“Excuse me?”
“The ass is doing a lot of the heavy lifting today.” I kissed the top of her head. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to print out my color-coded notes for study group tomorrow.” She pulled a jammed piece of paper from the machine. “This thing is a piece of shit.”
“Move, I’ll fix it.”
“Now you’re a printer repairman?”
“I have many skills.” I shooed her away.
“How was NA?”
I seeped in air, gritting my teeth. “One of the members OD over the weekend.”
“Shit, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I barely knew her. She was pretty quiet. It just sucks because I’ve been there and you think it would be a wake-up call but a lot of times it’s not.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Sounds like it, but relapsing is rough. You feel like a failure and that feeling makes you want to use even more. Anyway, the meeting was mostly about recognizing triggers and establishing coping strategies.”
“Do you have coping strategies?”
“Yeah, building a support group which I have with you, Pete and Nori. Exercise helps relieve my stress and focus my mind. And avoiding situations that don’t support my recovery. That’s the part I’m finding the hardest because every party or invitation to hang out often includes drugs. It’s a balance you know.”
I promised myself I wouldn’t shy away from the tough questions. Whatever Danessa needed to know I’d answer. She put her trust in me, and I had to do the same. Because trying to protect her from all this would only make our relationship harder.
“I hope one day I get to meet Pete.”
“It’s kinda anonymous for a reason.” Opening the various printer doors, I located the source of the jam.
“Did you catch the Tip-in interview?”
“How could I miss it with everyone texting and emailing me links?”
“You probably should’ve asked your father to sign an NDA before you got famous.”
“A little too late for legal advice.”
“Have you talked to your mother?”
“Yeah, and she’s on his side. Let’s talk about something else. How’d you do on the torts quiz today?”
“Ninety-seven.” Danessa beamed.
“My baby is so damn smart.” The printer was jammed with paper, requiring me to remove several crumpled sheets.
“I took your advice and scheduled a family therapy appointment with Jemini and Anika, not that I think it will help.”
“If you go into it expecting to fail, then you will. I know Jemini has done a lot to make you distrust her, but I also know you’re not ready to cut her off.”
“How can I? We’re business partners.”
“Exactly, it would be in everyone’s best interest if you could get to a better place.”
“I think we just need to talk about work and only work. When we talk about anything else that’s when we bump heads.”
