“Whatever you want is fine with me.”
A calculating gaze appears in Zander’s eyes. He opens the left drawer on the island, rooting around and hands me a pizza menu. “Okay, we’re getting deep-dish pizza, but you’ll have to choose the toppings or I’m ordering onions and extra anchovies.”
Shocked, I glance over at him, but he has a poker face now. “What’s your favorite, Zander?”
“I’m not telling you until you tell me what you want.” He folds his arms across his chest, standing straight.
Oh boy. I fidget with the menu, reading all the choices. “Really, whatever you like will be fine,” I reply quietly.
“Summer, tell me whatever three look good.” Zander, although insistent, has a kindness in his tone.
Taking a deep breath, I read over the toppings again.Get your life back, Summer, I tell myself. It’s just pizza toppings, not a life-altering decision. “Salami, mushrooms and parmesan, please.”
“Phew,” he says as he wipes his brow. “I really wasn’t looking forward to onions and anchovies tonight.”
“You wouldn’t have really ordered that, would you?” I question. No one would like those toppings.
He winks at me. “Guess we’ll never know.” He types on his phone for a minute, then sets it on the counter. “Food will be here in 30 minutes. Oh, before I forget, I called your school this afternoon to check on getting you registered. You need to email them your transcripts, and they said someone will email you back on Monday with a list of available classes. I texted you the emailaddress already. On your first day, you need to bring the certified copies to the office.”
“Thanks. I’ll do that while we’re waiting.” Grabbing the suitcase and the photo of my great grandparents, I walk back down the hall to my room. I place the suitcase with the other two in the closet, and the photo of my great grandparents goes on the right bookshelf. Taking my phone off the desk, I open the text app. I copy the email address from Zander and forward the scanned copy of my transcripts I made in Sue’s office. There’s one additional text from a Charleston number. When I click on it, I see it’s from Troy.
Hey Summer. It’s Troy. Z gave me your number. Use it if you ever need anything.
Can you send the pic of Z with the penguin? I've got plans!
Smiling, I attach the image for Troy and save his contact info before putting the phone in my pocket and walking back to the kitchen. Zander is sitting on the couch, turning on the tv. “Come join me while we wait for the pizza, Summer.”
I take a seat in the corner bend of the couch as Zander chooses the local news. The news anchors both have a strong southern drawl I never noticed in Zander or Troy. I can understand them, but I have to focus. “Zander, where did you grow up?”
“California born and raised. Why do you ask?”
“The news anchors have a strong drawl, and you and Troy don’t.”
“Oh. They must sound strange to you. Their accents aren’t even that strong. Wait until you meet some locals, especially outside of the city. During my first summer with my grandparents, I had to really concentrate on what people were saying. Troy grew up in the military, so he was constantly moving. That’s why neither of us has an accent.”
That might be interesting. Mal has a slight twang when she talks, but it’s subtle and slightly different, not like on tv.
“So, other than shopping tomorrow, I thought we could drive around Charleston and I could show you the sights. Did you find anything on your Google search you wanted to see?”
“Nothing in particular, no.”
“Hmm, have you been to the beach before?”
“No. I haven’t even seen the ocean.” Wouldn’t the water be cold since it’s still spring?
“I’ll add that to the agenda. It’s supposed to be warm and sunny all day,” he replies.
We both turn back to the news until the doorbell rings. Zander gets up to grab the pizza as I head into the kitchen for plates and napkins. I find the plates to the right of the stove in an upper cabinet and some napkins in an island drawer. I set both on the island, unsure of where he likes to eat. Zander heads back to the couch and places the pizzas on the coffee table, then walks over to the fridge to grab a soda and a beer. Noticing me standing there in indecision, he waves his hand towards the living room. “I’m not formal, Summer. Grab the plates and napkins. Let’s eat in front of the television.”
It turns out Zander’s favorite pizza is simple pepperoni. Mine is delicious, and we swap a slice each so I can try the pepperoni. It’s good, but I end up liking mine better. I put the remaining slices in the fridge for later, as Zander gets rid of the boxes. We get comfortable back on the couch to watch Zander’s favorite television comedy.
As I brush my teeth before bed, I can’t help but marvel at the day I’ve had. Fear and high stress in the morning to getting a part of myself back in the afternoon. I grab some pjs, then get under the covers. The mattress is super plush, the softest I’ve ever slept on, and I feel like I’m sinking into a cloud. I’m exhausted, but I lie awake for a long time. So much has changed so quickly. Part of me hopes Sarah is right and something has clicked inside me and I’m finally pulling out of survival mode. The other part is scared to thinkabout it. What will my new life look like? It’s daunting to live again. I roll over, open the nightstand drawer, and grab Jake’s cologne, spritzing it on a pillow, snuggling back down as sleep claims me.
Chapter 17
Zander makes us some scrambled eggs for breakfast in the morning. As I’m heating some water in a mug in the microwave for tea, he asks if I have anything to add to the shopping list.
“No, I’m good, thanks,” I say, taking a seat at the island.
