Full Strength

Sixty-Lillian ❤️‍🩹

        A text from Logan. A picture. It had to be the essay. Unfortunately, I was at work. Tatiana had slowly progressed to the point where she could do basic exercises and stretches while sitting down. 

        "Is that him?" she asked eagerly.

        "Yes, but I'll check it later. It's going to take me a while to read," I said dismissively. "Let's do some leg lifts."

          She looked disappointed but did as I asked, trying hard to point her toes and get her foot higher. I patiently watched, despite the burning urge to snatch my phone. Tatiana deserved my full attention; it wasn't fair for me to be distracted.

        It took her another twenty minutes to get through her exercises, then I gave her her medications. "Just keep resting. I know it's awful advice and super boring, but it helps you get better," I told her.

        She nodded, then as I stood up, she asked, "Logan plays for the Dragons, right?"

        "He does," I said, my brain jumping to the playoffs next week.

        "Is he playing right now?" she asked.

        A smile formed on my lips. "He's about to play in the playoffs next week."

        "Could you please tell me when he does play? I want to cheer for him," Tatiana said.

        "I thought you didn't like hockey?" I asked, still beaming.

        "I've never seen it," she corrected me. "And I figured if you're rooting for the Dragons, I should too. In support of both of you."

        "That is seriously so sweet of you," I said, my heart exploding with gratitude.

        "No problem. Also, I have no idea how hockey works, except for scoring goals, so my cheering might be limited, she said with a grin.

        I laughed. "He will take any cheering he can get. Thank you."

        I bade her goodbye, with one last reminder to take her medications again in the morning, before leaving the apartment. As soon as I was past the bus station, my phone rang. It was Logan.

         "Okay, lovebug," he said, before I could even say hello. "I need your help. Brittany, age 45, has messaged me saying that if the trial does not  go in my favor and you and I break up, she will happily be the first to 'console' me when I'm out of prison. But, on the other hand, there's Jessica, who has offered to visit me in  prison and bring me homecooked meals. Nothing about consolation. Thoughts?"

         "What are you talking about?" I asked, confused but already laughing. "And why are you calling me lovebug? That's weird."

         "Apparently my fanbase is not only loyal, but disturbing," he said, sounding amused. "I have dozens of offers from middle-aged women in the Denver area who feel sympathy for me, but also think that you and I aren't going to make it through the verdict. Also, Christina used lovebug and I stole her inspiration. Plagiarized flirting."

        "Mmm, Christina needs to work on her flirting anyways," I said. "Lovebug makes her sound like a grandma."

        "Lilli, you don't understand. She IS a grandma."

        Now I was full-on laughing. "That is so terrible," I gasped. "Those poor grandkids."

        "Do you think I'd make a good grandpa to them?" Logan said, also laughing.

        "Oh absolutely. You can teach them to skate, you can call them lovebug, the whole deal," I snickered, unlocking Andy's front door.

        "Sounds good. There are literally like, two hundred of these," he said, sounding disbelieving. "Wow-that was TMI. And, okay, wow, I can't say half of these without being too embarrassed."