“No, it isn’t. Sorry. I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all.”
She nods her head slowly and smiles, crossing her right leg over her left knee, getting comfortable in the chair as she settles in to watch my daughter. The only other person who’s come to this has been my sister and honestly, it’s only been when she had to bring her.
“Nice job,” she says, tapping my boot with her sandal.
My cocked eyebrow no doubt gives away my confusion.
“The braid. A few more tries and you’ll be a natural.”
I chuckle at her observation. Of course, she would notice the braid. “It’s harder than it looks.” I cross my arms over my chest as I defend myself.
Summer tries to cover a laugh with her hands before removing the clip and fluffing her blonde sea of hair in my direction.
“You can practice on mine if you want. I won’t even get upset if you pull it.” Her eyes narrow and she grins playfully.
I sigh, shaking my head at her.
I guess we aren’t addressing the elephant in the room and just diverting back to our regularly scheduled programming. Maybe it’s just better this way. If she can so easily fall back into our normal pattern, then I should be able to as well. I have to say, though, I am a little surprised she’s acting like nothinghappened. Who the hell knows? Maybe to her, it was nothing. But it sure as shit didn’t feel like nothing, and it didn’t sound like nothing with her whimpers and moans, and the way her body rocked back and forth on the counter didn’t look like nothing.
But maybe this is just how Summer is. She’s spontaneous and reckless, maybe that’s what the other night was for her and nothing more.
“I’m kidding. If you pull my hair, I might yell a little.” She scrunches her nose with a smile before spending the rest of the time focused on watching CeCe.
I cherish the nights I’m able to watch CeCe do something she loves. It’s become routine after gymnastics to get ice cream on the way home and it’s the one time I tend to be okay with dessert before dinner. We both look forward to the extra quality time together.
Summer stands slightly behind me as we’re waiting for the kids to come out of the class. CeCe shouts my name, running into my leg before she notices Summer and a squeal leaves her mouth as if she didn’t see her in the viewing room earlier and she’s surprised to see her.
“Summer!” she yells, flying into her arms as she’s bent down to hug her.
There’s a real joy on CeCe’s face when I see them interact. Summer immediately tells her how great she did and how brave she was for flipping over the bar. It’s obvious to me how quickly the two of them have formed a bond in the last few weeks. Summer’s always been in CeCe’s life, but never as constant as recently and I’m starting to wonder if I should’ve had her around more. Having positive, reliable women in CeCe’s life is something she needs, and I’m finding myself relieved that Summer is one of those women for her.
When we’re walking out, I overhear CeCe behind me asking Summer to come with us for ice cream. There’s a part of me thatwants Summer to say yes. A small part that feels like Summer’s presence is good, for both of us.
“I can’t today, but why don’t we plan for another time?”
“Yay!” I hear CeCe skipping behind me.
“Where’d you park?” I look back and ask.
“I’m just over there.” She points and hits the button on her key fob, so the lights blink.
“Come on.” I gesture toward CeCe and have her hop on my shoulders to cross the parking lot quicker.
“What are you doing? You’re right here.” Summer points to my truck sitting three feet away.
“Yes, and you’re over there. Let’s go.”
“Quite the gentleman,” she whispers as she nudges my arm and walks beside me.
Yeah. Except, I’ve been thinking of her in the most ungentlemanly way since I kissed her.
“There’s an EMS on the way. Engine nine just called it in.” Damien swipes his badge and we walk outside the double doors.
When the ambulance pulls up, the first paramedic to hop out of the truck is Landyn Evans. He happens to be Liam’s brother and someone I see often as our jobs overlap quite a bit.
We're the closest hospital for his station and the biggest in the area, so many patients prefer to come here for treatment.
“Pediatric?” I ask when he looks up at me.
