Page 16 of Loud Hot Roomie
Sophia is a menace. She lives for picking at her husband. The dude must get off on it because he keeps her around. That shit would get on my nerves, but he likes fighting with her.
I flop my notebook closed and rise to my feet, wincing slightly. Casey flashes me a bright smile as I hobble my way over to her.
“Long time, no see, Valentine,” she says in greeting. “Let’s head to your room.”
Apparently I’m a problem patient they like to hide behind closed doors. To be honest, I’m glad not to get dirty looks from other people in therapy. I can’t help it Casey hurts me and I have to say something about it.
“Last time I saw you, you were about to pop.” I chuckle at the memory of her being pregnant. She was miserable toward the end. “How’s the kid anyway?”
“Perfect.” She gestures at the exam table in the room. “How are you? Looks like your hamstring’s acting up again?”
“Nah, just missed seeing my favorite sadistic woman.”
She closes the door and shakes her head. “You act like I enjoy making you cry.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s the highlight of your day.”
“I guess we’ll never know the truth,” she says with a smirk. “Hop up there and let’s get you some relief.”
I complain a lot and it does hurt when she beats on me, but it always helps in the long run.
She slaps some goo on my thigh and begins her intense, deep tissue massage that makes me want to climb the walls. It’s like she knows exactly the spots that hurt the most and digs her thumbs into it on purpose. I squirm and thrash, all the while cursing her name. It’s a spectacle.
“I curse your firstborn and all your grandchildren,” I say through gritted teeth. “And your little dog too!”
“I have a cat,” she says sweetly as if she’s not torturing the fuck out of me. “Don’t be dramatic.”
After she massages me until actual tears form, then she sets to stretching me. It’s not as painful but it makes me curse a lot. So much so, Sophia pokes her head inside to check on us.
“Need this?” Sophia asks, holding up a roll of duct tape. “I’d be happy to assist, Case.”
“Go away, psycho,” I call out to her, “or I’ll demand your firing!”
Sophia cackles with laughter. “Drew fires me at least three or four times a day. Your threats mean nothing to me.”
Casey shoos her out of the room and then her expression grows serious. “How’s school?”
This distracts me from the physical pain. “Eh, I quit.”
“Oh,” she says, eyebrows flying up. “I’m surprised.”
“My parents were riding my ass too much—fucking ow, woman!”
“Sorry.” She lets up on her stretch. “How did they take that?”
“Not well.”
“Are you going to elaborate?”
I sigh heavily. “I moved out. Got a roommate. Doing my own shit now.”
“Good for you. I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I know this has all been stressful for you. You’re doing something about it and that’s admirable.”
“You’re just trying to distract me from your abuse.”
