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“So you decided to turn them into the success they are now.”
She smiled. “Yeah, no. Actually, it was a couple of years before I got in touch with them. Took that long, I guess, to stop feeling sorry for myself.”
“You had good reason for that.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Still. It doesn’t serve anyone. I’d much rather be happy.”
I sipped my coffee. As always, Dakota’s strength of spirit amazed me. I’d probably be watching TV all day, wallowing in misery in her position. She’d taken her life back.
“I envy you,” I said without thinking.
She blinked. “Uh, come again?”
“Oh, fuck. Not the—obviously, not the spinal cord injury.”
“Obviously,” she said dryly.
“I just mean, I envy your ability to really live. You’re always so positive. You’ve got it together way better than I do.”
“Well, you make that easy.”
“Ouch.”
She chuckled. “Sorry. That was mean. I don’t know, Joey. I try, but I don’t have it all figured out. I have this crush who works over at Mug Shots.”
“Felipe,” I said instantly.
She sighed. “Yesss. Felipe. You’ve seen him, then.”
“He’s hot.”
“So hot.” She fanned her face. “And he gave me his number.”
“Whoa, really? That’s awesome.”
She grimaced. “I haven’t called him, though. Less awesome, right?”
“Well, why haven’t you?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m afraid to call and find out that he’s not that interested after all. Or, um, maybe he’ll want to go, but then the date will be horribly awkward and he’ll keep staring at the chair and not even seeing me.”
“There’s no way that would happen.”
“It happens all the time with people.”
“Well, he must see you. He gave you his number,” I said. “And Dakota, anyone who gets to know you at all stops seeing the chair. Even me. And I have more reason than anyone to fixate on it, right? It’s my fault you’re in it. But you’re so vibrant. Do you know that? You just have this amazing, lively energy about you. It breaks through my doom and gloom, and that’s not easy to do.”
“Well, I’m not that lively, because I spend every weekend we’re not working at New Horizons rattling around this house or going out with my brother, who really needs his own life. I used to have so many friends. They just… sort of fell away, unsure how to handle my trauma, I guess. I was really hoping to go to the drag show at Glitter Balls this weekend, but I don’t want to go and watch all the queens flirt with my brother while he pesters me about what I choose to eat and drink. I want to have fun with a big group of friends. But those days are over.”
“They don’t have to be. I’ll take you to the drag show.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“I promise I won’t drive you there.”
She winced. “I think it might be awkward. Just us going. It’s a little too much like a date, and that would be weird considering you’re sleeping with my brother.”
I sucked in air, then choked on it. “Wh-what?”
