Tara laughed. “Because she’s the best friend ever.” She pulled me into a side hug.
I hadn’t been the best friend ever, at least not all the time and especially not lately.
Michael shuffled some papers on the desk, then held a stack in the air. “We just came by to pick up the forms for the tournament sponsors.”
“Tournament?” I asked.
“Yeah, they’re having a big tournament here next month. It’s so much work,” Tara said. “You should come.”
“Yeah, maybe, if I’m still here.”
“It was good to see you,” she said, heading for the door.
“You too,” I said, as both she and Michael left, papers in hand.
Elijah clicked a few keys on his keyboard and then brushed his hands together like he was finished with whatever he was working on. A pile of papers labeled as score sheets sat on the desk nearest to me. “You guys still score matches by hand?”
“Yes, and it’s a pain in my ass. It will be ten times more painful for the tournament. Adding and crunching and grouping contestants. Don’t get me started.”
I almost said that an iPad for each judge and a shared Excel program would take half that pain away. Or even better, someone had probably already developed an app for this. That was very likely. But I was staying out of this. By next month, we’d be done with our therapy wager and I would most likely be gone. So instead, I said, “I will not get you started.”
“So, you’re not quitting, after all, huh?” That annoying little gleam was back in his eyes.
“Don’t,” I said. “It’s for Tara and no other reason.”
“Didn’t think there was another reason.” He came out from behind the desk. “Don’t you look adorable.”
“Do your compliments always sound like they should be directed at small animals or children?”
“You’re in a good mood today,” he said, obviously meaning the opposite. “You don’t want to be here?”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to be home, that was for sure. My mom was on one this morning. She’d spilled her juice again, and this time I’d seen her do it and it seemed purposeful. Her eyes meeting the glass seconds before the back of her hand did. I tried to tell myself that maybe she was having double vision, was dizzy, but I wasn’t sure anymore.
“I won’t be offended if you want to leave. I can even truthfully tell Dr. Franklin that you came and saw the place.”
I took a deep breath. “No, I… I said I would.” My eyes caught on his stack of scoring sheets again. “Unless you’re busy with tournament prep. I can leave.”
“No,” he said. “I mean, I am, but I need a break.”
Were both of us unwilling to be the one to say we didn’t want to do this? Or maybe we were both unwilling to say that we reallydid. “I’m here. Let’s get this over with.”
“Not exactly enthusiastic participation, but participation.”
I gave a breathy chuckle. “It’s all I have today.”
“I’ll take it.”
I eyed the boxing ring as we walked out of the office. “Am I going in there?”
“Only if you want to, but that’s normally a session two or three thing.”
“I don’t want to.” I didn’t need to be on display for the whole gym. There were at least half a dozen people working out.
“Have you ever punched a bag before?”
“No,” I said.
“Then let’s get you punching things.”
