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It’d be great to know what the problem actually is, but I can’t quite bring myself to ask. It feels like prying, and she’s in the sob stage of her recovery. I just need to give her a minute.
I need?—
The front door swings open.
“Hey-yo!” Ethan calls into the house.
“‘Hey-yo’? Seriously? Where did that come from?” Mick loves to hassle my boy, and I can’t help a little grin when he laughs.
“I’m trying something new, Shorty. I like it. Hey-yo. It’s gonna be my new greeting from now on.”
“Not around me it’s not.”
“Okay, lil’ mouse, I’ll save it up, real special-like… just for you.”
There’s a small scuffle, and then laughter floats into the living room as they playfully tussle their way toward me. They’re both laughing, and Mick lets out a screech when he hits her ticklish spot, but Ethan quickly swallows the sound with his mouth, lifting her off the floor so she can wrap her legs around him.
Rachel’s gone completely still on my knee, like if she turns to stone she might, in fact, disappear.
I loosen my grip on her, and she slinks off my lap while Ethan lets out this gravelly moan that tells the entire room what he has in mind for his girlfriend.
Yeah, that can’t happen just yet.
So, I clear my throat nice and loud.
It takes three coughs for the sex-crazed couple to finally register other people in the room. They pull away from each other, their lips swollen and glistening, their expressions dazed. And then Mick’s eyes bulge, her mouth popping open.
“Ray?”
“Hey, Mick.” She brushes a finger under her eye, then forces a smile, but it doesn’t really help.
Her face is blotchy, her eyes rimmed red. She’s so obviously been crying, and there’s nothing she can do to hide it.
Mikayla wriggles out of Ethan’s arms, jumping around me to plunk down on the couch. “What’s wrong? What are you doing here? How did you get here? I…” She brushes Rachel’s bangs aside with her small hands, her eyebrows wrinkled with worry. “What happened?”
Rachel’s face bunches, and then she lets out this shaky sigh, her body deflating against the cushions. “Theo and I broke up.”
“Aw, babe.” Mick slumps back against the cushions, taking Rachel’s hand and squeezing it against her chest. “What happened?”
Rachel shakes her head, a small, stiff movement that says it all.
Thankfully, Mick doesn’t push her. Instead, she cups Rachel’s cheek, her thumb rubbing back and forth as they share a look of pain. “I’m sorry it hurts right now.”
Rachel sniffs. “I just needed to see my bestie.”
Pulling her into an instant hug, Mikayla rests her head on Rachel’s shoulder and squeezes the life out of her. Rachel’s quick to pull away, like she doesn’t want a big fuss to be made.
“I’m sorry to just show up like this. I should have called ahead, but I’ve been running on stress and tears and—” Her voice catches as her eyes start to glisten again.
“Hey, that’s totally fine. You are allowed to show up unannounced, anytime. I’m always happy to see you.” Mick grins, excitement taking over her expression. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
She dives in for another hug, and Rachel manages a weak smile… although she does seem lighter now that Mick’s arrived. It’s obvious how close these two are.
I share a quick look with Ethan, who’s grinning down at them before giving me a questioning frown.
He points to my bare chest, a glint forming in his eyes as if he’s about to smirk but isn’t sure if he should.
I roll my eyes. As if.
