Page 18

Pineapple Still Doesn't Go On Pizza

A fter they hopped into the rental car, Hans pulled out his phone to place their order from Pizza Palace, which was conveniently located about less than a mile from the hotel.

Since he was in control of the ordering, he made sure that on the canadian bacon and red onion pizza that Sage had requested, he added pineapple to half of the pizza.

It was a debate that he and Marcy shared with the first round of pizza orders because, according to Marcy, pineapple doesn’t go on pizza.

It didn’t take long to arrive at the hotel after picking up the pizza.

Once they had Marcy and Sage’s suitcases unloaded and up to the room, they all crashed on the overly firm mattresses and turned on the television.

Sage reached over and grabbed the remote so that she could scroll through the TV guide while Marcy opened the pizza box.

“Gross, Hans,” Marcy scoffed. “I told you pineapple doesn’t go on pizza!”

“So, don’t eat it,” Hans bratted back at her, sticking his tongue out and giving her a cheesy grin.

“God, you’re such a pain in my ass.” Marcy grabbed a couple of slices and put them on a napkin for Sage. “What if she wanted the whole pizza?”

Hans shrugged. “Then she could pick it off.”

“But the pineapple juice would still be there!” Sage chimed in, adding her two cents to the conversation.

“Alright, look you two, I didn’t come here to get ganged up on.” Hans reached over and grabbed a slice of his prized possession.

“Well, no one is keeping you here.” Marcy squinted and smirked at him.

“Hey look, Hocus Pocus is on!” Sage quickly changed the subject and switched the TV to the correct channel. “Oh my God, it’s my favorite part!” She was pleased at the timing.

Hans remembered when Hocus Pocus had originally come out, it was all she had ever wanted to watch, instantly winning her over and becoming a favorite.

They had even gone to see it in the theater several times.

When they had initially been kidnapped by the old lady in the forest, he remembered feeling like he was almost living the movie, only in real life.

“It’s been awhile since you’ve seen this, huh?” Hans asked.

Sage nodded her head, but she could still quote the movie almost verbatim. “I guess some things never die.” Hans placed his hand on Sage’s leg, she looked over at him and smiled.

Marcy laughed, looking over at Hans and Sage, but there was something about all of this that still left her feeling uncomfortable. “Does it bother you? That you were out there for so long being held captive?” Marcy inquired.

Sage replied with a shrug. “Technically, these last few years were my decision.”

Marcy couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would choose to continue living off-grid. “But why? You know you had people out here who had never given up their search for you.”

Sage lowered the volume on the T.V. and turned toward Marcy.

“It isn’t like I had a job so that I could have a place to live.

In the forest I had a home and I had all these skills that I had acquired over the years in order to survive.

The old woman may have been evil, but she also gave me tools I needed to be able to thrive. ”

Marcy’s eyes began to well up. “You had a place with me, Sage.”

Sage stared down into her lap. “I was scared, Marcy.”

“Alright, but you’re both here now.” It was Hans’ turn to be the voice of reason. “Together we can all live, grow, and support each other regardless of what it is that we all need support with.”

Marcy chimed in. “True. We’re all a little broken in one way or another. That’s why I believe that this relationship is going to be built to last. As long as we all communicate and are open with our feelings.”

“Speaking of communication…” Hans was still curious about the conversation that Marcy had hinted around at them needing to have. “What were you wanting to discuss earlier?”

Marcy paused, he could tell that she was struggling to find the right words to express what she was needing to say.

After a moment of hesitation, Marcy explained that while she was fine with the relationship being the three of them, she wanted to ensure that it was clear that she and Hans were not to have any involvement with each other than just being friends.

“Marcy, I’ve known from the beginning that there wouldn’t be anything more between us other than taking care of Sage in all the ways she needs taken care of and us just being friends,” Hans assured her. Worry drained from Marcy’s face and a look of relief and content replaced it.

This could actually work . Hans leaned back against the pillows and rested against the headboard. “So, that leads us to the next question: where do we go from here?” He had been considering all sides of the relationship, including the fact that Marcy had a life built for her in New York.

Marcy cleared her throat. “Actually, I have to head back home tomorrow afternoon.” The news hit Sage hard and she looked upset.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Sage whined, not wanting their time together to come to an end.

“For this exact reason.” Hans could tell that Marcy was upset over her decision to wait, but it also gave Sage less time to wallow, counting down the hours before the three of them were separated once more.

Sage stuck her tongue out at Marcy. “Wait, I have an idea!” She sat quietly for a moment while Hans and Marcy waited for her to finish her train of thought. “I could come with you!” ??

Marcy glanced over at Hans, at this point the two of them were at a point where they could read the other person's mind. ??“That’s actually not a bad idea, you know,” Marcy agreed. “What do you think, Hans?”

Hans sat there, unsure of how he wanted to respond. Part of him knew that it was the perfect opportunity for Sage to escape her self-created hell. The other part was a mix of uncertainty, not wanting her to leave when he was just getting used to her being around again after so many years.

He looked up and both Marcy and Sage were staring up at him awaiting his input. “I mean yeah, that makes sense, if Marcy has the space.”

“I do,” Marcy agreed. “And hey, you were wanting to get out of here too. Maybe you can get a job in New York...” Neither of them were aware that he had already submitted an application for a position there.

“Maybe.” Hans looked toward the window. “Wherever the wind blows me, or maybe it’s time to hang up the badge and move on to something new and exciting.”

They spent the rest of the evening discussing and making plans. Marcy had chosen to return home by train and was able to secure a second ticket. With luck on their side, the seat was even next to hers. She would have her car delivered within the next week.

“I can’t wait!” Sage was excited to go on her new adventure.

“Could these beds be any more dense?” Hans interrupted the moment with his annoyance and for a brief moment, he regretted agreeing to have an overnight with the girls when he had a comfy bed back home.

“With Charles out of the picture, why didn’t we just go ahead and crash at your place, Hans?” Sage questioned.

“Uh, that would be on me.” Marcy saved Hans from being put through the wringer.

“I had already booked the room and it was too late to cancel.” The same look of worry returned to Marcy’s face, catching Hans’ attention.

He picked off a piece of pineapple and threw it at Marcy, hitting her in the cheek.

He watched it fall off leaving a speck of pizza sauce on her. “What the fuck, Hans?”

Sage got up and rushed over, tackling Marcy onto the bed and pinning her down so she could lick the sauce off of her cheek before leaning in and kissing her.

“He was secretly working for me so I could come over and do this…” Sage pressed herself into Marcy and went in to kiss her again, lightly placing her lips against Marcy’s, before she nipped at her lower lip.

Marcy’s eyes got wide. “And what do you think you are doing?”

“What I’ve been wanting to do since we woke up this morning and were rudely interrupted,” Sage said confidently.

“Secretly that’s why she actually killed him,” Hans poked fun. “He cock-blocked her.”

Marcy chuckled, she couldn’t believe Hans was picking this moment to start cracking jokes. “If you’re not careful, mister, you’ll be next.”

Hans got up and started to head to the door of the hotel room.

“Wait.” Sage sat back and Marcy pushed up to her elbows. “You don’t have to leave.”

Hans reached into his pocket, pulling out his vape and waved it at the women. “Non-smoking room.”

“Pssh, no one would even know.” Marcy scoffed at his ridiculous timing for deciding to leave.

“They probably have sensors installed in here, Marcy.” Hans was just searching for any excuse at this point to give Marcy and Sage a few moments to themselves.

“Yeah okay, because you’re really worried about that,” Sage knew him all too well.

Hans shrugged. “I don’t want to risk Marcy getting charged any extra, be back soon.” He slipped out the door before either of them could interject with another comment that wouldn’t let him escape.