Page 172 of True Blue

“You’re not leaving for the day until I hear this story. I know where you work,” she drops her voice to a menacing whisper, “and I know where you keep your RedBulls.”

I cross my heart to Mimi, who shoots me one last look with a wink before heading down to the impatient doctor and snapping at him. “What, Dr. Clarke, what do you want?”

I snicker at the doctor’s chagrined look. We all know who runs this building.

My phone buzzes again, pulling my attention back to Teddy, who sends me a GIF from The Princess Bride.

Speaking with Teddy again has been… wonderful.

It’s like we broke through a wall we didn’t even know was there, and we’ve opened up a whole other level to our relationship. It’s a trust we never had before. While trust was there before, I think I held myself back because of his family.

I did love Teddy, but there was always a part of me bracing myself for the next interruption, the next phone call, the next dinner where I would be called the wrong name and expected to just smile through it.

To be honest, we burned pretty bright and fast our first time around. We developed a friendship while also developing a romantic relationship.

While that wasn’t necessarily wrong, I think there’s something quite special about relearning who each other is now.

The healing Teddy, the growing Indie.

We know each other inside and out, our strengths, our flaws. We’ve seen the ugliest versions of each other. And we’re still here, because we’ve both changed, and I think for the better.

Teddy is so communicative now. So open with his feelings. He tells me anything that’s on his mind. He wasn’t sneaky or hiding things before, but I can tell he wasn’t able to properly express all his emotions growing up with his mother and father. Soft things were supposed to be suppressed because they were women’s emotions, not men’s emotions, as if gender discriminates against feelings.

Now he’s like a faucet, and when we text, he’ll tell me about his day and send me pictures of any new drawings he’s done—lots of stunning beach landscapes. And what I love to hear most is him talking about the art school he’s starting in January.

There’s no doubt anymore, where these things don’t seem possible because of his mother or father. The only thing standing in his way now is him.

And I’m so, so proud of him.

He’s become the man I knew he was all along. And ever since that night three weeks ago, when he called me and sang me to sleep, I feel the wall built around my heart crumbling bit by bit.

Teddy isn’t even doing the demolition—I am.

I think that’s important.

Teddy just gives me the reason and strength to keep swinging the wrecking ball. I don’t think I ever fell out of love with him, but it’s funny, I feel myself actively falling for him again.

Smiling, I type a reply.

So, I do have a reason for telling you about the ROUS.

Teddy

Indie, you could text me about the weather, and I’d be happy to hear from you.

My smile spreads wide across my face.

I was thinking of going to the zoo on Thanksgiving.

Teddy

Oh, that sounds nice.

I snort and realize I need to be a little more bold.

Would you like to come with me?

It takes maybe three seconds to get a reply.