*𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐕.𝐈𝐈*

nineteen

BRYCE

"So, what did you need to talk to me about?" Dr. Helms asked me. "Theres... Theres this anger inside me where I don't wanna leave but I feel like I need to so I don't ruin the trust we built." I say biting the side of my nail. He looked at me and took a deep breath. "You're trying to run" He says. "No im not" I say getting frustrated. "See now why are you getting upset with me? I just told you the truth? Is that why you lashed out on your boys?" He says bringing up last night. "How'd- Maleah told me because she's scared" He says. "Scared?" I say confused. "She's scared because she doesn't know where to go with you." He says. "We'll im scared as well. I don't wanna lose her." I say shaking my head. "Then why didn't you talk to her when you had the time?" He asks. "Someones always here." I lie. "Not at breakfast it wasn't. Not when your little baby girl is sleeping. You're trying to cut the corners in stepping up that you made a mistake that turned into an addiction. Yes its hard, ive been there. I took the steps into fixing myself and it was hard but I never quit. I didn't stop, my now wife who was my pregnant girlfriend at the time... wanted to see me better. When I look at you... I see me. Thats the scary part of all this everyone makes mistakes. You just need to own up to them." Dr. Helms says looking at me. 

"I remind me of you?" I asked confused. He nodded. "If I don't change... what's gonna happen?" I ask. "You will. It all takes time." He says sitting next to me on the bed. "I don't know." I say shaking my head. It was quiet for a minute. "How are you and Gianna? Whats she like?" He asks me. I smiled at the thought of Gianna. "She's... just like her momma, adorable, funny, wild, a busy body and probably one of the best things that has came into my life. Holding her in my arms just makes me feel like the best person in the world." I say still smiling. "That's a big difference from when I first met you and you didn't know a single thing about the little girl. She is the big thing into fixing this. You love her, and Maleah loves her if you don't think changing for them...Then probably jail, or an out of state rehab will work best for you." He says an my heart dropped when he said Jail, I already been to court jail isn't the move. "Thanks Doc." I say rubbing the back of my neck. 

"Hey, I want you to talk to her tonight. Just you two." He says tapping my shoulder. "I will, I promise." I say nodding while looking at him. "Im not the one who you should be promising." He says getting up and walking out the door. I got up and followed him out. "Hi!" Gianna yells at Dr. Helms. "Oh, you must be Gianna" He says bending down to her height. "Yeah, im Gianna and im almost four" She says holding up three fingers. He helped her put up the fourth finger. "There you go sweet girl, and no way!" he says entertaining her. "Yes!" She says jumping. He laughed and got up. "She's so adorable" He says to Maleah and I. "Thank you" We both say at the same time. "Well, I better get home the wife is waiting." He says looking at me. "Thank you doc" I say "No problem, Maleah has my number if you ever need me again." He says. I looked at her and she gave me a side smile. "I'll walk you out." I say walking to the door. I opened the door and he walked half-way out and looked at me. "You got this" He says. I nodded and closed the door as he walked out.

::**::

MALEAH

I decided to order Chinese because Bryce loves it and so does Gianna. What Blake and I talked about at the doctors has been replaying in my head. I tried to talk to him about it at Breakfast but I chickened out and he didn't wanna talk. "Mal?" Bryce yells. "Huh?" I say "Foods here." He says walking into he kitchen with the Chinese. "Thanks, um go tell Gi, and ill set the table. Mary came down with Gianna around her arm and my keys. "Me and Gi are gonna go get dinner with the boys. We'll be back later. "But I ordered so much food." I say looking at it. "You got fat-i mean frat boy over here he'll eat it." She says. I put my lips together because it was kinda funny but I was kinda annoyed that she told me after the food came."Okay, fine" I say putting back two plates. "Great, love you!" She says walking out.

So that just leaves me and Bryce... Oh! Mary you son of a bitch I see what she did. Okay, I guess its time for us to finally talk. I put the plates next to each other one on the end and one on the corner. Bryce brought the food to the table and I grabbed two water bottles and sat down. "I think im finally ready to talk" Bryce says opening the take out box. My eyes are widened because I was ready for it but not ready for this. "Okay... want me to go first or you go first?" I say getting up to sit on my feet. "I think ive caused enough pain, I think you should go first." He says making my plate as well with his. "Okay... I don't where we stand. I love you to death and I wanna help you in the best way possible so you don't end up going back, so you can live a normal life. Mainly  for hopefully us to be happy... together." I say leaning on my hands while looking at him. He looked like he was about to cry and I don't think I have ever seen him like this. "I-i don't wanna be a burden to this family...  I love both of you guys so much and I dont wanna lose you. Im trying my best but I don't know where or what to do." He says with tears streaming down his face. He was at the breaking point in this. I got up and he got up as well and I just hugged him. I haven't hugged him in forever and it was probably one of the best feelings in a long time. "You're gonna be okay I promise" I say with tears now forming into my eyes because im a crybaby and cry every time I see someone else cry. "How do you know Maleah?" He says. I squinted my eyes and cupped his face. "Because I believe in you, thats all that matters right now." I say. He looked at me he was too sure of what I just said but we need sane Bryce right now. "You think im gonna do better?" He asks. "Yes, because not once have you gotten a drink while you've been here" I say. He bear hugged me and broke down. I love this man so much and I don't like seeing him like this. "Maleah I love you so much, I don't know where I would be without you." He says into my shoulder. I smiled. "I love you too Bryce." I say rubbing his back. He broke away from the hug. "No, I need old Maleah back. Give me a mean Maleah" He says shaking his head. My jaw dropped and I laughed. 

"Okay..." I say shaking my hand. "Oh- maybe you would've be either dead in a ditch. Or drunk in jail, or drunk in sway with Addison all sound horrible to me." I say shrugging. He looked at me. "You've been holding that one in haven't you?" He says looking at me up and down. "Lil bit" I say shaking my hand. "Being all nice and pregnant was a lie..." He says sitting back down. "Theres limits to it. Like if I see someone cry... ill cry." I say admiting that. "You never cry..." He says looking at me funny. "Yeah I know" I say. "And if someone makes you mad?" He asks with fear in him. I looked at him. "You thought I was crazy when I wasn't pregnant? This son of a bitch stops me." I say pointing at my stomach. "Good job little dude." He says to my stomach. "It's a girl." I say squinting my eyes at him. "Yeah when pigs can fly." He says looking at his food. I laughed and shook my head. I think were back on good terms.