Now isn’t the best time. I’ll let you know.
Dismissal—again.
Teddy got the call to pick up his car and half expected to run into Finn there, or at least see Rose or Meagan. No such luck. Heconsidered saying something to Ronnie, since they were friends, too, but that just felt desperate, and he wouldn’t have known what to say anyway.
Is Finn avoiding me? Does he still like me?
He might as well have passed Ronnie a note with checkboxes for yes, no, or maybe.
By Friday, there was nothing new, but Teddy had physical therapy in the afternoon. They had to see each other, no avoiding, so Teddy decided to soften the awkwardness by bringing along the cupcakes Dan had sent him.
He’d taken Teddy’s joke seriously and sent a dozen. Anyone who didn’t know they were gluten free wouldn’t have been able to guess; they were amazing, though Teddy was tempted to try a cupcake from Blaise’s bakery to compare and tease Dan a little.
“Hey, Teddy. Come on back,” Finn greeted him at the health center with an achingly professional smile. “Let’s start in the exam room today since we missed Wednesday.”
Teddy followed him, box of cupcakes in hand. He could wait until they no longer had the audience of Betsy behind the counter before he started in, but he was set on getting Finn to talk instead of—
“Listen, Teddy, I’m sorry about the other night, but it reminded me that a patient and therapist getting romantically involved can be complicated, difficult to know when lines are being crossed. I think it would be best if we stayed friends.”
“Oh.” Teddy deflated, not even managing a “hello.” What could he say to that?
“What do you have there?” Finn asked, finally noticing the box, since he’d been avoiding eye contact.
“Cupcakes. Peace offering,” Teddy said, stiff and lost and utterly thrown by being rejected so thoroughly.
“You’re not the one who needs to make peace,” Finn said, averting his eyes again. “Maybe we can have one after we’redone today. We should get started, though, make the most of our time.”
“Right.” So Finn could get rid of him, or at least that’s what it felt like.
Teddy let Finn take the box and set it on the desk out of the way as he got up on the table, going through the motions clinically, agonizingly routine, like Teddy was just another patient.
What was he supposed to do when Finn had already shot him down? Beg? He’d been the one pushing Finn away initially. He felt so foolish now.
If Teddy experienced any discomfort during his exercises, he didn’t notice. Their time seemed to be over early despite starting with the exam, like they’d rushed without realizing it. Still, the girl with the magenta leg came in like the other day, waving at Teddy as she entered.
“Mouse King!” she called.
“What?” Finn said with a laugh.
“I didn’t get his name last time.” She shrugged.
“Didn’t get yours either,Nutcracker.”
“I’m Frankie.”
“Teddy.”
She shrugged again. “Still gonna call you Mouse King.”
Teddy chuckled, calling to stop her before she could situate herself at the walking station. “Miss Nutcracker! Help yourself to one of those cupcakes.” They’d set the box against the wall.
“Cupcakes?” Frankie repeated, managing better on her leg when she had a worthwhile goal. She had to drop her crutches and ease herself to the floor to get at the box, but she did so smoothly.
“Phineas!” Betsy stuck her head in the room. “Phone call. Patient emergency from you know who.” The way she drawled“you know who” and “emergency” told Teddy it was anything but, and Finn’s sigh said the same.
“Sorry, Teddy.”
“We’re done anyway. Go on. Maybe I’ll have a cupcake myself. I’m leaving them with you, after all.”
