Page 84 of Under One Roof

I jut my chin in greeting to one of the owners of the Tabby Cat, walking his dog and kid, and swerve to avoid a college-aged kid texting and not watching where he’s going. I roll my eyes, mumbling a curse, and offer my elbow to an elderly woman who appears to be struggling to carry her canvas shopping bags. I help her across the street and around the corner to where her car is parked, although she’s so tiny, I’m not sure she could even see all that well over the steering wheel. I wait a minute until she’s off then head back the way I came, only for the door at Lux & Lace to fling open.

Clara grabs my arm, dragging me into the lingerie store, her strength belied by her stature.Though she be but little, she is fierce.

My chest physically aches, but I don’t even have the chance to catch my breath because Clara slings her arms around me. “We heard about what happened! How are you doing?”

Of course. Gossip moved quick in this town. Or should I say, on this street. Because of the tiny but strong pixie refusing to let me go.

I sigh and pat her back. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

Marianne comes to my rescue, urging her wife to let go of me, but she doesn’t look any less concerned. I hold up my hand. “Really, I’m fine.”

Clara pouts. “We really thought you and Andi were meant for each other.”

I jerk back. We are meant for each other. So why would she suddenly believe otherwise?

Marianne tilts her head. “Didn’t you two break up? That’s why she moved to LA.”

“No, we didn’t break up.”

“Oh, thank god,” Clara heaves, hand to her chest.

“She’s in LA for work.”

“For how long?” Marianne asks, and I shrug.

That’s the part that’s killing me. There is no date I can put on the calendar. No schedule I can rely on. Every day is an exercise in patience, and it’s not like I had a whole lot to begin with.

Clara lifts her cell phone, tapping on it. “You’re a Sagittarius, right?”

“Come on, Clare, the guy doesn’t want to hear his horoscope.”

Marianne is right. I don’t care about horoscopes and stars and crystals or whatever weird witchy girl shit Clara’s into.

“Let’s just see what is in the cards for you,” Clara says, then reads, “You might find yourself feeling an intense urge to put an ongoing issue to rest once and for all. This could relate to something in your home life that hasn’t been addressed for a while. You’ll be determined to resolve it and won’t let anything divert your attention. Today, this issue will be your main focus.”

I huff. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Clara smiles at me. “See? Everything will work out.”

I try to be grateful for her friendship, but her eternal optimism is grating. Especially when I want to sulk in my petulance. “I gotta go. Meeting Ian and Taryn.”

Clara hugs me once more before Marianne walks out to the sidewalk with me. “We’re happy to watch the kids whenever you need.”

“Thanks.”

She squeezes my forearm, and just when I think she’ll turn around, she doesn’t. Instead, she tells me quietly, “You know I used to have a crush on you when I was younger?”

“Really?”

She laughs. “You’re so surprised.”

“You’re gay,” I tell her, as if she doesn’t know.

“I’m actually bi. I’ve just only ever been with women.” She waves her hand. “But it doesn’t matter. The point is, if the choice was you or the bear, I’d choose you. I think every woman would.”

I shake my head, not understanding.

“You’re one of the good ones,” she says. “Don’t ever believe any different.”

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