AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Feels weird to drive a small car instead of my truck,” I commented. “It feels like driving air.”
“Well, this air is doing a good job of holding me up.” Tara smiled wanly. “I’d’ve thought I’d be splattered across the highway.”
We sped straight through, not taking a break for the entire four hours. When we reached Boston, my heart began to pick up speed. We’d be staying with her friend Nia, and somehow meeting her chosen family was ten times scarier than meeting her biological aunt.
“You’re not nervous, are you?” Tara asked. “They’re going to love you.”
“They?” I pulled the car into a spot outside Nia’s low-rise.
“Kyle and Trevor are going to be there, too. That’s okay, right?”
“Um… of course.” This had just gotten another ten times scarier.
I’d talked to her friends via video, and they’d seemed to like me—but that was before we’d had that awful fight. I knew Tara had filled them in about it, and although she wouldn’t give me a straight answer, it seemed like they no longer liked me too much—which was fair, because I wouldn’t have, either.
I was going to have to win them over. And was that even possible? My gut clenched, and I felt vaguely ill. I’d never made such an awful first impression before meeting someone in my life. Part of me felt like saying bye to Tara, turning the car around, and heading all the way back to Burlington.
Tara took my hand, reassuring me with her gentle touch. “Chelsea, baby, they’re going toloveyou. They have to, because I love you.”
It should’ve felt nice to hear that—but as strange as it was, her comfort did the opposite of what it was supposed to. It reminded me that I was supposed to be the one supporting her, comforting her. For once in my life, I had to put my insecurities aside and focus on doing what was right for someone else.
I forced a smile. “I’m ready.”
And together, we went in.
28
Tara
My friends loved Chelsea, like I knew they would. It took a few minutes, and there were one or two shifty looks, but by the time we’d settled in, she was chatting with them like they were old friends.
I smiled to myself. I’d found myself a good woman—which was more than I could’ve ever asked for.
After we had a quick lunch, I knew it was time to tell my friends what was happening. I’d only filled them in briefly about Ava, and now I had to give them the full story.
They reacted much as Chelsea had—surprise, hope, shock, and then disgust. I was heartened to know my initial response had been the correct one.
“I can’t believe you’re even thinking about giving her a kidney,” Nia said. “That would make you the bigger person, sure. But you don’t always need to take the high road.”
“That’s exactly what I said,” Chelsea put in.
“What if you need both kidneys later on?” Trevor asked, frown lines digging between his eyebrows. “You could be sabotaging your future self just to help some woman you don’t even know.”
I knew it was true. Still, I’d made up my mind. I would at least meet Ava and see what she said. I wouldn’t promise her anything.
So my friends sat in a circle with me around Nia’s kitchen table as I picked up my phone. Chelsea was next to me, her hand resting on my knee. The light pressure reassured me that she was there for me. I didn’t know if I would’ve had the strength to do this without her.
I wished I could return all the support she’d been giving me. I knew she was still upset about her game rejection, and that she’d pushed those feelings aside in order to stand by me. The night before, when I slept over at her place, I’d collected everything I could find from her game so she wouldn’t be able to throw it out. Her friends seemed to love it, so I knew she had something good. She just needed to make people see that. One rejection wasn’t the end of the world. Wasn’t there some way to take it directly to the people who’d want to buy it? We lived in the twenty-first century, after all.
The phone rang twice, bringing me back to the present.
“Tara?” Ava’s voice was filled with pure, raw hope.
“Yes, it’s me.” I made myself sound even colder than I felt, determined not to let her get too optimistic. “I’m passing through Boston. I thought maybe I could meet you.”
“Well… sure!” There was a ruffling of papers. “I’d love to. And no pressure about anything. I’d love to just see you and talk.”
“Okay.” I was glad she wasn’t assuming anything. “When are you free?”
