Summer and May

Chapter Twenty: May

Things had been quiet over the last few days. Brooks went out of town for college orientation. Summer had spent the last two days with Jeremy, and the two days to follow, she spent talking about Jeremy. It was getting easier to listen to, especially when she asked for my advice. This was a trait passed down from my mother. She always had a sense of ease about her, even when she had no idea what she was doing. She just enjoyed the ride of life. I've tried adopting that mindset ever since she passed.

Brooks did stop by Summer's house on Wednesday when I was with the Golden Twins and Luke. We proceeded through the night as two normal best friends that didn't share an almost-moment in a convertible. I was thankful that he wasn't making it weird, but I immediately felt anxious. His indifference meant he had left the ball in my court. I had a week until we head to his lake house for the weekend. The possibilities were endless, which terrified me.

I took the long way to work, enjoying the hum of my Jeep's engine. The roar it made simply sounded better, knowing my dad and I built this car from parts. As the wind whipped through my tangled hair, I thought about the rest of the summer. Saving money at Dockside. Summer. Our friendship, and how in just a few weeks time, things were beginning to feel complicated. I analyzed the fact that I had multiple opportunities to say how I felt, to both Summer and Jeremy, and I didn't. How different would things look if I hadn't been so scared?

None of that matters now. I have an exciting week ahead of me, but a lot to figure out. And maybe this time, I'll act without fear. I was in constant need of reminding myself that this was the last summer that I had to be a kid. To be young and dumb. To get everything out of my system before entering the real world. I had no idea what the real world would look like for me, but I do know that I had exactly ten weeks left of my adventurous summer with my best friend, and I needed to make the most of it.

I was scheduled to work the take-out window tonight, which I was undoubtedly thankful for. A night in the back of the kitchen, working with Mina, fulfilling orders, sounded relaxing. Wednesday was half-off our jumbo friend shrimp, which meant business picked up more, but by eight o'clock, things had oddly died down. I can't say I minded the down time and the extra girl-talk with Mina, but I had aimed to make more money tonight than I did.

I watched the window for Mina while she took a pee break, hoping that no one would call in an order in the next five minutes. With nothing to do, and all my side work finished for the night, I threw my elbows onto the takeout counter and stared out at the lake. It shimmered in the sunset, complimented by the sound of church bells, the chatter of townspeople, and the scuttling sound against the docks. I was lost in a day dream until two familiar hands rested against the counter before me.

Springing into posture, I recoiled. "Hi, I'm sorry. What can I get you?" I grabbed my notepad, only to look up and find Jeremy, in a navy tee, smiling down at me. "Oh. Hey," I offered, shoving the pad and paper into my apron.

"May," he greeted, tapping his knuckles against the stained white countertop. "how are you?"

I shied away with a grin. "Well, I'm hoping to get off here soon. I've been here since noon. You?"

"I thought about picking up dinner for my grandpa."

"How is Sully?" I ask, pulling my notepad back out, already writing down an order for jumbo fried shrimp.

He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck in circles. "He's alright. Not leaving the house much lately."

I looked up in concern. "Oh. I'm sorry. Is he..." Can I say the word dying? Cancer? "Is he sick?"

Jeremy's eyes gave me his answer before his lips formed the words. "He's not doing so well. He's eighty-nine, with a bad hip, and he's been working through a nasty case of bronchitis lately. I have to give him so many meds a day, that sometimes I lose count."