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“So, where, then?” I asked. Mr. Proctor motioned over my shoulder as a pizza delivery man came wandering in, looking thoroughly confused.
“You got pizza delivery at a school?” Camilla asked. “Are you insane?”
Mr. Proctor shrugged. “I have senioritis,” he said, grinning.
As expected, students’ necks craned as they watched the delivery guy trot over to us from the parking lot and deliver the pizzas. He also had a bag with a two liter of ginger ale in it.
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Proctor,” Camilla said when he handed it to her, along with an empty coffee mug.
“No problem,” he said. “I figured you might still have a touch of the stomach bug, but I’m over it enough to want something greasy. Plus, they keep these cold in the car, and cold ginger ale is the best ginger ale.”
“Do you want some?” Camilla asked. “I have plenty of this at home, so I don’t mind sharing.”
“Sure, that sounds lovely.”
“Alex?” Camilla asked, and our eyes locked for a moment. Her lips curled into a grin as I took the two liter from her and poured some in my own mug.
“Thanks,” I said. “It’s a nice day today.”
“It is,” Mr. Proctor said, folding a slice of pizza in half and shoving the cheesy end into his mouth. “Reminds me of the last time the three of us were here.”
I nodded. “It does.” That was a good memory for me. It was the second time I had run into Camilla, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. This time was much more satisfying. As we sat, she leaned her head on my shoulder and sipped on her drink. I watched as Mr. Proctor’s eyes flickered over at the interaction, and he grinned.
“So, how are things at the restaurant?” he asked.
“Not bad,” I said. “The crab cakes are staying on the menu for good, I believe.”
“Good news. That means you will likely see a lot more of me, then.”
I laughed. “Don’t think that wasn’t part of my pitch.”
“What about the beer?” he asked. “I know your brothers seemed to turn their nose up at it, but after I ordered one, I saw a couple others get ordered too.”
I laughed again, shaking my head. “You know, it’s funny. Not all my brothers are anti-beer. Noah is a beer snob, actually. Only drinks the really expensive stuff.”
“He’s the outdoorsy one, right? The one who builds stuff all the time?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes. He practically rebuilt the entire restaurant and office buildings. His construction company did anyway. But he was in on every bit of it.”
“I liked him,” Mr. Proctor said. “I don’t remember him in my classes, but I have met him a few times since then. Really nice fellow. His friend… Duncan?”
“Duncan,” I confirmed.
“Duncan, now that’s a character. He was telling me this joke about a hamster and two monks…”
I rolled my eyes, and Camilla threw up her hands.
“Stop!” she said, laughing and shaking her head. “Everyone’s heard it. No need to repeat it.”
“But it was hilarious,” Mr. Proctor said. “Especially when the first monk bent over and said…”
“Stop!” Camilla repeated, and the table broke into laughter.
“Yes, Duncan is a very funny guy,” I said. “Noah’s no slouch either, you just have to get to know him. But yes, Noah is a beer guy too. I think he was the reason they carried any in the first place, since he’s with the other chef, Ally.”
“Oh, is he?” Mr. Proctor said. “Well, that’s convenient. See to it he keeps at least one good ale on the menu, and I’ll come by once a week for crab cakes and a brew.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said. “I don’t control the menu. I just do the computer work and ad campaign stuff.”
“So, advertise the beer,” Camilla said, grinning. “If you advertise it, they will have to carry it or face the wrath of angry old men who have nothing to wash down their crab cakes.”
“Who said I was old?” Mr. Proctor joked.
“You did, twenty minutes ago,” Camilla laughed. “When you said, and I quote, ‘I am too old for this nonsense.’”
“Well, for that nonsense, yes,” Mr. Proctor said. “I am far too old to figure out what in the world a snapping chat is and why I should use it.”
Camilla laughed so hard I thought she was going to spill her drink, and I smiled. It was good to see her enjoying herself. After everything that had happened and all I had learned about her past, it was important to me that she find ways of staying happy. But, like I had known for years, it was hard to be in a bad mood when Mr. Proctor was around. He was either challenging you to become a better version of yourself through work or he was entertaining you by being a goofy, intelligent, and good man.
