Straight 'A' Student

Chapter 34

Summer got out of the shower and checked her phone. A text from Connor saying he was bringing dinner, a text from Avery saying she would come over the next morning, texts in the group chat with the girls, and a missed call from her mom. She got dressed before going out to the living room, she waited for Susanna to answer her call.

"Hey, honey. How are you?"

"I'm good, mom. What are you up to?"

"Driving home from work".

"How was it?"

"Good, for the most part. Going out with Eileen tomorrow for mani pedis and lunch" Susanna said about one of her friends she met just starting out in the DAs office.

"Oh that sounds nice".

"It should be. You talked to your father or Connor yet?"

"About what?"

"Your father's company gala thing at the end of the week. It's very last minute. He told Connor he'd like him to be there, being department manager and all".

"Makes sense. I haven't seen Connor today honestly, but he's on his way home".

"Then I'm sure he'll mention it then. You'll be able to take time off? It's only Friday night".

"I should be able to, I haven't taken time off yet and I've been doing solid work. Hopefully they approve me for one day".

"Hopefully. Well I'm about to pull in, I'm gonna head inside and settle".

"Alright, I love you".

"I love you, sweetheart. Goodnight".

"Goodnight" Summer said before hanging up. She watched tv on the couch until the door opened. Connor spoke on the phone as he walked into the living room.

"Yea, we'll talk soon. Thank you, goodnight" he said then hung up and leaned over the couch and kissed her "hello, beautiful".

"Hi, handsome".

"Ready to eat? I'm starving".

"Yea, let's eat. I'll make plates" she stood and went to the kitchen "how was work?"

"Not bad, very long. How was your day?"

"The same".

"Your dad called to say he's having a company dinner or something Friday, wanted us to come".

"Mhm, my mom called" Summer nodded as he took his plate and they went to sit on the couch.

"Oh okay, what are you thinking?"

"Yea, let's go. I'll ask my manager tomorrow if I can get that day off".

"Okay perfect, does he usually do this?"

"Once a year. He'll take any excuse to host something" Summer giggled.

"I see, very interesting" Connor laughed with her a bit.

"How's Josh?"

"Stagnant".

"Still?" Summer asked, it had been a month since his injury. Of course no one expected him to be fully recovered, but most of his lack of progress stemmed from his refusal to actually try to get better. His appetite was still very low, losing weight gradually through the weeks. Conversations with him were usually bleak and short, in a big group he was able to get away with not talking at all. He and Eleanor tiptoed around each other. He did his best to assure her that it wasn't because he blamed her and that he was just in his head still. She didn't believe him though and it didn't help that his family was still on her ass about it.