Page 70 of Wild

"No, not yet."

"But you want to," Nell says, eyes fixed on a shop window where they've just stopped.

"Yeah."

The woman turns and gives her a gentle pat on the back before walking on.

"I talked to Brooke."

Just then they pass a coffee shop whose smell stops them both in their tracks.

"Tell me over coffee." Nell takes her by the arm and they go in, and Erin orders two chocolate donuts, which makes Nell's eyes go wide. "Where do you put all those calories?"

"I burn them at the gym."

Nell nods and blows on her latte before taking a sip.

"Okay, tell me."

"There's not much to tell. She found out I was on Mia's tour and asked me to set it up so she could meet her — and obviously, to pay for her travel wherever that might be."

The woman shakes her head slowly, taken aback by the sheer nerve of Erin's sister.

"Are you going to do it? Are you going to give her that too?"

"No." Erin starts on her second donut and suddenly thinks of the four Barry inhaled the last time she saw him, and smiles toherself. "I told her it's over — that she can call me to check in, but not to ask for things," the doctor sums up.

"Good for you, Erin," Nell says, clapping her hands. "I know it's hard, but it's the right call. From what you've told me, your sister is the kind of toxic person who drains you — energy and money both," she adds, spreading strawberry jam on her toast. "We only get one life, sweetheart, and we need to spend it around people who add something to it, or at the very least don't take anything away."

Erin leans back in her chair, finishing her last bite.

"I'm going to try to help Lexie get credentials for the gala, and I'm not going to help my sister meet her favorite singer," she says, thinking out loud.

"The difference between the two is that Lexie didn't ask you — you offered because you wanted to, because for some reason you feel like she's earned it. Your sister, well… we both know that girl has no limits unless you're the one setting them. She'll grow up eventually, Erin, or she won't — but that won't be on you anymore. She's an adult; her choices are hers to make."

"Thank you, Nell — for everything, in general. You've helped me open my eyes, helped me do something I should've done a long time ago."

"A long time ago you probably weren't ready," says the tour's production director. "You are now, and that's what matters. Everyone does things when they feel strong enough to do them, when the moment comes — even if sometimes it feels like it took longer than we would've liked."

Erin loves spending time with this woman, and she can't help wondering what she would've been like if she'd had a mother like Nell.

"Do you have kids?" she asks, curious.

"Me? God, no. No, thank you."

Erin bursts out laughing.

"I have nothing against them — I actually love kids — but one of my own? I'm pretty sure my marriage would've ended. I love this life, moving from city to city, and if I'd had to give it up to raise a child, I would've become so unbearable my husband would've left me. What about you? You've still got time."

"Not a chance — Brooke was more than enough."

They both crack up, and Erin pulls out her phone when it buzzes in her pocket. She swipes down from the top and sees it's a message from Mia.

Mia Wilder

How are you? Did you call her?

Erin smiles and types back.