Page 45 of Unloved

Rhys: Why am I watching Peaky Blinders by myself?

Rhys: It’s not nearly as entertaining when you watch it by yourself.

Samuel: You could’ve waited for us.

Rhys: I didn’t know I’d be waiting so long in between visits.

As I lay stretched out on the couch, I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I read the words on the screen. It’s been like this for a week, the three of us exchanging text messages back and forth, filling up the hours, missing each other without ever really having to say so.

I feel someone knock my foot and I glance up to see Frankie staring at me, an inquisitive look on his face. He points at my face, and I know he’s asking me what’s got me looking all goofy.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.

He rolls his eyes, and that has me laughing. Despite the bump in the road at the audiologist’s office last week, Frankie and I are finally in a good place too. I’ve yet to tell him the exact details about the appointment, but I’m enjoying the fact that he’s giving me time and space.

My accident has been a learning curve for all of us; it felt like it could tear us all apart at any moment, but it’s turning out to be the very thing that’s brought us all together.

Samuel and me included.

Even though my gut knows he feels something for me, I really never expected him to make the leap. And Rhys… Rhys is the sun after a rainy day.

My phone vibrates and I pick it up off my chest and look at the screen.

You’re smiling again.

He’s sprawled out on the recliner beside me, but I deliberately stop myself from looking up at him, keeping my facial expressions neutral, and text him back.

You should try it sometime.

Are you going to tell me why you’re so happy?

I could, but then I would have to kill you.

*side-eye emoji*

Well, if you won’t tell me about that, will you at least tell me about the appointment last week?

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to hide my smile. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had a week to mull over all the things Judy told me or because Samuel and Rhys gave me the space and security to process it in my own time, but right now, in this moment, I’m very much at peace with what the audiologist told me.

How hard has it been for you not to ask me about it?

That night I tried to bribe Arlo to give me Rhys’s address so I could drag you out of there and make you talk to me.

Smiling at his revelation, I can’t help but flick my eyes up to his as I type.

You’re ridiculous, you know that?

I do. Now, tell me.

There really isn’t anything she told me that you don’t already know.

She did three tests. Two to check if I could hear anything, and based on those results she informed me that I have lost ninety percent of my hearing in both ears. The last test was just to see how damaged my inner ear is. Spoiler alert: the damage cannot be repaired.

I’m purposefully keeping the language light, hoping he knows there’s nothing for him to worry about.

Was that it?

Sitting up on the couch, I let out an exhale. “It wasn’t anything new, Frankie. There’s no misdiagnosis or misunderstanding. I was born with Pendred Syndrome. Maybe our parents gave it to me, maybe they didn’t. This was always how it was going to go for me.”

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