“She’s right,” Nick agrees.
“I’ve never been rich,” Bay adds, “but I can’t imagine money would be worth more than love.”
“I’m scared,” E replies, hanging his head. “I’m accustomed to this lifestyle. I feel like I need to at least try this to see if I can salvage the situation. Maybe if I live with them, I can make them adjust their views. I have to try, and I need your support, all of you.”
I look over at Seb, who catches my eye and nods. “We will support you, E,” he says.
E looks over at me, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Fine. I’ll support you for now, but if they don’t change their minds, I’m out. I won’t pretend for 5 years, E.”
“Fair enough,” he smiles gratefully, relief sagging his posture. “Thank you. So, now that we have a plan for me, what are we going to do about Alex?”
“I say we let Sunshine loose on him,” Seb says.
“Agreed,” Bay replies. “He listens to your advice more than he listens to us.”
Raising my eyebrows, I look at all of them who are nodding their heads. “I doubt that.” Alex and I have butted heads several times, but it never seems to do any good. He’s stuck in his own ways with his own expectations for life. He needs to talk to us, though, so it’s worth a try. Rolling my eyes, I reply. “Okay. Where is he today?”
“No idea. Texthim,” E says.
I pull out my phone and ask him to meet. It takes a few minutes, but he responds that he’ll be available by dinner. I tell the guys, and they suggest I go solo. When I ask them why, they evade answering. “What a bunch of cowards!” I shake my head at them, but they find it hilarious, and even Nick smirks. I tell him I’m at his house and to pick me up here and we can hit a food truck for dinner.
Discussions done, Nick turns on the tv as the guys relax. I ask to speak with Seb, and he follows me into our bedroom. “I know what you’re gonna ask, Sunshine. Do I like it? No, but he needs to try this for himself. If he doesn’t, he’ll always wonder and have regrets.”
“I don’t like this, Seb. He shouldn’t ask you to do this.”
“Not everyone is as strong as you,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me into a hug. “Let’s give him a chance to discover what we already know.”
“If you’re sure, Hurry. Let’s go back out there. We all need to relax after this endless week.”
Alex
I know Summer and the guys are worried about me, but they do not understand my situation. By Alicia putting that announcement in the paper, she has essentially trapped me. Everyone believes I am engaged. Reesa told her parents Monday evening before school started and showed them the ring; Alicia’s engagement ring from my father. Reesa knows that I have my mother’s ring and plan to use that for my intended, but, as usual, she went along with the plan.
I have always suspected that my father had Alicia sign an ironclad prenup before they were married. We never discussed it, but I cannot see him putting our fortune at risk. My suspicion is thatAlicia is using Reesa to gain access to more of our money. If we were to marry, Reesa would be easy to manipulate into giving her more money. Not that my father does not provide her with anything she wants, but if she could fill her own account with cash, I am sure she would. She has my father’s credit cards, but none of her own money.
I have been searching for a way to fix this mess, talking with Mr. MacLeod and a few others who understand the society I live in. There does not seem to be a way to end the engagement without a scandal. I have to maintain our family’s good standing before all else.
I am sure some believe this is my fault for going along with the fake relationship for so long, and pretending it was real to my father and society. Maybe those people are correct. I knew what Alicia was capable of, but never approached my father about her. What a mess I have landed in.
I stop by the house at 5pm to pick up Summer. After saying goodbye to the guys, she follows me downstairs. I nodded in greeting to everyone, but I am not ready to talk yet, although I suspect that is the purpose of this dinner. Talking with Summer alone is easier to handle than everyone, though. I know I need to give them something.
I drive us to the taco truck, and after we get our food; I sit across from her at a picnic table. When we have eaten a few bites, she begins, “How are you, Alex?”
“Dealing Summer,” I reply. Which I am, that is not a lie.
“Are you? Really?” She asks skeptically.
“Yes.”
“Have you resolved the engagement?”
“I do not consider it an engagement since I did not propose.” That is one thing I have been very firm about with Reesa. She and Alicia may run this farce right now, but I amnot engaged.
“Fair enough,” Summer nods in agreement. “But everyone else believes you are engaged. Reesa is still wearing the ring.”
I deflate in front of her. She is correct. Despite my best efforts, I have not found a solution to this problem. Summer gets up from her seat and walks around the table to sit beside me, placing an arm around my waist. “It’s a lot, Alex.”
“Yes, it is.” Summer is very kind and caring despite the difficulties she has faced. We often disagree on things, but I can count on her being honest with me, always giving me pause to contemplate.
