Page 93 of Revive Me

That is, until my dad appears beside me during a particularly steep part of the hike and asks, “How you doing, sweetheart? You look tired.”

I aim a glare at my ridiculously-in-shape sixty-year-old father, my leg muscles burning and sweat dropping off the tip of my sunburnt nose. “Gee, you don’t say. I thought a six-mile hike and rappel would be relaxing.”

He doesn’t laugh the way I expect him to. Which tells me everything I need to know about how this conversation is about to go.

“Are you not having fun?” he asks, the concern in his voice obvious.

I take a deep breath and turn toward him with a small smile. “I’m having a great time, Dad, I promise,” I assure him. But, knowing that’s not going to be enough to appease him, I add, “You’re right, though. I am tired. Work stress has me a little beat down right now.”

He nods at that, having heard me say that a few times in recent years. “But you’re okay?” he presses. “With work? And right now?”

My smile becomes a little more genuine, and I reach to give his arm a comforting squeeze. “Yeah, Dad, everything’s good.” And while the pit in my stomach that tells me everything isnotgood still exists, I mean it when I gesture at the gorgeous canyons around us and say, “This is exactly what I needed. This is incredible.”

He looks around, a shimmer of excitement coming back to his eyes. “It is, isn’t it? Good pick, Liliana.”

We hike quietly for a few more minutes, and I think I’m finally relaxing for the first time all weekend, when my dad curiously asks, “So, your work stress… Is it a specific patient? Or is it your workload in general?”

And I’m right back to tense and stressed the fuck out.

“Why do you ask?” is the only thing I manage to say.

“That’s Dad’s way of asking about that MMA fighter you’re working with,” Sean interjects from where he’s walking behind us.

Predictably, my other brother Colin pipes up from beside him. “What MMA fighter?”

“Holy shit, I forgot to tell you,” Sean starts excitedly. “Do you remember that Philly fighter Roman Ward? The one who got paralyzed during his title fight? He’s Lily’s newest patient.”

I turn back to glare at Sean and find Colin gawking at me. “Noway,” he breathes out. “That guy was a freak of nature. He probably would’ve made it into the Hall of Fame.That’syour patient?”

Not wanting to engage in this type of conversation, I bring my attention back to the scenery. I hate talking about who Romanusedto be.

“Alright, you two, you know she can’t talk about her patients,” my dad scolds. “That’s not why I asked.”

“Then why did you?” I ask.

“You just seemed…different with him,” he answers carefully. “I guess I was curious if he was the reason for your work stress.”

Fuck.

“I’m not different with him,” I argue, wondering if my defensive tone is as obvious as it sounds to my ears. “I mean, he’s a tough patient, but that’s about it.”

I hear my brother’s snort behind me. “Lily, you were worried about him being with another therapist foronesession. I’m surprised you didn’t make us shorten or postpone the trip.”

I spin in place and send another glare in my brother’s direction, my heart rate doubling.

“So, I give a shit about my patients, sue me,” I snap. “His recovery is…precarious. I didn’t want to mess anything up.”

Sean blinks at me in surprise, shocked at my outburst. I’m shocked, too. But if my brother picked up on something like that during one ten-minute visit, then who knows what else I made obvious. And now, I’m panicking.

“Okay, give it a rest, you two,” comes my dad’s voice. His hand drops onto my shoulder. “Lily, we just wanted to make sure you were okay. That’s all.”

Sean nods in agreement. “Yeah. Lil…I didn’t mean you caring was abadthing.”

I wince and swipe a hand down my face. “I know. I’m sorry, that was an overreaction. I’m just tired.”

“Do you want to go home?” my dad asks, his worry coming back to the forefront.

I shake my head instantly. “No, not at all. I meant it when I said this trip is helping.”

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