A laugh bursts out of me at his unguarded honesty. “I’d die if I just looked at a treadmill, so you’re doing better than me. Oh, it’s Cooper, by the way.”
“I know. I worked a few float shifts on the psych floor, so I have the number saved. At the moment, you’re really the only person that would be calling me from there.”
“Ah, right. Makes sense. So, um. I wanted to ask you something. Feel free to say no. Absolutely no pressure. I probably shouldn’t even be bothering you. It’s just… I don’t know. I thought maybe—”
“LB.”
“Yeah, Teddy?” I squeak out.
“Take a deep breath and just ask. We can do the explanation part later.”
After all this time, he still gets me. I inhale and exhale before rushing out, “Would you want to come visit me—here, at the hospital?”
“Yeah, LB. I’d like that very much. I work tomorrow, but I’m off the next day. Is that good for you?”
“Yeah, that’d be perfect,” I say, nearly breathless.He’s actually coming!I shouldn’t be surprised, but I’ve spent so long telling myself that I’m not worth caring about that I don’t knowwhat to do when someone shows me that they do. I see Betty tapping her watch out of the corner of my eye. “My time is up, so I have to get off the phone, but Teddy?”
“Yeah, LB?”
“Thank you, and I can’t wait to see you Wednesday.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I'm just happy you called.”
“Me too.”
Cooper
Ugh!I feel like a kid being forced into a playdate, not that I ever had those. I stare at Itc—um, Lane—from across the dayroom. He’s sitting still for once. I better make my move before I have to walk a 5k just to keep my end of the bargain I made with Betty. I make my way across the room and sit on the couch with Lane. He doesn’t acknowledge me.
I clear my throat. “Hey, um… I’m Cooper.”
“Don’t care.”Delightful
“Totally get that, but, well, you see… The thing is—”
“Let me guess. Betty?”
“Heh. She must do this pretty often.”
“Every time. So what’d you get out of the deal?”
“Five-minute phone call.”
“How much did you give up in return?”
“An hour.”
Lane snorts. “Sucker. The last guy got twenty minutes and only had to promise half an hour.”
My jaw drops. “I’ve never been hustled by someone who looks that sweet before.”
“Welcome to Unit 3G. Betty is the kingpin around here.”
I nod solemnly. “Respect.”
“Now that that’s out of the way, let’s pretend it’s been an hour. You got your phone call, and I can be left alone.”
“As much as I don’t want to be here, I keep my word. You’re stuck with me. Why don’t we try to make the best of it?”
