Page 81 of Unwanted

“Yeah.” He reaches for my hand and holds it. “I just wanted to check in on Rhys. He seems a bit down about something, but I don’t really want to force him to talk to me .”

“Should we ask Lennox?” I ask.

“No.” He shakes his head. “The best thing he can do is get to a few meetings. They always manage to put things into perspective. And I gave Jenika a heads-up just in case.”

“Isn’t that kind of cheating?” I ask.

“Not when it’s her business he’s supposed to be protecting.” Jenika doesn't like people to know, but she owns the gym. She came into some money a few years back but wasn’t really able to get her dream off the ground until she met Arlo.

“So, are you ready to get this show on the road?”

Arlo brings our joined hands to his lips and kisses them. “Lead the way.”

27

ARLO

My palms are sweaty as Frankie knocks on Jordan and Gael’s front door.

Frankie assured me before we arrived that they didn’t know about my addiction, but that was the least of my worries as I stood out here beside him.

I couldn’t remember the last time I met someone new. Everyone within my circle, I knew from NA and the gym. And even then I never had to do the whole “let me introduce myself” thing.

There’s an unspoken camaraderie within recovery circles. Those people had my back without knowing my whole life story.

I needed that now.

“Are you nervous?” Frankie asks.

“Is it that obvious?”

“They’re going to love you.”

That was the thing; I wasn’t worried about whether or not they were going to love me, I was worried if they were going to love mefor him.

The door swings open and a tall man, with light brown hair and gray-blue eyes, smiles at us.

“Frankie,” he greets enthusiastically. “It’s so good to see you.” He turns his gaze to me. “And you must be Arlo.”

“Hey.” I extend my arm and he shakes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Come on in.” He gestures for us to walk in. “Gael is inside, he’s almost done with the charcuterie board.”

“A charcuterie board?” Frankie queries as he slips his hand into mine and leads the way. “What’s that about?”

Jordan shrugs. “I just eat the fruits of his labor, I don’t question why he makes what.Take a seat wherever,” he says. “I’ve got some white wine or beer if either of you are interested?”

“No, I’m good,” I answer as we take two seats around the dining table. “Water is fine.”

“Frankie? I’ve got that beer you like, let me grab it.”

Frankie’s face pales and I’m not the only one who notices. “No, water is fine for me too.”

At this Jordan narrows his eyes, scrutinizing him. “You want water?”

“Why is that so weird?” Frankie says nervously. “Stop making it weird.”

“I’m a recovering addict,” I announce, wanting to take the attention off a floundering Frankie.

---