“Hey, babe,” I say, sounding chirpy.
“Hey,” he answers, sullen.
Instantly, I frown and look at Johnny for guidance. He nods, telling me to keep talking to him.
“Babe, Anna, and Johnny are here. I have you on speaker. How are you?” I ask, trying to sound upbeat.
He exhales, and I bite my bottom lip. “I’m okay. Taking it one day at a time, as they say,” he states emotionless, causing me to feel emotional.
“Colt, are you okay?” I ask, dreading the answer, but it seems to perk him up a little.
“Yeah, sorry. I’mreallytired. I have zero energy, and all these sessions are harder than I thought. Plus, I miss you like crazy.”
“Oh, babe, I miss you too. So much.”
“They say we can have visitors next week. I’d love to see you… if you want to?”
“Of course. You just tell me when and what time.”
“I called Mum and told her that Hux and I are doing fine. She wants to come down to the visitor day, but I told her she didn’t need to do that. I don’t really want her to see Hux or me in rehab again. She deserves better than that. So I told her I would go and see her when we get out.”
“Babe, you do whatever you feel comfortable with. I know your mum will be upset knowing you’re both back in rehab, and if you don’t want to see her, then I’m not going to tell you any different. I support you, Colt.”
“Thanks, baby. We’ll find time to see Mum when I get out. I know you want to meet her.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “Yeah, that’s fine with me. Whatever you want to do.”
“Hey Colt, how’s Hux doing?” Johnny asks.
Shit! I probably should’ve asked that myself.
“He’s doing well, flirting with all the nurses and keeping me entertained. We have a joint counseling session to discuss our dad and all the bullshit that comes with that. At first, he didn’t want to talk, but now I can’t shut the idiot up. He struggled a lot the first four days with detox, but I was coming out of the worst part of mine when he was going through the worst of his, so at least I was there to help him. If I were anything like Hux waswhen we were on that jet, Dee, baby, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to see tha—”
“You stop right there, Colt. Of course, I’d be there for you, just like you’d do it for me. So don’t stress. I’ve become a tough girl. I love you, so that’s what I’m supposed to do. And if it helps you get better, then I’m all for working through the bad to get to the good.”
“Dee?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Trust me, I’m working on myself to get to where I know you need me to be,” he says, sounding sincere.
“It’s okay, Colt. I’m fine. You concentrate on getting sober. That’s what matters right now.”
Joseph walks in carrying a tray of food. “Grubs up,” he says, not realizing we’re on the phone.
“Who’s that?” Colt asks, and Joseph looks at me and mouths,Colt?
I nod, and he frowns.
“Colt, it’s Joseph,” he says, and I look at him wide-eyed like he’s an idiot.
“What the fuck is your douchebag ex doing there, Dee?” Colt blasts out, extremely angry.
“It’s not what you think. I’m living with Jo—”
“So you wait till I’m gone, and you bastards party without me,” Colt interrupts.
“Colt, will you shut up and listen, dude?” Johnny berates.
