Some would saythe holiday lights at night on Main Street and the shop windows lit up are magical. Except seeing Summer pacing back and forth on the corner of the street causes my heart to clasp around a speck of fear, and I dip my fingers into my pocket to feel the crinkle of glossy paper.
She asked me to meet her here since Bo is with Harlow and Stone. Summer was on a walk then sounded adamant that I come to meet her here. The house is too confronting, perhaps, and the dock has been overused for our life confrontations.
Summer’s eyes draw up from the ground to face me as she shakes out her hands. “The thing is, Nash.” Oh, okay, she’s going straight into this. “I’m not some toy that’s been tossed around between you and your brother. Sometimes it feels that way, and I’m not that woman. You are every red flag that I’ve been warned about. You could run away at the first hint of a challenge. Or realize you’re confused too in a time of mourning.” Her impassioned words are causing her breath to stagger, and her body is anything but calm.
“Summer, are you sure you want to talk about this right now?” As I move forward, she takes a step back, clearly adamant that we will continue this conversation in public.
“Yes. I need to get this out now. For the last few weeks, I’ve been beating myself up about how life is transpiring, except… it’s with you, and that’s a missing piece that I’ve been waiting for.” Her face shifts, and I see the blaze in her eyes. “You know, your brother lied to me, to all of us. He knew he wasn’t going to make it long before we did. I just discovered that little fact, but it makes sense now. It’s as though he was playing a game of chess.” There is anger in her voice.
My jaw flexes side to side from her revelation as dots begin to connect in my head. “What do you mean?”
“You and I?” She throws her arms up in the air, and the glint of her treasure necklace catches the light just right as she begins to walk away. “This shouldn’t be happening, Nash,” she nearly yells.
Following her, I grab her arm to ensure she faces me again. “You know that’s not true.”
I’m still fighting for her it seems. It’s as though I’m staring at a wall, debating if there is a crack or not.
A tear falls down her cheek. “Which is exactly why… you’re right.” The certainty of her words catches me by surprise, with a swoosh of air wrapping around me. She isn’t fighting. “I want you. I want this. No more running. No hiding. I won’t feel guilty, and I’m allowed to have this, us,” Summer lists, overwhelmed with emotion.
Instantly, I step closer to her and touch her shoulders, ready to pull her close. I couldn’t care less that probably half the street has heard us or that we have an audience.
My own breath is heavy as I’m melting with Summer. “I’ve been waiting for you to figure it out.”
“How so?”
I squeeze my eyes shut then open. “We’ve returned to one another because of us. The situation gave us that opportunity, but it’s our feelings that have us standing here together, wanting it all.” I gesture to the street, and I swear Holden and Lexi are lurking across the street watching this confrontation between Summer and me. “I’ve been lying to you.”
Summer’s breath catches and concern floods her face. “What do y-you mean?” she stammers.
“The thing is, I came back to Lake Spark, and the moment I saw the opportunity to make you mine again, I selfishly took it. Then, I had a sign that it was okay. I just… didn’t tell you. I wanted you to find your way to me becauseyouwanted me. Not because you got a nudge.”
Summer glances to the side then back to me, her tongue sweeping across her bottom lip. “I think we got that as we lived together. It’s like he was plotting for a while.” She nervously laughs as if it’s a joke.
But my stomach drops because it is no joke.
Shoving my hands in my pocket, I debate what is the right thing to say right now. “I love you, and we’re right where we should be. You’re with me on this, right? We’re together, and you’re comfortable that we’re happening and have a future for the right reasons?”
She nods, with honesty written all over her face.
“Plotting isn’t a far stretch. We may never have told my brother about us, but he couldn’t have been blind, and he left this for me to find…” Sighing, I take the photo from my pocket and hand it to her.
Summer’s gaze drives down to the photo to see the three of us from all those years ago, then she flips it over. It feels as though I’m reading it with her, and both of our minds catch up with our hearts. Her eyes strike up to meet mine, and we share a similar look. An inescapable emotion, and our sight drops again to the back of the photo.
“It seems we all knew that you and I would end up where we always should have been,” I state softly.
Maybe it’s the doodle he drew of her necklace or maybe it’s simply his writing. But the words vanish all worriesbecause her mouth quivers yet forms a soft smile as she reads aloud.
“‘For someone who loves treasure, I ensured she got her crown jewel. I was her first husband, but you’ll be her last.’”
She looks up. “And that’s why he told me… ‘Don’t worry, Summer, I’ve made sure that you’ll have everything you need, I promise.’”
24
SUMMER
Nash lays me down on the bed, his body over me and his eyes intent on staying locked with mine. This whole evening is a shock but only a soft one. Underneath everything, we always knew that the cards were set up. Just now, we’ve accepted it.
His brown eyes have a glint that’s new, a reflection that’s changed. The feeling of his stubbled jaw brushing along the line of my face brings a smile to my face.
