Free Just For Now (A Flirting With Trouble Novel) by Annie Kelly

you?” I ask Charlie, looking back at her. She chews on her thumbnail as she considers my question.
    “I mean . . . like, they’re like me how?”
    I stand up and walk over to the front of my desk, leaning back against it.
    “Like you in the sense that they don’t have a safe space to call their own—at school or at home.”
    Charlie snorts. Literally.
    “Uh, yeah, you could say that.”
    I raise a brow.
    “Meaning?”
    She spins around on her rolling chair.
    “Meaning that there have to be at least—God, I don’t know—fifty people who hate life as much as I usually do. I mean, they might not be transitioning, but they sure as shit hate who they are now.”
    “Language, Charlie,” I admonish, but it’s a halfhearted version of scolding. I’ve already moved on in my mind to logistics. Where could I create a safe space for teens? What would I call it? How would we publicize it?
    “Rainey?”
    “Hmm?” I’m staring off into space, but I refocus on Charlie. She’s got her face tilted up and a small smile plays at her lips.
    “If this were a safe place—for lots of people, not just me . . . they’d come here. Like, my friends and classmates and stuff? They’d come here every day.”
    That’s enough incentive for me.
    ***
    “So, let me make sure I’m following.”
    Owen leans back in the plastic chair in the preschool classroom, which makes him look like a giant. It would be hilarious if I weren’t singularly focused on his reaction to my proposal.
    “You want to apply for a grant that will allow us to open a what now?”
    “A Safe Space,” I supply. “I mean, we don’t have to call it that, but that is what I was brainstorming. It would be a spot especially for older, high-school-age students. They would each be provided with a locker or some kind of locked space where they can keep things that are valuable and meaningful to them. They’d have a contract they sign—like a rental agreement or something.”
    “And why would we do that?” Owen asks, eyebrows raised.
    I sit on the windowsill and glance out over my shoulder at a group of boys playing street ball on our not-so-regulation basketball courts. The weather has been so warm lately that the kids have been spending more and more time outside instead of in. I watch them for a long moment—the pure joy on their faces, the perspiration on their brows. I like to think they’re more alive and happy when they’re here. I want to give them a reason to stay.
    So, that’s what I say to Owen.
    “I want to give them a reason to come here every day. We have snacks, we have a pool, we have basketball courts. After that, what do we have? Seriously? What can we offer them?”
    Owen shrugs.
    “I like snacks.”
    I give him a look and he holds up both hands.
    “Okay, I’m sorry. I was kidding. No, I think it’s a good idea. There is absolutely no money for this long term. We’d definitely need the grant. But if you can keep costs down, I think you could go ahead and start working on a basic proposal. Maybe start pitching it to the kids and see how they react.”
    “Seriously?” I ask, eyes wide. He tilts his head to one side.
    “Did you really think I’d say no? It’s a good idea and it’s good for the population.”
    I nod slowly. “No, I know . . . I guess I figured your budget meetings would have us cutting corners all over the damn place.”
    “Oh,” Owen says. He stands up and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Well, Remy gave you budget guidance in the past, right? Just be careful about expenses.”
    “Can I use the county card?”
    Owen blinks.
    “You have a county card?”
    I nod. “Remy had one made for me since I did most of the purchasing . . . Is that not okay?”
    Owen shrugs. “I don’t know, honestly. I’ve got a budget meeting this week. I’ll find out for sure. But as long as you don’t spend more than you usually do for programs, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
    I’m so incredibly thrilled, but I