“I know, but he has some work to do on himself first, and I just can’t right now,” I say, shaking my head. I’ve got too much on my plate to deal with my relationship with E, which probably sounds bad, but it’s where I’m at right now.
“He has been cooking for me and my father most nights, trying new cuisines. I think he is planning on talking to culinary schools in the new year.”
“Good. I’m glad. He should be a chef.”
We break for lunch and hit the diner, then get back to work. Alex researches ways to increase memory and form new neural connections in the afternoon, while Bay assists me, and we finish just after 3pm. I leave copies of my lab work on the teacher’s desk. Alex has a list of things that may help Jake that he emails to me.
I thank them both profusely for their help today before I drive Bay back to his house. He lives in a bungalow behind the shop. It’s older but well-maintained and clean, and you get a sense of home as soon as you enter. There’s homemade paper garlands everywhere, and they have a lovely tree in the corner of the living room by a fireplace. I take a deep breath of fir-scented air as I follow. “This place is outstanding, Bay,” I smile.
He looks like he doesn’t believe me. “What? I’m serious. I like it. It feels like home.”
Bay smiles, leading me into the kitchen. He offers me an iced tea, and we sit at the round wood table. I ask him a few questions about the precalculus final since that’s the one I’m most worried about, and we chat about Christmas gifts and Penny before I hear the door open around 5pm. A whirlwind makes a beeline for me. “Summer!” Olivia hollers, skidding to a stop beside my chair.
“Hi Olivia. How is the Mustang?”
“It’s still broken, but we’ll fix it up,” she says confidently. “I have two brownies left, and Dad said I couldn’t eat them until tomorrow,” she pouts.
“Because you had four already today,” David says, coming into view.
“Hi David.”
“Hi Summer. Thanks for the treat. They were tasty,” he replies.
“Glad you like them. I’ll get out of your hair. Thanks for the help today, Bay. You saved my butt.”
“You’re welcome, Summer. I’ll walk you out.”
“Me too,” Olivia pipes up.
I grab my backpack and follow the two of them outside to my Jeep. “How come you’re leaving Summer?” Olivia asks.
“Do you remember Bay telling you about my friend Jake?”
“Yup, he was in the hospital.”
“That’s right. I’m going to visit him.”
“Oh okay. You should bring him brownies too.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll see you guys later,” I say, hopping into my Jeep. I wave to both of them before backing out and heading home.
Zander is grilling on the back deck with Troy and Seb when I get home. I drop my backpack in my room before grabbing water and joining them. “Hi.”
Seb jumps up and pulls me into a hug. “Sunshine. I was bored all day. I even cleaned my room.”
“It’s about time, too. It was a disaster zone in there,” Troy replies.
Chuckling, I take a seat at the table. “Hello darling. All studied out yet?” Zander asks.
“Yeah. My brain is fried, but I’m all caught up in physics now. How are you, Troy?”
“Good Summer,” he smiles.
“Do I need to make anything to go with the steaks?” I ask.
“No. We already made salad, and there are potatoes in the oven,” Zander says.
Troy and Zander go back to talking about some work stuff, so I lean closer to Seb. “Did you talk to E today?”
