Page 22 of She is the Darke

Rachel was at the table, sipping on her own iced coffee. “I have an admission.”

“I’m ready.”

“Okay.” Rachel stood and paced into the living room and back to the kitchen, sucking on her coffee. “Okay,” she repeated.

Confused, Demi slowly sat in a chair at the dining table. “Rachel, what’s wrong?”

Rachel smiled, but it didn’t touch her eyes. “I think I’m just having a moment.”

“That’s all right,” she assured her best friend. “Did you have a one-night stand? You usually freak out at that. It’s not the end of the world. We can work through it.”

“No. No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Okay, great. What’s going on?”

“I’m…” Rachel looked at her, and there was such a plea for understanding in her eyes. “I can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what?”

“All my brothers are in town, and the house is chaos, and my dad feels helpless, so he’s always mad at everyone, and everything is so…so…”

“Hey,” Demi murmured, sensing the heavy turmoil in her friend. “It’s all right. What’s going on, girl?”

Something about her words opened up the floodgates. Rachel’s face crumpled, and she closed her eyes. “My dad is sick.”

This was one of those moments she would remember for always.

“What?”

“We found out two months ago. My brothers are all in town, seeing if they are a match for transplant.”

“For transplant,” Demi repeated.

“It’s his kidneys,” Rachel whispered brokenly. “He needs a healthy one, and we’re hoping one of my brothers can give him one.

Oh, Jesus.

“I got tested, but I’m not a match. My mom is freaking out, and my brothers are all in town, stressing him the hell out. I don’t want to work. I don’t want to do anything but figure out a solution, and drink all the feelings away, and now the family is together but it’s so…so…” She inhaled deeply. “We’re all a mess.”

Why hadn’t Tyler said the real reason he was back in town? Why hadn’t he told her?

Fuck.

Demi drew Rachel into a back-cracking hug, and swayed from side to side with her. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“You don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“I know Tyler’s going to be the one. He’s going to be the match. I can just feel it in my bones.”

“Okay. Okay.”

“Demi, he gave up his entire company to come here and try.” She drew in a hitching breath. “Dad barely even freaking likes him, and he’s going to be the match. I know it.”

“Tyler is a good person. He will do it. He’s here because he’s open to it.”

“I know, but you don’t understand. Dad has been praying it’s any of us but Tyler.”

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