I squeeze Seb’s hand, nod, and head inside. Knocking on the office door, I stick my head inside. “Zander?”
“Hi Summer. What’s up?” Zander greets.
“Hi. We’re all done outside. The guys want to go to the water park to cool down.”
“Okay. Are you going with them?”
“Yeah, I think so. If that’s okay? I need to call Sarah first, though.”
“Of course it is. You’ll have fun,” he smiles. “Give a shout when you’re leaving and send me a text if you’re going to be out late.”
“Sure. Um, what do you consider late?”
“No idea,” he laughs. “I’m new to all of this. How about 10pm?”
“Okay, but I’m not expecting to be gone that long.” I can’t imagine staying there that long to swim. Heading into the bathroom, I wash up, then look in my closet.Be brave, Summer, I tell myself. First, I put on a new bathing suit, then cover it with a t-shirt and shorts, and I switch my sneakers for my new sandals. I put my wallet, phone, a change of clothes, and a towel in my backpack, then I get comfortable on my bed with my laptop and call Sarah. “Hi Summer,” she smiles.
“Hi Sarah.” The woman could bottle calmness, I swear. Just seeing her face and hearing her voice helps me with no advice thrown in there.
“How has your week been?”
“A lot of changes, Sarah, but I’m doing okay.” I give her the highlights, including my new friends, especially Seb, whom I realize I’ve seen every day since we met.
“That sounds positive. It’s wonderful to have new friends so quickly.”
“It is. Seb is very outgoing and really talkative. He can hug me, and I hardly react. His brother calls him Hurricane Seb. You can’t help but be comfortable with him around. I even told him about my scars today.”
“That’s good you’ve found someone like that, Summer.”
“Yeah, I’m amazed at the speed things are changing, Sarah. I went shopping with Seb and his sister on Tuesday. The guys helped me build a vegetable garden all day today. We’re going to a water park after our call. I put on a swimsuit, but I’ve got a t-shirt and shorts over it. I’m not sure I’m ready for them to see my scars yet.”
“Wear whatever you’re comfortable in. You’ve made tremendous progress in just a week. No need to push yourself. How are things with Zander?”
“Good. We’ve hung out and gone shopping for food and house stuff. He’s helped me make more decisions instead of just following along. When we were at the stores, he’d give me two choices of items, and I had to pick one. They were ridiculous. I needed a hamper for my laundry, so he picked a white one and a kid’s lime green one with dinosaurs and told me to choose,” I say, smiling.
“Do you think it helped?”
“Actually, yeah, it did. I got a tour of his workplace on Monday, too. That’s where I met Seb. They have a big security job this weekend, and he asked me to fly in the helicopter with him.”
“That sounds exciting. Anything else to discuss?”
“No, I don’t think so. I broke down a bit the first time I talked to Jake, but I handled it.”
“Good for you, Summer. You’re blossoming down there. Keep spreading your wings. Don’t limit yourself. Get involved and try new things. Make more decisions,” she winks. “Call if you need to talk anytime, alright?”
“I will, thanks, Sarah. I think I’m getting out of survival mode here, surrounded by thesepeople.”
“I’m so thrilled for you, Summer.” Genuine happiness suffuses her features. “Talk soon.”
“Bye,” I wave goodbye. Grabbing my backpack, I head into the kitchen and add a water bottle to my bag. Waving goodbye to Zander in the office, I go out the front door.
The guys are already back, sitting in their vehicles, waiting. “Hop in, Sunshine,” Seb hollers from the passenger seat. Nick is driving the Jeep. I hop into the back, and we follow Bay’s Honda out. It’s only about 20 minutes to the water park. I’m surprised there aren’t that many cars in the parking lot when we get there. We get out and wait for Bay and E, then head to the ticket counter.
“I’m paying for everyone as a thank you for helping today,” I state, purchasing 5 tickets, and the guys all thank me, except Nick, but I get a nod. Seb leads the way inside. There are several waterslides that empty into a large pool. A few hot tubs, a torpedo run, and a tube run on a man-made river that circles everything.
“What is everybody doing? I’m hitting the torpedo run, then the tube,” Seb declares. E and Nick choose the same as Bay opts for the tube run straight away.
“I think just the tube run for me.”
