We turn to find the family ready and waiting for their turn at the register.
“He did. I can help you over here,” Summer says, turning up her smile and waving them down the counter.
Micah and I say goodbye, and the family isn’t far behind him. I follow them to the door, bid them good night, and flip the sign fromOpentoClosed.
Finally, we’re alone.
But when I turn back around, Summer’s disappearing out of the taproom again. Instead of racing after her like I want to, I give her space. I think she could use it right now.
I go back to my office and shut everything down for the evening, put my laptop and files into my bag, and then make my way out to my car.
Then I wait.
Ten minutes go by, then twenty, but I don’t dare think of leaving.
I have to see her first.
When she finally comes out thirty minutes after closing, I release the breath I’ve been holding.
She stops when she sees me leaning against my car.
“Another one?”
I glance back at my matte white Audi RS 7. “Another one.”
She sighs, then joins me, resting against the hood. “What are you doing, Ezra?”
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I upset you earlier, and I want to know what I said and how I can fix it.”
The words tumble free, and it surprises me just how much I mean them. I usually don’t care if I piss someone off. That’s their problem, not mine. But when it comes to Summer, Idocare. I care a lot.
“You didn’t upset me.Iupset me.”
“What? Why’s that?”
She’s quiet for several moments, and I begin to worry she’s not going to say anything.
“Because I cared that you didn’t want to go to the wedding with me, even though I knowwhyyou said what you did. You were trying to keep suspicions off us, which I appreciate. And ... and ... ugh. I don’t know. I just had a moment. A total girl moment. It was dumb.”
I push off the car until I’m standing in front of her. I reach out for her, tipping her head up so she’s looking at me, because I need to see her when I say this.
“I want to go to the wedding with you.”
She laughs, her coffee-colored eyes rolling back in her head. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“No, I’m not. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I’d hope that you know I don’t use my words lightly. I don’t say things I don’t mean. I want to take you to the wedding, Summer.”
Her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, gaze softening. “Ezra ... you can’t.”
“I can too. We’re friends, right?”
“Sort of.”
I smirk because I know what she means. We aren’t exactly friends, but we’re notnotfriends either. “Well,sort offriends can go to weddings together. Besides, if I don’t find a date soon, I think Odette might set me up with one of her aunts, and I don’t think you hate me enough to let me endure that torture.”
