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I looked at Tara and smiled. She smiled back, but it didn’t reach her eyes. We both said our goodbyes to Dr. McGee before we left the office. Tara had to get back to work, but she promised to drive me to my mom’s house before her next session. We walked to her car and slid inside.
“Hey,” I said, reaching for her hand. She turned to face me. “I want to thank you.”
“For what?” she asked.
“Dr. McGee was right,” I said. “I couldn’t have done this without you. You are the reason my recovery went so well. Without you, I honestly don’t know what I would have done this past month.”
“You would have been fine,” she said with a laugh. “You’re stronger than you think. I barely did anything.”
“It’s not just about the PT,” I said. “It’s everything. Having you back in my life has been like a dream, Tara. I never realized how much I missed you until I saw you again.”
“I missed you too,” she said softly. I smiled and kissed her, slipping my tongue easily into her mouth.
We kissed for a long time, just sitting in the parking lot and ignoring the rest of the world. Her lips were the only drug I would ever need.
When we pulled apart, though, her eyes were dark. The expression she’d worn in the office before Dr. McGee arrived was back. I frowned and looked at her, trying to read her mind. She cranked the engine and pulled out of the parking spot.
We were almost to Mom and Darren’s house when I finally asked her.
“What’s up?” I asked. “Something’s been bothering you all day.”
“My dad,” she said with a sigh. “I saw him yesterday, and well, let’s just say it didn’t go well.”
“What did he say?” I felt my stomach tighten.
“The same stuff he’s always says.” Tara shook her head. “He doesn’t want us together. He doesn’t approve. He thinks you’re bad for me. He’s trying to protect me. All that shit.”
“Did you tell him about your cancer?” I asked.
“No.” Tara laughed. “How could I? He can’t even accept that fact that I love you… I don’t want to tell him I’m sick when there’s this huge rift between us.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “He’s not being fair to you.”
“I’m used to it.” She shrugged. “Besides, it’s you who should be upset. He hates you for no reason. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“He has reasons,” I said. “They’re just ten years old.”
“It’s insane,” Tara said. “I don’t know what more I can do to change his mind. It breaks my heart because I just want him to be proud of me. I love him so much, you know? I hate how much distance there is between us, especially now that I’m sick.”
“You need him,” I said. “And he’s being a dick.”
Tara laughed. “He really is.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again.
Tara turned into the driveway and stopped the car. She turned to face me with a sad smile on her face. I wanted to say something that would make her feel better, but I knew only her dad could do that.
“I’ll see you later?” she asked.
I nodded and kissed her quickly. She watched me walk up the driveway and through the front door. I turned around in time to see her pulling away.
With a sigh, I hurried into the living room where I could hear my mother waiting for me. She was sitting on the couch with a magazine in her hand.
“Hey,” I said. “Good news.”
“You’re cleared?” she asked, her eyes widening with excitement.
“I can go back to work!” I grinned.
