Chapter 4
With the sun gone, the air has cooled down—the only indication except for the yellowing leaves that it’s actually supposed to be fall now—and Pete and I bring the pizza outside and eat on the patio. I was right before; the cicadas are loud. All the neighboring houses are out of sight, leaving me and Pete alone in his little corner of the world, almost like we’re the last two people on Earth. I wouldn’t mind if that was the case.
Our conversations turn more easy-going during dinner and I learn that Pete writes tech manuals for a living but used to be a stay-at-home dad. He loves bikes and soccer, used to coach his son’s baseball team, loves running and hiking, and usually sits still only when he works or reads.
“I can’t remember the last time I went for a hike,” I sigh.
Pete s
