“Absolutely,” I say as Aaron says, “Yes, ma’am,” and Pam nods eagerly.
“Any particular toppings?”
I shake my head, not wanting to be picky. Aaron asks for meat lovers, and Pam asks for veggie. Claire’s happy to oblige and leaves the living room to call in the order.
“Thanks, man,” I say to Aaron. “And Pam, thank you too. You both didn’t have to stay all day.”
“Nah, it’s fine,” Aaron says. “Like I said, pick-up truck tax.”
“Besides, I wanted to meet the infamous Claire,” Pam says. She peers over her shoulder to see if Claire is walking back, then adds, “She’s pretty cool. I like her. I can see why you’re in love with her.”
“Hey, hey, let’s watch it on the L-word,” I say, waving my hand down.
“But I’m not wrong, am I?” Pam asks, a glint in her eyes.
Claire returns, saving me from having to answer. But I don’t think I need to. Pam knows I’m madly in love with Claire, and it’s still a surprise that Claire doesn’t.
Claire sits cross-legged on the rug we just unrolled an hour ago and looks up at the three of us. “I wish I could do more for you guys than just pizza. You saved me today. I’m so grateful.”
Aaron and Pam say it’s no big deal, and Claire looks over at me. I just smile at her.
“I’m glad I was here to help,” I say. “I can’t imagine what you would’ve done if you’d been alone.”
Claire pauses, contemplating the possibility, then grins. “I probably would’ve called you.”
My chest warms at her words. She knows she can rely on me, that I’ll be here for her when Zach isn’t. Hopefully that helps her realize she doesn’t need Zach in the first place. That I should be the one she relies on primarily. That I’m not the second option, but the first.
Aaron clears his throat. “So how long until the pizza arrives?”
Claire turns to him. “They said about thirty minutes. But I know it’s late. I should’ve ordered it sooner. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to keep apologizing,” I say. “It’s really okay.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.”
Aaron, Pam, and I laugh, and it takes Claire a minute to register her words before she laughs, too.
“Do you apologize a lot?” Pam asks.
Claire shrugs. “If I feel like I’m putting someone out, yes. But usually I try to just…not need help.”
“But that’s not normal,” Aaron says. “That’s, like, the human experience. We all rely on each other.”
“It’s a common thing for women to apologize a lot,” Pam says. “I just read an article about it.”
“Really?” Claire asks. “What did it say?”
“That a lot of us are people pleasers, and we feel bad for doing anything that bucks the norm. I guess it stems back to the idea of us being the submissive housewives from the fifties, and that idea hasn’t left our society.” Pam looks at Claire pointedly. “Do you feel that way?”
“I…” Claire blinks a few times, then looks over at me. Our eyes lock, and I try to say with my eyes,Yes! You’re too worried about what everyone else thinks! Take the last step and realize that this is why you’re staying with Zach.
She looks back at Pam and furrows her brow. “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know.” Her voice breaks a little, and she stands abruptly and brushes off her jeans. She pastes on a grin that doesn’t reach her eyes, and her voice is artificially chipper as she says, “I’m gonna go start unpacking my clothes in the bedroom.” And like a scared cat, she bolts from the living room.
Pam looks over at me with wide eyes. “Yikes. Looks like she’s got some soul-searching to do.”
“Yep.” I press my lips together in a grimace.
“You weren’t lying about Zach, either,” Aaron adds. “I mean, you’re probably exaggerating a little, but I can’t believe he left her to move on her own.”
