Chapter 22 - Change of Scenery

"No, this is great!" Will interrupted and it was. The room had white walls. The desk looked like it was made of titanium and glass, the bed was…custom made? It wasn't a Queen and it wasn't a King but he knew he'd fit.

The bed had dark blue sheets and a matching blue comforter with diagonal white stripes on the right side, even the pillows matched all four of them. The room was pretty big, he figured as he glanced around.

"I didn't put in a TV but if you do have a guest over and you'd rather be anti-social and watch something here, there's a projector." She pointed to a panel on the left side of the bed. She pulled a small stack of thin manuals from the stand on the left of the bed. "All the appliances in your room and the house have manuals. These are duplicates for your use. I will only help you if you read the manual first and don't get it." She dropped the stack in his free hand.

"Yes ma'am." He grinned. 'This was almost like living with his mom!'

"Do you need help carrying your bags in?" She looked up at him.

He shook his head. "If you don't mind me zipping through the kitchen from the garage a few times I'll be fine."

She smiled at him. "Okay. I'll continue making dinner then." She practically bounced out of the room.

Will sat on the edge of the bed and groaned. He shoved the bag onto the floor. He called Bryan. Bryan answered on three rings.

"Will! What's Ron's wife like?" Will could practically see Bryan lounging on his bed.

"Hot! Insanely hot. She's wearing a tight white t and shorts that barely cover the curves of her squeezable a-,"

"You must have jungle fever. This is the second black woman you've fawned over."

Will laughed, "Nope. Only one woman seems to get my-,"

"You lucky son of a b-guy. I said, guy, Mom! Billy's just moved in with the babe of our wet dreams. You know, the new African teacher at school? She's Will's mentor's wife. Bye, Mom." Bryan waited a few seconds then spoke into the phone. "You are so! Lucky! When can I come sleepover?"

Will chuckled and lay back on the bed. "I don't know the house rules yet. Maybe she left me a list with all the appliance manuals she gave me."

"No way! Doesn't your mom do that too?" Bryan snickered. "Oh, man. You're like a son to her."

"Yeah. She's going to make my lunches, she's going to cook for me, cook with me…tuck me in." Will smirked.

Bryan laughed loudly. "Not what I meant but I'm starting to feel jealous again."

"Hey, I still need to bring my bags from the car and unpack but the room is perfect. I even have a projector and screen in my room."

"Game night!" Bryan shouted.

"Um, might be weird having your parents in my room but I'm sure Za'll be cool with having them over."

"Za? Who is Za?"

"That's what Ron calls her."

"Pft. Show off... Unpack and text when you're done."

"Yeah. Bye." Will hung up and put his phone on the dock on his desk. He'd connect the dock to the projector later. He selected a playlist and the sound filled the room. He grinned with glee. She'd already gotten it done. 'Awesome!'

He left the room making sure the volume wasn't too loud. Heading downstairs he recalled Gramama's insistence on sending his things with a driver. It would have been awkward for him and the Musas. He passed the kitchen where Thoko was cooking and singing. He smiled; this would be easy to get used to.

Within a few weeks, the Musa household had developed a new pattern. Every morning Thoko and Will went for a morning run then ate breakfast before going to school. Ron would sometimes join them for breakfast but mostly not.

After school, a car would pick up Will and take him to work. If Ron still had much to do he'd stay behind and the car would take Will back to school. If Ron didn't, the boys would go home together and eat dinner with Thoko.

Will was still trying to get to grips with the fact that Ron always spoke so poorly of Za and yet it didn't seem warranted, at all. It was pretty weird. Apart from that, it was quite easy getting used to a new set of parents.

In general, at HSE it was considered cool to eat from the 5-star café that they had on campus. Will had always done so to save the staff at Magnolia Estate trouble. But, now, every once in a while he'd bring leftovers from home.

The envy from his friends was worth it. Thoko's sandwiches were to die for and had healthy ingredients. Even Coach had approved.

As fall was coming to a true end and winter was about to start Will noticed that Ron spent a lot of time away from home. He also noticed that Ron could say the meanest things to Thoko with a smile on his face. His uncle had explained to him their family gifts and he'd thought it would be cool but now he watched Ron verbally abuse his wife and it sucked not being able to show that he understood.

The highlight of his day, however, would be a tie between the drive to school with Thoko and the dinners they would have alone when Ron worked overtime. She truly treated him like a son; which he thought he'd hate but she cared for him genuinely so he tried to be very well-behaved.

She even helped him with his homework. He grinned at the thought. Not that he needed it but she was really smart. He was quite impressed with how smart she was.

This weekend Bryan was sleeping over. Like a true mom, Thoko had cleared it with security the day he'd asked if it was okay. Ron surprisingly had told him to ask Za and he did.

She'd asked him what snacks Bryan liked eating and what his plans were for the weekend. He was kinda jealous until he realized that the pantry had been stocked with all his favorite snacks and foods the day he had moved in. She reminded him to get Ronald's credit card from him at work at breakfast.

Ron had complained and she'd soothingly reminded him that he was the man of the house which made him pass over the card that morning. Waving at security and leaving the Office Park Will wondered what was with Ron. Sometimes he was head-over-heels crazy in love with Za and other times he couldn't stand her.

It made him uneasy at times. It was a Thursday evening and tomorrow they had a game so Ron let him go home early to rest up for the game. He quickly made his way to his spot in the parkade and hopped into his car.

He'd sent the driver home at school and driven his school car to work. He honestly didn't know how some people could work through college. Between practice, school, and work he was tired, a lot.

He dialed Bryan's number as he pulled out of his spot. He had perfected voice dialing since becoming an intern at Titania. The car filled with the ring of Bryan's number over his band of the moment The Krushers.

"Ey B!" Bryan called out.

"Hey 'Ryan. I'm leaving work now. I hope you're packed."

"Psh, I'm helping lil' mama cook dinner hombre. In fact hermano, we were wondering on what time you were planning on getting home." Bryan teased, he could almost hear Will clench his jaw and the steering wheel tighter.

Will resisted the urge to drive home faster. He stopped at the florist that he normally got flowers for Thoko from and ordered two posies, one for the dinner table and the other for her office table. Then he ordered a bouquet since he wouldn't be buying her flowers for the weekend tomorrow. She'd been to all his games so far and even Coach was a little jealous.

"So Will, have you asked the girl out yet, or did she jump into your arms?" The florist teased. He was a tall man with movie-star good looks, almost like a Ken Barbie Will thought. He even had blond hair.

Will smiled cheekily, "We're going out for dinner tonight." He received the bouquet and posies and placed them carefully in the car. He thanked the florist and drove off.

By the time Will got home, Bryan was pulling into the driveway. Will parked in the garage and Bryan parked in the driveway. The boys walked into the kitchen together.

Both of them found themselves following an alluring scent up the stairs. It came from the left and Will pushed Bryan to the right. "So Za's set up the guest bedroom for you. Or you can sleep on an air bed in my room." Will rushed as he realized that she was probably taking a shower.

"Tonight I'll be grown up and sleep by myself. I'm sleeping in your room from tomorrow."

Will snorted. "What's the point?"