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Hitting the fridge, I pull out strawberries, spinach, yogurt, and an apple. I’ve left my giant container of protein powder on the counter for easy access. I pull a banana off the caddy and toss the entire thing into the blender. One after another I add the ingredients to make my morning smoothie. Except today, I double the amount, adding two scoops of protein powder and more strawberries than I normally would.
I know she likes her sweets.
The thought of Sadie makes me smile. I’m starved for any form of interaction with her. Because of the rain I can’t wait for her on the balcony. Did that once. Only thing I got out of it was wet.
It took everything in me not to reach out to her yesterday, but I don’t want to seem pathetic. Today all bets are off. I’m going to call her. Right after I leave my sweet healthy treat at her doorstep.
Good thing I slept in today. She doesn’t seem to be the type to get up early. And really, no one should call anyone before ten. That’s just rude.
Once I’ve added the ice and mixed the entire thing together, I pour two huge glasses. Taking a sample, I note it’s definitely sweeter than I normally enjoy, but it still has a green hue from all the spinach. Guess it will have to do.
I slip my sneakers on my bare feet, and head out my door and over to hers. After I set the drink down, I return to Jake’s apartment and dial the number she gave me the other day.
Anticipation of hearing her voice sends a tingle to my stomach I haven’t felt in a long time. Maybe ever.
“’Lo,” she mumbles.
“Good morning, sunshine! Are you awake?”
“Begrudgingly, yes.” Her tone is off and lacks the normal chipperness I’ve come to associate with talking to her.
“I left a present by your door.”
“Is it donuts?” Her voice rises a little.
I chuckle and grab my drink from the counter. “Fried bread covered in sugar? Uh, no. There isn’t anything nutritious about a donut.”
“Then I’m not leaving my safe place to get whatever it is you left.”
“Your safe place?”
“Mmm hmm. I’ve wrapped myself in my favorite blankets, surrounded myself in pillows, and have a bag of peanut M&M’s to live off. I’m good right here. Here no one can harm me.”
“Harm you. What’s wrong?” Anxiety twists inside my gut.
“I don’t want to talk about it. If I talk about it, it makes it real.” Her voice catches and my stomach drops.
“First of all, Sadie, go get the damn drink I left at your door.”
“Is it coffee? If it is, this may be true love.” Her voice is teasing now but it doesn’t carry her normal spirited vibe.
Fuck, why didn’t I think to add a cup of coffee? I enter the kitchen and put one of the pods into the machine and get the thing started.
“You’ll have coffee in about sixty seconds.” I laugh but hear crickets on the other line. “Sadie, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong. Are you feeling sick?”
“No!” She sobs. “My dad is. H-h-he has flu-like symptoms and they’re not testing him for COVID-19.” She chokes on her words.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry.” I grab the now ready cup of coffee, take it outside, and set it next to the smoothie that’s rapidly melting. “There’s a cup of Joe at your door. Come out of your cocoon and get it, yeah? Then we’ll talk.”
She sniffs and makes a snotty sound. “O-o-okay. Only because I need the caffeine.”
“That’s good. Get your coffee.”
I wait while I hear her shuffling around, and then I hear the unmistakable sound of the door opening and closing.
“You made me a green drink? I thought you cared?”
“It’s a smoothie. I want you to drink it. It has tons of vitamins and protein. It’s going to give you an awesome boost.”
“I don’t want a boost!” she snaps childishly. “I want my daddy to be okay!”
“Breathe, Sadie. Just breathe. Sit on your couch and tell me what happened.” I follow my own advice and hold the phone to my ear, not wanting to miss a second of what she has to say as I get comfortable on the couch.
“Do I have to drink the icky-looking one?” she asks, the disgust clear in her tone.
“You have to taste it. And I’d be very pleased if you at least drank half of it.”
I wait in silence for a full thirty seconds.
“It’s actually not bad. Tastes like strawberries and bananas. Could use some whipped cream though, and a new color. No one willingly thinks, oooh green drink. Yum.”
“As you said, it tastes good. Ignore the color and no, absolutely no on the whipped cream. Drink your drink, sip your coffee, and tell me what happened.”
She sighs heavily and then inhales. “After dealing with an insanely annoying call from my ex Sean yesterday, Mom called.”
