“I’m good at processes and helping people get unstuck when they get too focused on something.”
“Kind of like me,” Avery says.
“I don’t know if you were stuck. You just needed a little outside perspective, and it didn’t take long. Look how well you’ve been doing since.”
She blushes and glances down at her plate, turning her fork around in her hand. “I appreciate it, and I’m sorry for not understanding or taking it seriously at first when you gave me the advice. I kind of find it hard to believe that your company only wants you out here as an inspector. Seems like kind of a waste of their resources, don’t you think?”
I freeze, unsure what to say. “I don’t know what you mean. I feel like, as an inspector, we have to notice the little things and make sure everything gets done right.”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. That’s not my job.”
We laugh together, and she says, “Well, I should probably get back and see what Lila is up to.”
“Well, if you get bored, I’ll be over here trying to set up this TV and survive furniture that has pins still in it. You’re invited to watch a movie, if you want.” It sounds lame coming out of my mouth, but I realize how much I want it to happen. Just to have her in here longer makes it feel as much like a home as any place could ever be.
She looks at me as if trying to decide if I’m being serious. “I appreciate that. Right now, I’m trying to figure out…well, let me check on Lila, and I’ll let you know.” She cleans up her box and heads over to the garbage can.
“Perfect.”
I don’t know why I feel giddy, but I’m a lot more excited than I’ve been for a movie in a long time. Then again, I hope she decides to come over.
32
AVERY
Icheck on Lila and her friends. There was a situation with burnt microwave popcorn, a melted bowl, and a smoke alarm that wouldn’t stop beeping.
Obviously, I need to teach Lila a lot more in the kitchen, but I guess it’s good to know the smoke alarm works. The kitchen counter is covered in the ingredients to make no-bake chocolate cookies. Peanut butter, cocoa powder, oats.
I sigh. I have an urgency to clean things up and head back over to watch a movie with Max.
“Okay, ladies. If we make it, we clean it up. Let’s do some dishes, and then you can turn on a movie or something.”
“My mom just texted, and I have to go home,” Serena says.
I raise an eyebrow, wondering if it would be a bad idea to see this text message. Is it real, or does she want to get out of cleaning up the mess?
Serena leaves, and Lila, Ashley, Tatum, and Brooklyn help clean up a little, but I feel like I’m trying to train monkeys for their thought process.
I open the windows to keep from breathing in the burnt popcorn smell, then work on helping with the dishes.
Lila reaches for the lids of the cocoa powder and the oats. As she stands up to put them on, Brooklyn accidentally bumps into her, causing Lila to swipe her arm to catch herself from falling on the floor. She manages to stay upright, but in the process, she knocks down both containers.
We all stand there, stunned, some of us covered in chocolate dust. I finally break the silence with a laugh, and it slowly eases the tension in the room.
“How about you three go clean up and turn on a movie or something? I’ll take care of this.”
Lila frowns. “I’m sorry, Avery. Are you sure you don’t want me to clean it up?”
I swipe at the chocolate dust under her eyes. “I appreciate it. But I think we’ve had enough chaos for one night.”
I’m excited to see she’s starting to find people she can relate with, and while I know there will still be some drama, I’m grateful for the chance for her to learn.
Except I didn’t want to learn what happens to a room when cocoa powder goes flying. Even twenty minutes after vacuuming the floor and wiping off surfaces, I’m still finding spots on the wall and cabinets.
Taking a deep breath, I pull out my phone to text.
Hey. This is Avery. I promise I want to watch a movie. Just trying to clean up the absolute hurricane I found when I walked in. Hopefully there in fifteen.
