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She stops in front of me. “Is this because of the pot thing?”
“Not really. Or maybe the pot thing is a small part of it. Your mom doesn’t want anything to do with that lifestyle, and I understand that.”
“Because of me,” Zoe says softly.
“Also because of her. Your mom is one of the most wholesome people I’ve ever met, and it’s not for selfish reasons.”
Zoe sits back down on the couch and tucks her feet underneath her, leaning her head back on the couch and exhaling deeply. “I know. Mom goes a little overboard.”
“I like that about her.”
Zoe turns her head to study me. “You’re really in? Like, you love her and want to marry her?”
“One hundred percent.”
She sags into the couch even more, and her gaze shifts up to the ceiling. She thinks for a few moments, and I wait.
This grown woman is going to be my stepdaughter someday, hopefully. She’s got the same eyes as her mother, the same chin. But the nose and her hair, even though it’s dark and curly like Sara’s, must have come from her father. Zoe’s hair is coarser and thicker.
“I know Mom goes too far sometimes,” Zoe says. Her voice is quiet and serious. “But I don’t want it to stop.”
Zoe rolls her head toward me. Her eyes are wide and shining. “I talk to my therapist about this a lot, okay, so don’t freak out. But if something were to happen to her, then I’d be all alone. And I know, I’m a grown-up. But still.” She blinks quickly, trying to clear the tears from her eyes.
“I get that,” I say. “It was tough when my mom died. She worked hard, so I never missed having a dad. And she succeeded—the only time I ever wished for a dad was when she died.”
“Oh, shit, Chris.” Guilt washes over her face. “I forgot your mom passed. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. I just meant to say that I get it.”
She relaxes back. “Okay.” But then she sits straight up. “Wait, did you say makeover?”
“Yup.”
“Why do you want—oh my god, are we Sandra-Deeing you?”
“Sandra what?”
“You know, in the movieGrease,at the end, when Sandra Dee puts on the leather pants and perms her hair to show Danny Zuko she can be bad too? And Danny just gets a letter jacket which is complete bullshit because you’re supposed to spend years in extracurriculars earning those things, and how does Danny doing track and getting lettered prove he deserves—”
“Zoe,” I interrupt.
She grins. “Yeah, probably good to stop me before I got to the symbolism of the flying car. Now,” she taps a finger on her chin. “What exactly do you want to change?”
38
Sara
My back dooris unlocked and halfway open before I realize there’s music coming from inside my house. I freeze and listen.
Is that Jack Johnson?
Six people have the key to my house, me, Zoe, Jade, Emma, Tessa, and the rental agency people. If the rental people came here without letting me know, I’m going to be so pissed.
The other four are still halfway around the world. Zoe texted me this morning telling me she was going away for the weekend with a friend. I talked to Jade, Emma, and Tessa over lunch.
Okay, so it’s unlikely to be any of them here. I step forward, wondering why someone would break into my house to put chill vibes music on, but I also pull the emergency button up on my phone.
I live in a good neighborhood—the smallest house in a nice suburb of Austin and I have no idea why some rando would choose to break into my house. But it is nighttime. I just finished the evening yoga class at the studio, and it’s well past ten p.m.
