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I watch as she visibly pales a moment later, and I’m instantly on my feet and by her side.
“Belle? Are you okay?”
“It’s Johnny,” she whispers. That explains why she looks like she’s seen a ghost. She’s practically talking to one.
“Put it on speaker.”
A second later, Johnny’s voice fills the air and everyone's staring at Belle’s phone. She crosses back to the table and places the phone down, before slipping back into her seat. I take my seat next to her and pull her hand into mine.
“Belle? Belle? Can you hear me?”
“I-I’m here, Johnny.” Belle clears her throat. She looks as shell-shocked as I’m feeling. “What do you want?”
What does he want? Why is he calling now, of all times?
“Belle, listen to me. Just don’t hang up, okay?”
“Two minutes. That’s all I’ve got for you.” Her voice is shaky but strong, and I squeeze her hand to lend her my strength.
“That’s fair. Listen, Belle, I’m so, so sorry. I behaved appallingly and —”
“Why now, Johnny?”
“I’m in rehab, Belle. Shit, I didn’t realize how bad things had gotten until I lost everything.”
“That was months ago.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to admit it until recently.”
“What did you do?”
“Belle, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m getting help now and—”
“That doesn’t change anything.”
“I know, and I’m not asking forgiveness or anything, but I was hoping that maybe once I get out of here, we could—”
“Johnny,” Belle says firmly, taking a deep breath. “I’m glad you called, and I’m even happier that you’re getting the help you so desperately need. I’m sorry I didn’t see sooner how bad things were…but I don’t want to be part of your twelve-step program. I’m not a road to recovery item you can check off to make yourself feel better. If you’re really sorry then you’ll give me your blessing, and we can go from there.”
“What do you mean, your blessing?”
“I’m with them, Johnny. All three of them.”
He gives a sharp intake of breath.
“My best friends?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Are they there right now?”
Belle nods in response.
“Hey, Johnny,” I say cautiously when it’s clear that Mica and Linc aren’t going to say anything. “We’re all here.”
Tension crackles along the line while we wait for his explosion.
“I’m glad you’ve found someone good, Belle. Or several someones, should I say? I know they’ll look after you. They took care of my ass for way longer than they should have.” There’s a pause. “Guys, I’m so sorry. I know I can’t undo the damage I’ve done and that I’ve well and truly fucked up our friendship, but I desperately want to have a relationship with my sister when I get done in here, so I hope we can build…something back up between us.”
