Page 4 of Love Legacy

The kitchen is full of stainless steel appliances, with a simple, black, single-serve coffee maker tucked into a corner. The upper cabinets are made of shiny white material, the counters are butcher block, and the lower cabinets are black wood. A large white sectional fills the living room, leaving enough space for a wood and black steel coffee table and a tall bookcase in the far corner. There’s a large TV mounted on the wall opposite the couch. It’s such a sleek and modern place, and I can’t believe it’s mine for the next year.

“So Naomi, our other roommate, Alex, should be back soon with some food. I’m not sure if you’re hungry, but we ordered sushi if that’s alright?”

“I’ve never had sushi before, but I’ve always wanted to try it.”

Maeve’s mouth drops open at my confession. “Never had sushi? Where’d you move from, the middle of nowhere?”

“Close enough. A small town in Georgia. Two thousand five hundred people, two stop lights, you’d miss it if you blinked.”

“Wow. Well, you’re in luck then because we got a sampler platter. You’ll be able to try a bunch of different rolls,” she says, heading toward the fridge. “Would you like anything to drink? We have water, coffee, soda, protein shakes, probiotic soda, wine, cider…” Maeve digs through the fridge, pulling out a small soda can for herself.

“Water is fine,” I say, taking a seat at the counter as she slides a water bottle toward me.

“So I’m not going to ask you too many questions right now because I know Alex’s going to want to know your story, but what’s your major? I’m Biology, pre-vet focus. She’s a linguistics major with minors in Spanish and Mandarin.”

“Well, at my old school, I was a business major, but Pinebrook had a lot more options when I enrolled. So I’m going to switch to the Global Management BA program.”

“And do you know what you’re going to do with it? I mean after college. I know I plan to go to veterinary school, and I think Alex said she wanted to work at the UN as an interpreter or something.”

I shrug. “Well, originally, the plan was to take over business operations for the mission organization that Daddy’s parish is partnered with, but now, I’m not so sure that’s what I want to do.”

Maeve rubs her chin, squinting her eyes at me. “Mission organization… So you’re likereligiousreligious?” she asks, eyeing the cross around my neck.

I smile sheepishly, taking another sip of my water. “That’s a long story and one that’ll need something stronger than water.” Maeve laughs, and shortly after, the front door opens.

“Hey, I’ve got the food! Is the girl here yet? Oh, it’s you,” a brunette says, rounding the corner from the hallway. She puts the two takeout bags on the counter before turning to me. “Hey, I’m Aleka, but most people just call me Alex.”

“Aleka… That’s a unique name,” I say with a smile, getting up to help them with the food.

“Thanks, it’s Greek. My dad moved here as a teen from Patras, my mom’s from Xanthi, though she moved here as a baby,” Alex replies, taking out the different containers of sushi rolls and other side dishes. Maeve gets out a couple plates and little dipping bowls for us. “So Naomi, we ordered a few different rolls: California, Spicy Tuna, Salmon and Avocado, Philadelphia and Spider rolls. We also ordered Crab Rangoon, Rock Shrimp, Edamame and Pork Shumai,” she says, pointing to each item once we’ve unbagged it all.

“Naomi here has never had sushi.”

“No freaking way!” Alex responds as she hands me chopsticks. “On second thought, I’ll grab you a fork,” she says, taking back the chopsticks.

“Yes, please,” I reply, fixing myself a plate with one of everything before sitting at the counter. Maeve pours some soy sauce into each of the dipping bowls before handing one to me and Alex.

I dip one of the spicy tuna rolls into the soy sauce before putting it in my mouth. Once I finish chewing, I look up to see Maeve and Alex staring at me.

“So…?” Maeve asks, eating her own sushi.

I give her a reassuring smile. “It’s delicious.” Both women relax once I answer.

“Okay, good. Just wanted to make sure we didn’t ruin your first night with food you hate,” Alex says.

“Now that we got your first taste of sushi out of the way, tell me this long story about you and religion,” Maeve says, pouring a glass of wine.

I point to the glass. “Is that for me?”

She nods, sliding it across the bar counter to me. I take a big swig before taking a deep breath.

“Okay, so where do I start? I transferred to Pinebrook University right before my senior year because I got kicked out of my old school for one too many honor code violations with no remorse.” Maeve and Alex both gasp.

“Kicked out?”

“Honor code violations? For what?”

I laugh cynically, taking another big swig from my glass of wine. “Let’s see. First, I wore a skort to class during the summer. Then, I got a second violation for insubordination because I posted on Instagram about how ridiculous the policy was. I got my third violation because someone took a photo of me and my boyfriend studying in his dorm and sent it to the Deanof Students. According to policy, after three violations, we’re supposed to go through a ‘restorative conference’ and then the Conduct Review Committee would reevaluate my standing. I told them they could take their policies and shove it where the sun don’t shine, and they dismissed me with the status of Non-Return.”

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