Page 12 of The Fates We Tame

I can’t remember what day he came before today. I can’t remember if he was wearing a cut then or not. I remember jack fucking shit.

I open my eyes in frustration. Sophia is focused on my palm.

“You’ve been here too long if you know how to do that,” a man says.

“Learned from the best, Raheel.” Sophia glances to the man walking by the table. “Raheel is my physical massage therapist. Has been since I first arrived. He’s amazing.”

Raheel grins at Sophia, but it’s the kind of smile that says he’s proud of his patient. Not anything more.

Which…why the fuck do I care if it’s anything more or not?

“That’s very kind of you, Sophia. I hear you’re considering leaving us soon.”

“Everybody thinks I’m ready,” she says, but there’s a wariness in her tone.

Her four-word answer tells me everything I need to know. That she’s not ready. But my guess from the way she is around me, and the way she spoke in our session, is that her reluctance has nothing to do with her physical capabilities.

“You’ll crush it,” Raheel says.

“Of course,” she says, too brightly.

He falls for it.

And through it all, she keeps massaging my palm, and I’m too much of a selfish dick to stop her.

A young woman appears behind Raheel. “Your guests are here, Theo. I’ve put them in the main visitors’ room.”

I slide my hand from Sophia’s. “Thanks for lunch, but I have to go.”

We both look at my barely touched plate, but she smiles. “Anytime. Let me know if you want a rain check. Or another hand massage. I’m good at them.”

“Maybe, Sparrow.” I stand and push my chair out behind me.

The main visitors’ room is large, with multiple different seating areas. It’s plush, but at the same time, you can tell there is accommodation for mobility devices and different needs. King, Vex, and Halo look utterly out of place amongst the sea of beige furnishings and piped-in elevator music.

The other people seated in the guest area keep a wide berth from them.

“Switch.” Halo stands, the first to see me. His eye is bruised, his knuckles raw, like he’s just been in a fight. “You’re looking good.”

The use of my road name chafes. “Wish I could say the same for you.”

I smile because they are expecting me to, and suddenly I realize Sophia and I have that in common. We’re both saying what we’re supposed to. I’msupposedto be happy to see my friends when the truth is infinitely more complex.

King stands and hugs me, but he winces and returns his right arm to its place in front of his body, as if it’s in an invisible sling. “How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Like I need…a ride.”

“Man, that sucks. Can only imagine,” Vex says as he hugs me. “Must be utterly frustrating.”

They all take a seat on the fancy sofa and chairs. Vex has come see me most. He seems to understand more than the others that this is going to be a long game. And that trite get well wishes barely scratch the surface of how I’m truly feeling. He doesn’t bombard me about the past but waits until I ask specific questions.

I’ve been told by multiple people that he was my best friend before, and I’m starting to see why.

I look down at my hand, which actually feels some temporary relief from the stiffness and cramping I felt earlier. It still aches, but it’s not as acute.

“What the hell happened to you all?” I ask.

King glances at Halo, Vex, then back to me. “Some trouble on a run last night. We sorted it though. How’s the physio going?”