I quickly tuck it back into her bag as the bus approaches, and after a twenty-minute game of eye spy, we arrive at our stop. I get her dinner to go, and we take a five-minute walk back home.
“Go sit at the table to eat, Molly.” She doesn’t argue, excited to see what toy she has. Two treats in one.
Nate rings while I’m putting in a wash load.
“Hi.”
“Hey Rach, so I’m coming by with Felicity to grab your keys and drop you off a car to use until yours is sorted.”
“What? No, I can’t let you do that.”
“Yes, you can, and you will. I’ve already made sure you are covered on the insurance.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I reply, my nose tingling, and I hate that again, for the second time today, I might cry.
“You don’t have to say anything. We’ll pop by in the next twenty minutes, is that okay?”
“Perfect, thank you.”
I end the call, not having to worry about how to juggle getting Molly to school and me to work without a car. I know I made poor choices before she was here, but I hope, more than anything, I can atone for them and prove my friendship is valid.
Chapter Eighteen
OLLY
I look forward to Wednesday’s—not only does it break the back of the week, I also have a class with Rachel.
Henry comes over and slaps me heavy on the back. “Hey man, how’s it going?” he asks, always with the smile. It’s contagious; like yawning, you can’t help but return it.
“Good man, how’s the training going?”
“It’s going,” he says, staring out over the open expanse of the gym as the hum of the air-con clicks up a notch.
I raise my eyebrow. “Looking for someone?” I say with a lazy grin. He shrugs it off, but I swear the dude is blushing. I lean into him, fluttering my eyelashes and pursing my lips in a mock kiss.
And that’s when I feel her.
I go stock-still and flick my eyes towards the door. Rachel is standing there, head tilted, watching. I wiggle my fingers in a wave, and she comes towards us.
“Henry, this is Rachel.” I wave between them, “Rachel, Henry.”
“Boyfriend?” she asks, holding out her hand.
I almost choke on air as he busts out laughing. “Only in his dreams,” Henry replies, and she smiles, eyes roaming over his body. Can’t blame her—his physique is fierce.
“You ready?” I ask, nodding my head in the direction of the metal staircase.
“That’s why I’m here,” she sing-songs.
“Later man,” I say to Henry. He salutes me, turning to the weights laid out in front of the mirrored wall.
Rachel looks over her shoulder as we make our way upstairs. “Like what you see?” I tease. She turns back, and as I peer back over my shoulder, I see her gaze on my arse.
“Yeah, it’s not too bad,” she says.
I let out a laugh. “Don’t you need to put your watch in your locker?” I ask, dropping her bag onto the bench.
She touches her wrist. “Oh, no. I left it at home this morning,” she replies and looks away. She once said it’s like missing a limb when she’s not wearing it, but it’s none of my business.
