Page 54 of Ripple Effect

“I know, and I’m pissed at you about it. But at least you letsomeonebe there to take care of you,” she says. “This Daisy—is there more going on between you two than just friendship?”

I sigh, pressing into the headboard. “No.”

“Do you want there to be?”

“She’s one of the best people I’ve ever met,” I say gently, honestly. “She reminds me of you, in a way. Really caring, kind of an overthinker, but she’s much more sunshine than your grumpy ass could ever be.”

She scoffs. “Hey! I’ve been very much on the sunnier side these days.”

“Yeah, did Beck inject you with something?”

“Love, commitment, stability.” Her voice is half-serious, half-teasing. But then she sobers up, asking the one question that I’ve been avoiding. “El, could this be someone you might settle down for?”

“Don’t get me wrong, anyone would be lucky to be with her,” I say, my voice firm. “But she’s not looking for that right now. She just got out of a long-term relationship about a month ago. And Lord knows she doesn’t need to be with someone like me.”

My best friend’s response is instant, firm, her fiery spirit making itself known even through the phone. “Shut up, E. There’s nothing fucking wrong with you.”

I snort a laugh. “I just mean, I fuck other people for a living. And I’ve been in and out of the hospital for the last few weeks. Oh, and not to mention, I’m an addict. That’s a real attractive package right there, isn’t it?”

“First of all, you won’t be doing that job forever,” she argues back, her voice hard and resolute. “Second, just because you have a heart condition doesn’t mean you don’t deserve love. And lastly, you’ve been clean for half a decade now.”

“Right,” I manage to respond, even as her words echo in my ears.

“You have been clean, haven’t you?”

“Yes, Kai, I have been. And I’m certainly not gonna delve back into that world now, not when my heart’s all fucked-up.”

“And because you wouldn’t do that to yourself, to me, to your family,” she adds quietly.

“Yeah, that, too.”

She chuckles, a soft, warm sound. “I’m really proud of you, you know?”

“Stop with the sappiness, Kai. I’ll be okay.”

“I know you will, despite everything going on right now. But I’m still allowed to tell you that I’m proud of you—for how hard you’ve been working, for taking care of your health, for making a new friend.”

I chuckle at that, shaking my head. “Making a new friend? Jesus Christ, am I five years old?”

“Yeah, and I just dropped you off for kindergarten. So, be on your best behavior with Daisy, alright? Don’t screw things up.”

“I won’t,” I promise. And then my phone beeps loudly in my ear, indicating an incoming call. I pull the device back, squinting at the name displayed on the screen—Daisy Grey.

“Look, I gotta go,” I tell Kaia. “But we’ll talk later, okay?”

“Let me know how your appointment goes tomorrow.”

“I will. See ya.”

I don’t wait for her goodbye before I end the call, answering Daisy with an apprehensive “Hello?”

“Hey, El,” Daisy’s voice filters through the line now, taut and strained. “How are you? Everything okay over there?”

“I’m fine. No issues.” I run a hand through my hair, springing up from the bed and pacing the length of my room. “How are you?”

“Um, well, I really hate to bother you about this, but we tried Max, and he’s not answering. I, uh, it’s not urgent or anything, but I could use some help if you think you’re up for it.”

“What’s wrong?”

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