“Are you calling me fat?” She holds her heart like a dramatic ass.
“Yes.” She laughs, and I can’t help but join her. We both know I’m not calling her fat, but even if she was, who cares? Working out with me is just a distraction, one she needs right now.
“I’ll think about it.”
“You should. You need it.” I look at her, faking my disgust, and she laughs again, but I know she knows what I meant. She gives me a grateful smile and nods before we finish our meal.
I pay for the both of us, and as we make our way out, I say, “I have a question.” I look over at her, and she has a huge smile on her face.
“The moment I’ve been waiting for.” She looks up to the ceiling and then over at me. “My answer is no, I will not.”
“You asshole.” I shove her, and she starts laughing. “Never mind then. Forget it.” I shake my head as we walk out of the diner.
“Uh, uh, go ahead.” Her smile is a bit smaller, but I can tell she’s excited for me to ask.
“Will you be my sponsor again?” I know I already have one. One who gives me homework, so yes, I want a new one.
“Ehh… I’ll think about—” I shove her again, and she almost loses her balance, but I don’t try to catch her. Asshole. “Jeez, nice to see you still can’t take a joke.”
I roll my eyes at her as I flip her off. “My offer is standing for the next three seconds or—”
“Of course I will, Sire.” I look over at her with a smile, but she turns more serious as we keep walking. “But I told you I’m not in a good place right now, so—”
“I don’t mind. I know you won’t bail on me.” Having a sponsor who isn’t stable isn’t the smartest idea, but I think I’m stable enough for the both of us, and if not, I still have my other sponsor who gives fucking homework.
Lis needs me. I’m sure that’s why she forgave me so easily. So even if she isn’t the best choice of a sponsor at the moment, I don’t care. She just needs the responsibility right now.
She gives me another grateful smile. “I actually think I needyouto bemysponsor.” I stop walking and turn to her in a bit of shock.
“Wait, you’re being serious?”
She avoids my eyes like she’s… ashamed. “I feel rock bottom is close, and you’re honestly all I have. You don’t have to—”
“I want to.” She looks up at me with a warm smile. “But I’ve never been anyone's sponsor, so if I suck at this, don't blame me.” I put my hands up in defense, and she laughs.
“There isn’t really much to it. Just harass me here and there.” I give her a nod. Okay, I can definitely do this. It feels weird having her entire sobriety in my hands, but I’m honored she chose me.
When Friday rolls around, Iwake up early and head down to buy Vidia’s piña colada. I doubt she’ll take it, but I said I’ll get her one for all of my next sessions since she didn’t make me reschedule, so that’s what I’m going to do.
When I walk in, her eyes land on the drink, and she looks bored to death of me. “You’re wasting your money.”
“Don’t worry, I have a lot of it,” I smirk over at her.
She shakes her head with a small smile, and I’m sure in her head she called me every nickname with arrogant in it. She throws a baseball at me, but I miss it, trying to balance her drink in one hand and my phone in the other.
“I thought you were the LA Dodgers' best?” She teases me for missing the ball, and I crack a smile. “Maybe you shouldn’t waste your money on piña coladas, who knows? Maybe you won’t make a full recovery.” My smile drops at her bad attempt at a joke.
“Not funny,” I say dryly, and an uneasiness settles in the pit of my stomach at the thought. She starts setting up for what I have to work on today, but I stay put until she looks over her shoulder at me. “What are my chances?”
“What?”
“How healed will I be at the end of this?” We only have next week of therapy left, and I feel one hundred percent fine, but she’s the doctor here, and I don’t know if it’s because she likes bothering me, but she hasn’t told me if I’m getting better or how much better I’ll get.
She fully turns to me and toys with one of the thera-bands, stretching it in her hands. “You’re going to make a full recovery.” I let out the biggest sigh of relief at her words because I really needed to hear that.
“Why do you look so surprised? Your injury wasn’t that bad this time around—plus, I’m the best.” She whips around, her curls bouncing after her, and I smirk at her.
“Whatever you say, Mrs. Arrogant.” She freezes for a quick second at my nickname for her, and I do, too. I said it so easily that I completely forgot we used to tease each other with that once upon a time.