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Braden
After an intense hour, we make our way out of Dr. Jim’s office. The bright, warm sun serves to break us out of the heaviness of the session.
As difficult as it was, I’m glad we went. Hearing things from Maia’s perspective helped me understand not only her, but myself better. Apparently, we really didn’t understand each other or communicate as effectively as we needed to. Or at all.
When we get to her car, I lean against it, letting some of my weight off my crutches.
“So, that was a lot,” she says softly, fiddling with her keys.
“It was. But you were right. Here we are. Not screaming at each other.” I hold my fist out. “Still in it together?”
“Always.” She looks down at my fist, waiting to be bumped, and gently puts her hand over the top of it. Her eyes meet mine again. “Um, this might sound weird…” she pauses as my brow furrows. Her voice is heavy and filled with emotion. “But can I give you a hug?”
My shoulders relax at her words. “Yeah, of course. You don’t have to ask to hug me.”
“I know, but—I’ve given you half hugs while you’ve been sitting or in bed, but I haven’t actually hugged you in a long time. I miss your hugs.”
Her words cut at my heart. Setting my crutches to the side, I grab the roof of the car and balance myself as I stand up straight. “Come here.”
She steps to me and hugs me carefully, like she might break me. When she’s least expecting it, I lean against her and squeeze as tight as I can. I’ve missed her hugs, too.
“I love ya, Braden.” She sniffs.
“I love you, too. But I am still a mess of emotions, so please don’t cry. If you do, then I will too and we’ll be standing in this parking lot crying like idiots and that’s not how we roll.”
She chuckles and steps back, gently resting a hand on my shoulder as I grab one of my crutches from behind me.
She swipes at her eyes and breathes out. “Today was a good start.”
“Yeah, it was. Felt like we were finally being honest with each other.”
She nods thoughtfully, then looks at me seriously. “Um, in the interest of being honest, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Hit me with it.”
“I wanna ask Vince to move in with me.”
My eyes go wide and a smile pulls at my lips. “Sorry, I—does he not already live with you?”
“No. I mean, he stays there a lot, but with Jenna moving out, I want to officially ask him.”
“But you haven’t yet?”
“Nope.”
“And you’re telling me first?”
She pokes my shoulder. “Don’t make it weird.”
“I’m not. Sorry,” I laugh. “Just surprised.”
“Well, obviously he helps with Harper now, but if he’s living with me full time, he’s going to be helping take care of her a hundred percent of the time she’s with me, so I thought you deserved to know that.”
Is this what it’s like to have a functioning adult friendship?
“Thank you.”
“Does it… concern you at all?”
