Rachel will lose her shit if she finds out, and she has enough to deal with.
Shoving my own trauma away, I gesture at the device on the counter. “Call Easton and tell him to come home. That’s all you have to focus on for the next ten minutes.”
That’s all I have to focus on for the next ten minutes.
She sucks in a deep breath as she picks up the phone, and I watch as she dials Easton’s number.
She clears her throat and wipes invisible dust from the marble countertop of the island, then she clears her throat again and says, “It’s me. Give me a call as soon as you get this message. It’s urgent.”
When she sets the device back down on the counter, I lift my arm, and placing my hand on her shoulder, I give her an encouraging squeeze.
“Lainey will be home in thirty minutes,” she mentions.
Before I can say anything, Rachel’s phone starts to ring, and I see Easton’s name showing on the screen.
Just seeing his name is enough to make my stomach flutter as if a kaleidoscope of butterflies is taking flight inside me.
She picks up the device and closes her eyes as she answers, “Hey.” I can’t hear what Easton says, but Rachel replies, “I need you to come home as soon as possible. Something’s happened, but I can’t tell you over the phone ... Lainey is fine ... I can’t tell you now, Easton.” Sheopens her eyes, and they settle on me. “Nova’s here with me ... No, nothing happened to her.” She loses the battle against her tears, and her voice grows strained as she snaps, “Stop asking questions and just come home! Please.” She sucks in a desperate breath while doing her best not to break down. “I need you here, Easton. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t serious ... Okay ... Okay ... Thank you ... Love you too.”
Ending the call, her shoulders shudder as tears overwhelm her, and I do the only thing I can. Wrapping my best friend up in a hug, I try to comfort her by rubbing my hand up and down her back.
Shock keeps rippling through me, and every time the realization strikes that Rachel is going to die, it hits harder than before. My soul shrivels away from the devastating news, and my heart feels like it’s being pulverized to dust.
I can’t lose Rachel. She’s all I have. She’s the only person who understands and loves me. How do I live a life without her?
Shit. Lainey will have to grow up without her mom.
Oh God.
My body jerks from all the strain, and it has Rachel holding me tighter, making my bruised ribs ache.
“I can’t lose you,” I whimper, clinging to her as if my life depends on it, because it does. “You’re the only person who loves me.”
What is life without my best friend?
“I don’t want to die,” she whispers hoarsely. “I’m terrified.”
I have no idea how long we stand in the kitchen, and I don’t care. I do my best to focus on Rachel’s sweet cookies-and-cream scent and how good it feels to hold her.
She’s still here.
Chapter 3
Nova
After I take a moment to regain control of my chaotic emotions, I let go of Rachel. Forcing a quivering smile to my lips, I say, “What can I do?”
She shakes her head. “You just being here is all I want.” Her fear-drenched gaze locks with mine. “Until the end, Nova. Please.”
My chin trembles badly as I nod.
“And after ...” she sucks in a few shaky breaths as she fights to control her tears, “... I’m gone, I need you to be there for Lainey.”
Jesus. My heart.
I nod quickly while blinking like crazy to try and stop my tears.
Half of me wants to hide from the unfathomable thought of losing Rachel, and the other half is preoccupied with thoughts of what I can do to make things easier for her.
