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“This combo of us? I don’t know. It’s been a while. We’re a rare combination,” I say, sitting down on the couch.
Mackie sits on the other end from me, laughing. “We’re a collector’s edition.”
“Sky, sit,” Joel says to his and Sarah’s dog. He’s a mixed breed, but he’s got a lot of lab in him with longer hair like a golden retriever.
Sky climbs onto the couch and sits on Mackie’s lap as she happily laughs.
I laugh too as Joel shakes his head. Sky is very well trained, but also thinks he’s a lap dog.
“Hey, he sat,” Mackie says. “Right where I wanted him to. Good boy, Sky.” He licks her face, and she pets him vigorously.
“You’re the crazy aunt who spoils him,” Joel says.
“Just wait till the baby is born.” Mackie grins at me. “I’m going to spoil her rotten. Then give her back.”
“She will be well loved,” I say. Especially if Sky is any indication. He settles on Mackie’s lap.
“I think I might get a dog,” Mackie says. “But I’ll have to take Sky with me when I do so I can ensure they’ll be best friends.”
“I think Sky could get along with any human or animal. Nothing bothers him. Except squirrels,” Joel says, shaking his head. “Anyway, how are you? And you and Amelia?”
“We’re good. Getting better. I’m… nervous as fuck about my therapy appointment tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes. I’m familiar with that. You’re in the why the fuck did I agree to this? phase,” Joel says.
“Yeah, pretty much. I also started down the rabbit hole looking at medications and side effects. A couple of the meds aren’t so bad, but all of them have basic side effects like agitation or sleeplessness or low sex drive.” I mutter that last part into my coffee mug.
“Way to think with your dick,” Mackie says.
Joel side eyes her, then looks at me. “There’s no guarantee you’ll have that or that they’ll put you on meds. Either way, I think you can work with lessened sex drive if it means your anxiety won’t be as bad.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I know. But… I like who I am. Minus the more extreme anxiety. Call it egotistical, but I’m pretty fucking awesome, and I don’t want meds to change me.”
“It’s a good thing you’re going to therapy,” Mackie says with a sweet-as-pie smile. I’d smack her, but Sky would get pissed.
“Thanks. Easy for you to say.”
“Excuse me. I went to therapy before the thought even occurred to either of you idiots.”
I turn and gape at her. “What? Why didn’t you ever tell me that? When?”
“When everything blew up with Hyla and me.”
“Seriously? We didn’t even get to hold an intervention or anything,” Joel jokes.
“Yeah. You’re no fun,” I agree.
“Well, at the time, Rae and Aaron were hoarding all the drama. It was easier to keep it to myself. But also, I mostly went when I was visiting my dad. I did a few video sessions, but then moved on. Once I got past the worst of the stuff between Hyla and me, I started feeling better.”
“You know we still would’ve supported you, right?” Joel says.
“Yeah. But I don’t know… sometimes I like to do things outside the hive mind.”
“You usually tell me,” I say.
She looks down at Sky and pets his head. He makes a happy huff noise. “I was figuring my shit out then. It was easier to do without anyone else knowing. Sometimes, on rare occasion, I’m like Rae. And him.” She nods at Joel.
“Which is why we all need therapy,” Joel says with a laugh. He looks back at me. “Try not to stress. That’s sort of the opposite of the point.”
