49. Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Forty-Nine

Toby

I t only took a minor bit of convincing and a way-too-long discussion with the doc about boundaries and habits and blah, blah, blah …

Once she said it was cool, I stopped listening.

Because I am now holding a brand-new phone that's shiny and black and currently ringing.

I get to call Anna. Text her whenever I want.

I don't expect her to answer an unknown number. I expect even less of a hospitable reception once she finds out that the new number spam calling her is me. After the way things were left yesterday, I'm not sure she'll ever actually speak to me again.

But I don't care. I plan to reach out to her until she makes me stop.

"Hey, Mama," I whisper into the phone once the voicemail picks up. "I'm totally not supposed to have this, but I guess I've been doing decent enough that the doc okayed it." I keep my voice low. "Guess who punched me today?" I chortle, the sound whistling through my swollen nose. "That's right, it was Fin. Of all fucking people! I told him that he's a stage hog, stealing my spotlight and things, and … well … he was mad I never told him. I think I deserved it, because I also said something about his award belonging to me. He didn't like that much, either." Licking my dried lips, I roll over in the bed and stare up at the ceiling. "Anyways, I don't know how long a message I can leave before it kicks my ass, but that's my update for today." I clear my throat, my hand brushing against my jaw. "I hope yours was decent, too. Only five more weeks, four days, six hours, and thirteen minutes."

With a stiff smile, I end the call.