Finding 4

Chapter 41

Marley

I'm doing it for Callum. I'm doing it for Callum.

That's what I have to repeat over and over in my head as I sit across from my same ole therapist. Neither of us has said a word, and thats mainly because I'm trying to actually bring myself to speak, and allow myself to be vulnerable.

It's hard, but then I think about Callum. I think about last weeks injury. I think about how he asked me to just talk to her.

He wants me to get better, and I want nothing than to make him happy, so I'm forcing myself to just try. Even if that means doing the one thing I hate the most.

I let out a sigh, and finally bring myself to speak. "I'm gonna be honest I...I don't really know how to do this."

"Do what?" Margo asks.

I shrug "Be vulnerable."

She smiles softly at me. It confuses me though, because she doesn't say anything else.

"What?" I ask.

"You did just fine."

I look at her confused and she continues. "Admitting that it's hard to be vulnerable, is being vulnerable."

Oh. Well that was easier than I expected.

"You don't have to force the feelings out, Marley." She tells me. "You just have to talk."

"About what?"

"Why don't we start with your mom." Her words immediately make me tense up. "That's when you started feeling...let's just go with feeling. Let's start there."

Someone kill me now.

<>

Somewhere along the way of me getting home from therapy, turned into me meeting my friends at Biddies. Now, my butt is glued to the booth seat with a pint sitting in front of me.

Pfft. A pint. Who have I become?

"Come get a drink with me." Tierny slurs to me.

I down the rest of the brown liquid in my glass, and then nod. We both stand up, and walk over to the bar where Mary is working.

"Ah there's my two favorite faces." Mary smiles at us. "Two pints?"

We both nod and the older woman gets to working on our drinks.

"Mary, how do you work here all the time?" Tierny asks. "I wouldn't be able to put up with all the creepy old men."

Mary laughs "Luckily for me, I'm out of my prime. The creepy old men tend to lurk for pretty girls, not wrinkly ones."

"Oh come on Mary," I drag out. "You're beautiful. More beautiful than the girls that creepy old men hit on."

"Yeah," Tierny agrees. "If I were a man, I'd get my hole."

Mary tosses her head back with another laugh. "Oh girls. I love it when I get to see you."

We both smile at her and say our farewells, then disappear off to our booth. I slide in next to Callum, who's in a serious conversation with Niall.

"You're fucking with me." Callum says, actually seeming mad.

I look in between him and Niall confused.

"No," Niall shakes his head. "In the locker room, after you were carted off."

Callum stares at Niall with a dumbfounded look on his face, and then adds, "I'm gonna kill him."

"No," Finley shakes his head. "You're not. You already have a concussion, you don't need a bad rep too."

"What are you guys talking about?" Keely voices my question out loud.

"Grady." Is all Niall says, and she scrunches her nose and fake gags.

"I hate him. He once asked me if pube hair was as red as my head hair."

I can't help but laugh at her comment, because the question is genuinely so stupid. I'm laughing, like actually.

As much as I hate to admit it, I am already feeling better after that stupid therapy session. Maybe I should have listened to Dad a long time ago.

Unless it's just the alcohol running through my system.

"What?" I ask, still laughing, clutching at my lower abdomen that's now burning.

"Exactly." Keely points at me. "That's what a question like that will do to someone."

A good hour or two later, Callum and I are walking down the street, back to my house. We decided to walk since my dad is definitely still awake, and I'm more drunk than a kitten on catnip.

His muscular arm is wrapped around my shoulders, holding me to his side. I'm holding onto him by my arm hooked around his waist.

Both of us are babbling nonsense, giggling as we walk.

I see a pile of white, curly fuzz shift on the corner of the sidewalk. It immediately catches my eye, and I squint to see it better. When the head of a dog pops up, with its ears sticking straight and its big sad eyes staring back at me, I gasp.

"Oh my gosh, Callum." I slur, and let go of him to walk up to the dog.

The white golden doodle wags its tail, and tucks its head down as I kneel down next to it. It's not a mean dog. I can tell.

"Marley, be careful." Callum walks up behind me. "It could bite."

"She's not gonna bite." I let it sniff me and then pet its head. "She's out here all alone."

"Are you sure it's a she?" He squints its eyes, trying to make sure.

I reach over and lightly lift its leg. "Definitely."

He kneels down next to me, letting out a sigh.

"We have to take her home." I look up at him, forcing sad eyes.

"No." He shakes his head. "We don't know this dog."

"But she's alone." I look back at her, and then back at him, trying to convince him with my looks.

"Your dad probably wont even allow it." He rubs his jaw with his hand.

"Dad loves dogs." I continue to pet her. "And she's out here all alone with the big scary mean people."

"Marley." He sighs out.

"We can at least try." I cup the dog's face. "Isnt that right?"

She continues to wag her tail, and if I wasn't so drunk, I'd say she smiled.

"Fine." He shakes his head. "But I'm not promising anything with your dad."

I smile and stand up. "I'll make him take her. He doesn't have a choice."