Page 36 of Revive Me

I look at the time and calculate that I have another hour before Mikey shows up. I’m sick of playing video games with thirteen-year-old boys, so that’s out. I also don’t really feel like drinking, so that’s out, too.

Glancing down the hallway, my attention zeroes in on the office-turned-gym. I already did my PT today, but…

I pull my wheelchair over without a second thought. I’m sick of slow progress. More exercising should mean quicker recovery, right?

And as I reach for the resistance band and start in on another workout, I ignore the little part of my brain that’s imagining a certain blonde cheering me on.

* * *

The next day, my session with Lily starts the same way it always does. With me climbing onto the treatment table to complete the same exercises we always kick off with.

As Lily moves to the end of the table to flex my foot, I lean back on my hands and watch her. I don’t know if I thought our late night at the clinic this week would make it weird between us, but I’m actually a little relieved to have things feeling more comfortable.

“So…since I don’t have a new PT assigned to me, am I right in assuming you haven’t watchedHereditaryyet?” I ask her. Then, a slow grin stretches across my face. “Or did you watch it and actuallylikeit?”

She sends me an exasperated look that only makes me grin harder. “You should make peace with the idea of me hating it because, I’ll tell you right now, there’s zero chance I’m going to like it.” Ducking her head, she mumbles, “And no, I haven’t watched it yet.”

I tsk. “I’m disappointed. I thought we had a deal.”

Lily huffs as she moves to my other foot. “Our onlydealis your insurance paying me to be your drill sergeant.”

“Ah. My mistake. I thought you were moral enough to honor a verbal contract.”

She straightens and puts her hands on her hips so she can glare at me.

I shrug, unable to hide my smirk. “All I’m saying is, I kept up my end of the deal.”

At that, Lily’s gaze drops to my legs. “No kidding,” she says distractedly. “I can see a difference in your range of motion. Have you been doing your exercises every day?”

When I don’t answer, she cups my heel and calf and pushes my leg back toward my chest. I wince when it strains my hamstring.

“Did that hurt?” she demands.

“Just sore,” I grumble.

A grin slowly stretches across Lily’s face. “Because you’ve been working out a lot,” she asks, though it doesn’t sound like a question.

Once again, I don’t answer.

“Who knew all I had to do to get you to do your homework is promise to watch a movie,” she says with a chuckle, gently putting my leg down.

I drop my head with a sigh of defeat. “Believe me, I had no idea I was so easy.”

I expect her to rip on me some more, but when she doesn’t, my gaze moves back to her. She’s watching me, her expression soft but unreadable.

“I’ll watch whatever you want me to watch if it gets you to do your PT,” she says gently. Then she holds up two fingers with a warm smile. “Scouts honor this time. I promise to honor the verbal contract.”

I quirk an eyebrow in mock-disbelief instead. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Lily returns her focus to my leg with a smile. “That’s fair.”

But then it fades, concentration appearing in its place. “Do you get massages?” she asks distractedly.

“Sometimes. When the aches and pains get bad.”

She purses her lips. “You should get them regularly. They’re great as preventative maintenance.”

I open my mouth to tease her, to tell her I’ve heard that a million times, but I never get any words out. Because her thumb starts to massage my calf and every thought flies from my head.

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