He shows me his phone. I wince at the video on the screen. It’s from the club last night. The lighting is awful, but you can still clearly see me sandwiched between all three men. Alec is cupping my face, and Fraser and Cameron are both crowding behind me. The video caption reads: “SUMMER FAYE IN A FOUR-WAY???”
The comments are exactly what you’d expect.
This girl’s life is bananas
Wait so is she dating three guys? How does that work? Do you just rotate…?
Can’t wait for the OnlyFans content to drop *tongue emoji*
She has young female fans. She should be ashamed of herself.
THE ONE WITH THE GLASSES IS MY BIAS <3
And on and on. Some commenters are scandalised. Some think it’s funny. A lot of them just seem confused.
I hand his phone back. “Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you do your grand gesture at an influencer event. Everyone films it.”
Alec pales. “I’m so sorry,” he says hoarsely. “I wasn’t thinking. I just saw you getting crowded by all of these people, and I had to get to you.”
“It’s okay.” I look up into the deep black of the sky. No stars tonight. “It’s getting Lochview’s account a ton of traffic, so…worth it.”
“I don’t care about thefarm,” he bites out.
I blink. “Okay then.” I only spent all day trying to save it, but cool.
He shakes his head. “I mean, of course I care. Thank you for your help. But it’s not worth people being rude about you. The things some of them are saying…” He looks blackly at his phone.
“Don’t matter,” I finish for him. “Seriously. I don’t care.”
I really don’t. I’m not ashamed. I’m not embarrassed. Why should I be? I didn’t do anything wrong.
Wow. Is this personal growth?
Alec puts his phone in his pocket, and I realise his hands are shaking. “Are you okay?” I ask him. “You seem…not very well.”
He finally turns to look at me, and the emotion in his eyes is…indescribable. No one has ever looked at me with such raw, desperatewantbefore. I feel myself blushing.
“Summer,” he says hoarsely. “I am so,sosorry for telling you to leave. It wasn’t— I was just so scared you’d get hurt here. That’s all I was thinking.”
“I know,” I say honestly. I know he’s sorry. That much is very clear. But I’m scared. I look out over the hills. They rise in the distance, black shapes topped with clouds.
All of my life, I’ve twisted myself up so people would like me. I’ve softened my edges. I’ve kept quiet when I’m upset. I’ve smiled and sparkled and been my best, bubbliest, most loveable self.
And it never really worked. No matter how hard I tried, I ended up discarded. Right now feels like a turning point. If I give in and just forgive Alec, he still might get sick of me eventually. And where would that leave me?
I do believe that he’s sorry. I just don’t trust him.
“I’m going back inside,” I say, getting to my feet. Alec nods, not moving as I open the door and head back into the warmth.
When I get into the lounge, I pause. Fraser has left the reading lamp on for me. In the glassy amber light, I can see Crumpet curled up in Scout’s bed with him. His head is laying protectively over her back as he watches me, tail flicking. I look around the room, taking in the mismatched furniture and woollen rugs. My eyes prickle.
For a few short hours, I really thought this place could be my home. It’s odd to be homesick for a place you’re standing in.
The guest room door swings open, and Fraser appears in the hallway. He’s changed into a T-shirt and joggers, and his auburn hair is loose. “Okay, I did your sheets and put your favourite pillow in your bed. I hope—” He goes still and groans. “God.Baby.No.Please,pleasedon’t make me stand here and not hug you when you have actual tears in your eyes.”
I step forwards into his chest. He lets out a wounded noise and wraps me up in his arms.
Maybe I’m being weak, but why shouldn’t I hug him? Fraser never hurt me. Fraser was never anything but perfect. He dips to press his lips to my hair. “Oh, you poor thing. You did so well today. You must be so tired,” he murmurs. I don’t answer. Tears leak out of my eyes and melt into his soft T-shirt.
