“A little over three and a half years ago, I had some pretty severe damage to my vocal cords and esophagus. It caused permanent damage, hence the raspy quality to my voice. I wasn’t able to talk for months while it recovered due to the pain. When I was released, I didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with everything and that’s why I didn’t put in the work to improve it. My nightmares also make it worse, inflaming it easily. It won’t ever sound the same as before, and it will always bother me if I talk for long periods of time, but I can talk. If I don't use it often, it's more painful when I do speak,” I explain, then promptly sit down. A wave of guilt washes over me that it took this long to reveal this information to them. There's a mixture of horrified looks and pity. I study my friends who all just look like it's no big deal. Cole gives me a squeeze, and Adam leans over to kiss me on the cheek.
“Well that’s enough excitement for mealtime, how about dessert?” Maria asks, giving me a quick wink. I give her a grateful smile in return and stand to help collect dishes, and my friends all join in. We pile them on the counter in the nearby kitchen and help Maria carry platters of cupcakes out to the table.
“Baking is a hobby of mine, so I hope you all like to eat,” Maria jokes as she passes cupcakes to anyone who's interested. I'm all over the chocolate cupcakes, so I don’t need the encouragement.
"Well eating is a hobby of mine, so I'll help out," Cole tosses back, taking a bite of a vanilla cupcake. Everyone laughs but mouths are too full to say anything else. Her cupcakes are practically gourmet, and I snag two more before groaning in defeat and patting my stomach.
After dinner I make my way into the kitchen to help with dishes. Sophia quickly joins me along with Maria. It's actually nice. We work in companionable silence for a while, focusing on our work. Eventually Maria can’t stand the quiet and turns on a radio. I just laugh as Sophia and Maria dance around putting dishes away and wiping down the counters. They’re so much alike it’s scary.
I'm content here with them, with my friends. For the first time in way too long, I feel like I'm with family.
When we're done, I head upstairs to find my friends again. They pushed the bed out of the way and have a double game of Twister going.
“Come on, Charlie! It’s not too late!” Abby yells from her position of being tangled around Adam and Trent. Cole calls out another instruction, and Adam collapses. I take a seat next to Cole and watch my friends enjoy the game.
“Have you played before?” Abby asks, clearly still trying to get me to join in. I shake my head no, and she looks appalled. “All right, rematch after this with Charlie joining!” she announces like it’s already decided.
“I don’t think you have a choice, Charlie girl,” Cole says pointedly, looking at Abby with a shake of his head.
“Alice is joining, too!” Trent demands, causing Alice to look up from her book at him. She rolls her eyes at his attempt before going right back to reading, dismissing his idea.
“I’ll join if Cole does,” I tease. I give him a shoulder bump, and he smiles.
“Only for you,” he says, before announcing the next color.
“Wait, Cole is going to join? It’s official, Charlie changes the rules,” Adam jokes, and Cole throws a pillow at him.
“Cole never plays, he’s too broody,” Abby says and pulls her face into an exaggerated frown. My laughter is nearly silent and I give a shrug. I do change the rules, because he likes trying new things with me. But the funny thing is, they all do.
Abby wins two turns later, doing a victory dance in the middle of the mats. Trent gives her a fake, worshiping bow, and I can’t help but giggle, noticing that even that hurts less already.
“Have I ever told you how much I love that smile and laugh?” Adam murmurs with a sweet smile. I shoot him a shy grin, and he threads his fingers through mine.
“Rematch time!” Abby announces as Trent takes over the spinner. Two spins in and I'm already thankful I'm at least flexible. It's harder than it looks. My stomach is still a bit tender from the last of my cuts healing and I drop a few turns later when I can’t stand the stretch to the next available circle. I claim the spot next to Adam who already went down too and watch the others, absently rubbing the wounds.
"Still both
ering you? It was a bad game to choose then, sorry," he says, moving me to sit in his lap. I lean back against him and relax, the new position giving the tenderness relief and I let out a contented sigh.
Cole is actually impressive. He has a gracefulness in the way he moves, which works in his favor for this game. Soon it's down to him and Abby, who is also ridiculously flexible.
“I bet Cole wins,” Adam says with a grin. I raise my eyebrows in disbelief. He's flexible, but I saw how Abby won the last game. “Give him some credit, he used to dance.”
My mouth drops open in shock. I can't picture Cole as a dancer. He has that whole dark and brooding, heavy metal type of look.
“No!” Abby shouts as she collapses on the mat. Cole stands up and holds out a hand to help Abby off of the mat. “I should have known!” she yells in fake indignation as she gives him a playful shove. We're interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Hot chocolate delivery!” Sophia announces, carrying a tray filled with a kettle, cups and spoons, and some hot cocoa mix. Trent, always the charmer, jumps up to help carry it over to the rug.
“How are you doing, sweetie? I hope I didn’t overstep asking that over dinner?” Sophia worries her bottom lip and wrings her hands.
“I’m fantastic, Sophia. Maybe we can sit down with your parents and get to know each other a bit better sometime, while we’re here?” I offer. She smiles as her eyes fill with tears.
“I would love that. Goodnight, guys,” she says to the others and leaves the room. Neither of us are very good at the emotional side of life, so I guess we're a good match.
“Scary stories?” Trent suggests with a fake creepy voice.
“Not a chance,” Alice vetoes quickly.