She makes a noise and starts to hand my mug back to me, but I decline. “Keep it. You need it more. Let me know if you need anything else. And give this place a chance. Don’t write it off—don’t sit here thinking they won’t help you just because yourfamily’s never considered what you need instead of what they want.”
She looks down again. “My parents—and my sisters—they do their best.”
“There’s doing your best, and there’s doing what you’ve always done without considering if it really is the best.”
She scratches her crazy bun. “But I did this to myself. It’s my job to fix me.”
Those words sear my soul.
It’s my job.
How many times have I said that to myself about taking care of Lav and not relying on the women in the main house when I need help?
But I squash the thought and focus on Cricket instead. “Humans aren’t meant to be alone, and family’s supposed to be there for you when you’re at your lowest.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
I hear the tears, and I have to squeeze my own eyes shut against them.
“Been there,” I mutter back.
That’s why I don’t see her coming until she’s squeezing me in the tightest hug I’ve had from an adult since I hugged my attorney when my in-laws were finally persuaded to drop their case.
I know she’s hugging me for her, but it feels like she’s hugging me for me too.
To tellmethat it’ll be okay.
To tellmethat I’ll make it through.
To tellmethat I’m not alone and this place can work magic if you let it.
I pat her awkwardly on the back, and she releases me and steps back. “Sorry. And thank you. I—you’re right. Of course you’re right. You’ve been here a while. You know—you knowthese ladies better than I do. I just—I’ve been such a disaster, and I’m not usually like this, I swear I’m not, but I’m so afraid they’ll kick me out if I do one more thing wrong.”
“They won’t kick you out unless you turn into a real dick or betray them.”
She swipes her eyes.
I realize I don’t have coffee spilled down my back, but as I spot my mug on the seat, swinging precariously, it’s obvious it was close.
“Thank you,” she repeats.
I nod and shift toward the stairs again, my chest humming and my dick twitching once again.
Did my part today.
And while it’s true that the women here will help her, the rest of her journey really is up to her.
I hope she gets through it quickly.
So she can move out.
9
A CRUSH IS BORN
Cricket
I’m stillan alien in my own skin, but I’ve showered.
