“Hi honey. What are you up to?”
“This is my new friend, Summer. Well, she’s Bay’s friend, but she’s prettier than the boys, so I’m keeping her too.”
We chuckle at her. “Dad, this is Summer. It’s her Jeep I dropped off this morning,” Bay tells him.
“Nice to meet you, Summer. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m David,” he smiles.
“Nice to meet you too,” I smile back. He greets Zander and asks how I like the Jeep. “It’s amazing. I can’t believe Zander bought it. I can’t wait to drive it,” I reply.
“Then let’s get to your first lesson,” Zander says. “Nice to see you, David. We’ll let you get back to work.”
“Good to see you too, Z. Have fun, Summer.”
I wave goodbye as Bay offers to walk us out. “I’m coming too,” Olivia exclaims. She takes my hand and leads all of us back to the reception area.
“It was very nice to make a new friend today, Olivia,” I tell her.
“Yeah. It’s good to have lots of friends. Come visit me, okay?” I promise I will. She waves and goes back behind the desk, so we head outside to my Jeep.
“She’s adorable,” I tell Bay.
“She’s cute, but she’s a handful,” he smiles. “Good luck with your first lesson. I’m going to take her up to the house to get ready for church.”
“Thanks for the delivery.” I wave goodbye, jumping into the passenger seat. Zander drives us to an empty parking lot down the road, and my lesson begins.
After a thorough explanation from Zander, where I have to show him that I know what all the functions of the vehicle are, he finally lets me sit in the driver’s seat. I adjust the seat and mirrors, then start the vehicle. It takes a few tries to get used to the pedals, but I’m soon cruising around the parking lot. We spend a few hours there before Zander drives us home. “I can’t believe I have my own car, and it fits everybody. Thanks again, Zander.”
“You’re welcome, Summer,” he smiles.
I spend the rest of Sunday doing homework on the couch, studying for my quiz, and trying to get caught up with my AP English reading. Zander flits in and out between watching tv and doing work in his office. I talk to E and Seb a few times and get a couple of texts from Holly.
Chapter 37
As we're sitting at breakfast in the morning, Zander says, “Easter is coming up soon. I was wondering if you wanted Sue to come visit?”
“What, really?” I wasn’t even tracking the holiday.
“If you want, we can invite her,” Zander says. “Troy, Seb, Gabby, and Nick usually have Easter dinner with me here.”
“I’d really like that. I’ll text her today to see what she thinks. Thanks, Zander,” I reply, placing my dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
“No thanks needed,” he waves me off.
As we drive to school, I text Sue to ask about Easter. She’s thrilled about coming to visit and said she’ll text with flight information as soon as she books her ticket.
I remind myself of all the points Sarah and I went over Saturday as Zander pulls in front of the school. Seb and E are both waiting for me on the steps today. I get hugs from both of them as we head inside, where we find the rest of the guys at my locker. I'm switching out my things when Bay calls, “Incoming.”
Looking up, I expect to see Ben, but it’s Cara and gang heading our way, and she has tape or something over her nose. “Fuck,” Seb says. “Let’s go outside. This could get ugly.”
We follow him out the side door, away from everyone else. I step close to Seb and grab his hand as E grabs the other. Nick, Bay, and Alex stand in front of us as sentinels.
“You bitch,” she spits when she gets in front of the guys, glaring daggers at me. “You broke my nose.”
“I’m surprised you remember because you were so drunk,” I say.
“I wasn’t that drunk. You interrupted Seb and me and wouldn’t leave. I remember everything. I told Daddy to sue you for attacking me unprovoked. You’re going to pay, bitch,” she says, venom oozing from her.
“If you were sober and remember everything, then I will advise Seb to sue you for attempted rape and drugging,” Alex responds. “I will hire him a better lawyer than your daddy.” Oh! Go Alex.
