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She scanned the list, and looked back at me. “I don’t think you’re going to like my answer.”
“What?”
She scooted her chair closer to me. I could smell her cucumber shampoo. She got quiet. “I say we avoid all this paperwork as much as possible.”
“Go on,” I said.
She looked over her shoulder and turned back to me, continuing. “I mean, if you’re okay with it, I could just do the stuff you need until you’re able to move around on your own. We have the exercises in your file.”
I started to play with the idea. “We go off the grid.”
“Exactly.” Her gaze was intent on me. “That way we don’t have a paper trail to deal with when we want to divorce. Like all these forms that she was talking about? I’m going to be registered as your spouse.”
She waved her hand, dismissing that part, but my stomach still jumped whenever anyone, including Cassie herself, referred to us as husband and wife. Her face had gotten a little red, too.
“And if it all goes through, someone will be in the house with us. A lot. That’s another person to fool. Then when we split, they’re going to need a whole new round of paperwork, right?” She held up the list. “And then there might be some programs you might not even be eligible for anymore, et cetera, et cetera.”
I voiced what I had thought earlier. “Plus I might be walking again by the time we even get enrolled.”
“True!” she said. “So I say we say fuck it. Get through the next month or so until your discharge, we part ways, and then, if you still need help, you can apply for it then.”
I nodded, considering. I was glad I hadn’t taken another pill. This plan would have gone over my head, and I would have been happy to let it. “Yeah, why bring in more people and institutions that we have to lie to?”
“Bingo.” Cassie leaned back, a contented smile on her face. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Her smile then turned into a quizzical look. “You’re good at listening. When you want to be.”
I tried not to let a smile take over my face, giving away the punch line. “I’ve never heard that before.”
“Well, maybe because you weren’t as good at listen—” Cassie began, then she got the joke. She bumped my arm with her fist.
As she stood, my muscles twitched on instinct to stand with her. For a minute, I had almost forgotten I was injured.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Whatever you say, honey,” I teased.
She hated that nickname, above all nicknames we threw at each other. But this time she just smiled at me. “ ‘Honey’ doesn’t make me feel awkward anymore. Nothing can make me feel awkward anymore. I mean, come on, I’ve seen your tibia.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
