Page 125 of Every Broken Promise
We weren’t exactly best friends anymore, and calling him a friend started to taste like ash all over again. Maybe being in limbo wasn’t all that great. Before I could ponder this too deeply, Ty wrapped his arms around me, instantly easing the self-doubt that was creeping in.
“I have to take care of some things in the shop. I wanted to get a head start on paperwork and give Dad a break.”
It warmed my heart how thoughtful he was with his father.
“Sounds busy,” I murmured enviously.
“It’s all going to work out. Rachel’s going to be okay.”
I burrowed deeper into his chest.
“I hate that she’s going through this in the first place.”
He held me a little tighter.
Ty headedout just after my mom called to tell me they would be home soon. I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way I did and decided to make a quick exit before we had to explain the status of our relationship to my parents.
“How’s it going, June bug?” my dad asked as he sat on the couch next to me.
For the last hour, I had been reviewing all the town forums and security chat messages and transferring them to my email so I could also forward all of it to Orianna.
What happened to Rachel was the kind of story she had been chasing, and I hoped she could help and bring my friend justice.
“It’s going. I just feel so helpless.”
“Honey, you’re not helpless…” My dad took a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. “I’m just glad this happened now that she has you in her corner. I can’t imagine this happening a year ago when you weren’t back in town…when you weren’t her friend.”
My dad’s words struck a chord.
Fuck.
Things could change for the better, or if we let them be, we continue to get cut by the same wounds we refused to heal.
My mom walked in carrying a bowl of popcorn and then sat on the other side of me.
I bit my lip while I debated what to say, and how to say it. It was harder to talk about this with Ty, but it was also a struggle toget the words out with my parents. They watched me run away with my tail between my legs, and they never judged me for it. They gave me the space I needed to grow.
“I lied when I said I came home really late,” I told them.
My mother let out an amused giggle.
“You’re not the only one who knows how to use the front door camera.”
That made my cheeks grow hot. Okay, so they had also seen Ty coming with me this morning.
“I don’t think we need that camera anymore,” I huffed.
My dad threw his arm around me while my mother leaned her head on my shoulder.
“We love you, Astrid. And we love Ty, too, but whatever makes you happy will make us happy, too.”
My parents weren’t as oblivious as I thought. Their support in this made me feel better, like I could finally confront the one hurdle I was always too scared to cross.
I had fallen in love with my best friend, but a part of me always held back because I didn’t know if he would love me back.
FORTY-FOUR
I leftAstrid’s house a few minutes before her parents were set to arrive, and headed toward the auto shop. There was a drop-off that needed to be made to the Haywards’ shop. I stopped in Sunny Pines and told my brothers I would do it since I hadn’t had time to speak with Russel since he did me that favor.
