Chapter 73

I didn’t stay to lean on other people, I stayed to get head space and not talk this out with other people. Well, my mom, I have yet to find the courage to go and do it. We have never had the kind of relationship where I confide in her, and even though my heart is aching for her advice, I’m not there yet. I need to work up to it and find my words before I tell her anything.

Arrick makes it easy for me to talk to Jake and Emma. They usually know before I get to them about anything and everything, and they always have a wider perspective because of him too. It’s easy to rock up and cry on them because he paves the way by doing all the hard talking first. I sometimes wish I was more like him in his willingness to talk things out with people he trusts and respects. My initial reaction is to internalize and eventually let Arrick coax it out of me. I’m not good at laying my cards on the table. I have never been.

I steady my nerves and close my eyes as I try to be more like him.