Alec sputters. “Our? Asharedgirlfriend?”
“Yes.” I’m getting frustrated. “Why are you acting so thick about this? If we can share a girl in bed, we can share her out of it.”
“I can’t have a girlfriend,” Alec says, his face drawn. “Lochview needs my full attention. The animals…”
I grit my teeth. “Are all alive and well, last I checked. For God’s sake, look around. The farm’s running better than ever.” I spot Crumpet sleeping under the kitchen table and pick her up with one hand. She licks my thumb as I settle her on my lap. “This wee one would’ve died if it weren’t for her.”
Alec doesn’t say anything. I turn to Cameron. “Some help here? Talk some sense into this eejit.”
Cameron just looks at me, his expression guarded. “She’s going home,” he says quietly. “She wants to go home.”
I throw my hands up. “Aye, because she doesn’t know staying is an option!” He doesn’t respond. I look between them both incredulously. “Obviously she might say no, but we have toask.I know you both want her to stay.You’re being cowards?—”
Cameron stands suddenly, pushing his chair out. “She was always going to leave,” he points out. “Itoldyou this would happen. I told you you’d get attached.”
I want to rip my hair out. “Aye, I’m attached, and so are you! For God’s sake, she’s not some holiday fling! She’s…” I hear the water turn off, and Summer’s footsteps run down the corridor back to the guest room. I lower my voice. “She’s ours. I know you feel it too. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Neither of them answers. Rain slides down the windows. Alec’s phone rings, and he checks it. I rub my face.
Great. Perfect. I guess my plan will have to be put on hold while Alec and Cameron get their shit together. At least I’ll have plenty of time to talk some sense into Cameron while we’re on the road. “When are we heading out then?”
“Fraser—” Alec starts.
“When?”
He sighs. “You should be on the road in thirty minutes.”
“Fine. I’m gonna say bye to Summer.” I storm over to the guest room and knock on the door. I can hear her humming inside as she moves around.
“Come in!” she singsongs.
I open the door. She’s sitting on the bed wrapped in a towel, rubbing lotion into her legs, her hair in a knot over her head.
I lean in the doorway to watch. “Heard you washedeverything,” I mutter.
“Yep,” she says, not looking up from where she’s fastidiously applying cream. I watch her hands move over the pillowy skin. “And technically, I’m not done yet, I still have to moisturise and do a lip mask and a face mask and then wrap myself in a robe and lie down in exhaustion for half an hour. Did Cameron send you to spy on me? I know he doesn’t understand the Everything Shower, but he’s not allowed to watch. It’s for his own protection. The last time he saw me jade-roll my face, he got scared I was trying to flatten my nose out. And don’t get mestartedon that time he saw me in my red-light mask.”
I swallow thickly as she babbles. “Summer,” I manage.
She tenses and glances up at me. “Yes?” She looks dismayed. “Oh no, why is your face like that? You look so sad. Are you okay?” She grabs my hand and pulls me onto the mattress next to her. Before I know what’s happening, she’s crawled into my lap and is hugging me tightly.
I heave in a breath that hurts my lungs, letting my fingers tangle in her damp hair. “’M fine.”
“You’re not.” She starts rubbing my shoulders, and I know I should focus on the conversation, but it feels so damnnice.I let my eyes fall shut for a bit. “Tell me. Please?”
“Just a—a bad brain day.”
She makes an unhappy noise and tucks her face into the crook of my neck, kissing my throat. “I’m sorry,” she mumbles. “I’m familiar with those.”
“Aye?”
“Mm. I mean, sometimes, when I get burned out, yeah.” She kisses my neck again. “Can I help?”
“You are,” I say honestly, shamelessly tugging her closer. She hums and cuddles me. We stay like that for a few minutes. I play with her hair as I listen to the rain washing the windowpanes outside. The ache in my chest flares. Outside the room, I can hear Alec and Cameron talking in low voices, chairs scraping out. They’ll be loading up the van. Inside, Summer lays her chin on my shoulder and kisses my cheek. I don’t feel better, exactly—but I feel steadier, having her sit with me through it. It’s nice. Really, really nice.
I clear my throat. “Summer.”
“Mm?”
