"Oh my god, she's alive!" Maeve's voice is immediate and warm and too loud in the quiet of Beckett's apartment.
I laugh. "I'm alive."
"Are you though? Because you've been so quiet and I'm starting to think you've been abducted by aliens or joined a cult or–– oh my god. I know what it is. It’s Cody, isn’t it? You’ve always fallen off the face of the earth when it came to him."
"No, it’s not him. I've just been busy."
"Busy doing what? And don't say school because I know you, Adela Kalkaska, and you're never too busy for me unless something's really wrong."
I glance at Beckett. He's in the kitchen now, giving me space but still present.
"I'm okay," I say. "I promise."
"Are you actually okay?" Maeve's voice softens. "Like genuinely? I've been so worried about your leg and how you're doing after everything."
I watch Beckett as he moves through his kitchen.
"I'm okay," I say again. "Actually okay."
A pause like Maeve doesn't quite believe it but wants to.
"I'm always here, Adela. I won't judge. I really miss having sleepovers at your parents' house. Should we plan something soon? I would love that."
The offer makes my chest tighten.
"Yeah," I say. "We can plan that. A girls' night sounds like something I need."
"Let's try this weekend."
"Okay."
We talk for a few more minutes about nothing important — her classes, our friends, some drama I've completely missed. When we hang up, I feel lighter.
Beckett walks over and kisses my forehead. "Good?"
"Yeah. Good."
Later, we're watching something neither of us is really watching when my mother's name appears on my phone.
"I'm so sorry," I say, already standing. "Everyone's calling me tonight."
"It's fine." Beckett pauses whatever we're pretending to watch. "Take your time."
I answer in the hallway.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, sweetheart." Her voice is careful and warm in the way it's been since the hospital. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"Good. Your father and I were just talking about you."
I lean against the wall, waiting.
"I was in that waiting room a long time," she says quietly.
She said this once before, during my recovery, and I deflected. Changed the subject. Pretended I didn't know what she meant.
