Chapter 11

“Zion. Wake up, buddy,” a muffled voice came into my dream.

I was dreaming about spending a relaxing day in bed with a pink-haired beauty. I’d never done that with anyone before but I didn't want to leave that bed.

Someone else said, “I tried to wake him at noon for lunch but he didn't want to get up.”

“Zion.”

I came to when someone patted my cheek. Groggily, I looked around, only to find that I still sat in a lobby chair. Joey knelt in front of me, and Amantha sat at her computer.

“Welcome back to reality. You were out,” Joey said. He stood, wearing street clothes like he was ready to go.

I wiped my sleepy eyes and glanced at the clock, only to see it was 5:00.

“Aww, I slept through lunch? You were supposed to wake me,” I chided Amantha.

“I tried. You seemed to need sleep more so I let you sleep.”

“I've got to head to class. Are you two okay if I go?” Joey asked.

“Yeah, we're fine. Thanks, Joey,” I said.

Amantha nodded at him.

“All right. Good night.”

“Good night,” we echoed.

After Joey disappeared through the door, I stretched and looked at Amantha.

“Therapy tonight?”

She nodded. “Yes, I'm headed straight there when I leave.”

I wanted to spend time with her, but I knew she would refuse an offer to take her to therapy.

“What do you and Neo have planned for dinner?” I asked.

“We’ll probably find leftovers in the fridge. Why?”

“How about I bring pizza over when you get out of therapy?”

She hesitated. “I’m not looking for a romantic relationship right now.”

“Well, good. Because I don't do romantic relationships,” I said.

“The most we can be is friends. I was warned about how you like to sleep around. I can't let you be involved with Neo then have you suddenly disappear because we slept together. The poor kid has been through enough.”

Ouch. What she said was the truth, but I was a little offended by that.

Defensively, I fell back in my comfort zone.

I held my hand up in the Vulcan salute.

“I’ll behave. Scout's honor.”

She narrowed her eyes. “That's not the Scouts’ hand sign, that's the Vulcan salute from Star Trek.”

“Fine, I swear on my life—”

“I've seen your life. It's a train wreck. Swear on something else.”

I smiled. I liked her a lot.

“I'll be a priest—”

“Priest of what?”

She was all over my shit.

Maybe I needed a new comfort zone.

Switching gears, seriously I said, “Amantha. I promise. No shit. Friends only. I won't disappear on you or Neo. I swear.”

She looked at me skeptically. “You need to understand, I’m not always a great person to be around. I have good days and bad days with this recovery. Sometimes, I'm downright mean because I'm in pain.”

“That's okay.”

She sighed. “Don't make me regret trusting you.”

“I won't.”

“I'm done with therapy at 6:30. I should be home by 6:45 if you want to come by then.”

“Okay. I'll bring dinner. Do you or Neo have a preference?”

A small smile touched her lips. “One pizza chain carries Neo's favorite. The Washburn. You can only get it at Pizza King. Anywhere else, you have to order a meat lover’s on barbecue sauce. Order him that, he'll love you forever.”

My stomach growled. “That sounds really good actually.”

“It is.”

Well, that was settled. I would definitely order two of those.

“What about you? What's your favorite?”

Surprise crossed her face. “Me? I usually eat whatever Neo's eating.”

She'd raised Neo so long, she adapted her life to make him happy.

“Amantha. What's your favorite?”

“Hawaiian.”

I would definitely get one of those, too.

“Okay, thank you. Escort you out?”

She smiled. “Sure.”