Page 27 of Out Of A Fix

“I don’t use that word,” she informed me, hand over her heart. “But I have to recount what was said exactly.”

“For posterity and authenticity,” Darwin seconded. “I get it.”

“That’s right,” she praised him.

“This is all helpful information, but what did your father say on the subject?” I asked, because that was the relevant part.

“He said he’ll find someone for us to talk to, but he hasn’t had time,” Griff explained. “He’s been crazy busy, and the last time I asked about it, he got kinda mad and told me he’d do it as soon as he could.”

It was vital they got to work on feeling better, and I felt a surge of anger toward Luke Duchesne.

“Okay, then, so what I’m hearing is that he was good with the idea of therapy. Is that what you all understood to be the case?”

Nodding all around.

“Great,” I said, happy with that, with the ability to move forward. “Then you’re all gonna go see a therapist. It will help to talk to someone, especially you, Griff, because I understand you’re struggling with insomnia.”

Quiet, thoughtful people, all studying me. It was weird but nice too.

“Is it a deal?”

“Do we have to lie down on a couch and talk about our childhoods?” Tatum wanted to know, scowling at me.

“You’re still in your childhood,” I reminded her.

“Are you gonna take us?” Griff asked me.

“I will.”

“And stay with us?”

He seemed very concerned about me potentially leaving, and I understood why. Big trigger for him, and all of them, because of their mother. “Of course,” I promised.

“Okay,” Tatum agreed. “If you take me, I’ll go.”

“Me too,” Darwin seconded.

“All right,” Griff replied, sighing deeply.

“Excellent,” I said, pulling my phone so I could text Benji to get me a name. As I was doing that, Griff said my name so softly, I almost didn’t hear him. But when I looked at him, his eyes were locked on my face. The intensity of his gaze was surprising.

After a moment of us staring at each other, he finally asked, “What if somebody hurts you?” It troubled me how shaky his voice sounded.

“Nobody’s gonna hurt me,” I assured him. “A lot scarier people than whoever lives in this town have tried, and I’m still here.”

“Plus, you have to remember, he’s strapped,” Tatum said flatly.

Immediately, she had all our attention.

“What?” she asked, clearly unperturbed.

“Strapped?” Griff repeated. “You have got to stop watching those crime shows.”

“Yeah, but they always get the bad guy.”

“They do,” I agreed, then smiled at Griff. “And I am strapped.”

“Really?” He sounded so very pained. “You shouldn’t encourage her.”