. She made me promise her I would. It’s just hard when she was all I knew for over twenty years.”

Rachel offered a sympathetic smile.

“I’m sorry. That was far too much. You only mentioned the loft.” Andi rolled her eyes, aware that she was discussing things nobody wanted to hear. “I guess it just feels different talking about it with someone who didn’t know Jane. Does that make sense?”

“It makes perfect sense. I have no ties to either of you, so I’m neutral. Even though your friends want you to move on, I have a feeling you wonder if they really mean it. You know, are they just telling you that, but really, they’ll be disappointed if you meet someone?”

Andi laughed ever so slightly. Rachel was right. “Yeah. That’s been playing on my mind a lot. My best friend has been amazing. Really, she has. But I’m not sure she’ll feel so supportive if I meet someone. And…I can’t really blame anyone for feeling that way, can I?”

Rachel stopped, frowning as she faced Andi. “Is she the one in the hypothetical relationship we’re talking about?”

“Well, no.”

“Then it doesn’t really matter what she thinks. Of course people will think something about it, but that’s on them to deal with it. Not you. You’re already piecing your life back together. You don’t have to be responsible for anyone else while you do so.”

Andi’s breath caught when Rachel reached out a hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. She had the most beautiful skin, her eyes alluring yet honest. It took everything within Andi not to lean into Rachel’s touch. Take a step back.

“Look, you’ll know when the time feels right. Whether that is the loft, or your love life, or something else…you’ll know. Your real friends will support you because they love you.”

Andi sniffled, a mixture of tears and the cold weather. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Now, let me get you into a cab before I’m responsible for making you ill in the run-up to Christmas.”

Andi grinned. “I’m fine. Us northerners are made of strong stuff.”

“Oh, we are. But I still don’t want you getting sick.” Rachel pulled Andi tighter to her, their arms still linked. Andi should probably question her decision to find herself in this position, but she didn’t care tonight. She was too busy loving every moment of it. “Come on. I don’t want you calling off sick on Friday for dinner.”

“I wouldn’t.” Andi nudged Rachel’s shoulder. “And you’re going to be sorry that you’ve befriended me. You’re stuck with me now.”

Rachel glanced in her direction, winking. “Not a bad person to be stuck with.”

Chapter 6

Andi blew out a breath, standing outside a building she didn’t recognise. It was in a rundown area of the city, but she was trusting Rachel. She had no choice but to do that. Still, she had to wonder why on earth Rachel had asked her to meet at a high-rise building that looked like a block of flats. No, they didn’t look like it…they were a block of flats. Andi knew based on her job.

She took her phone from her clutch bag, jumping when a teenager on a mountain bike zoomed past her. So close he could have stolen her bag. She brought it closer to her stomach, looking down at the address once again.

Yep. She definitely had the right address.

Andi entered through the automatic double doors, breathing a sigh of relief when she found a security guard at reception. “Hi. I’m looking for the restaurant.”

The security guard smiled and nodded towards a set of lifts. “Fourteenth floor. Have a lovely evening.”

Andi had a bad feeling about this. She didn’t know why. Rachel had seemed so genuine, but in this moment, she felt as though this was nothing more than a joke.

Well, this is a good start to meeting new people.

Aware that she was standing around for the sake of it, her heels clicked against the broken tiles in front of the lift. Yeah, this was a joke. It had to be. But she would give Rachel the benefit of the doubt just this once, praying she wouldn’t let Andi down.

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