“Uh, wanted to let you know that Summer’s going home early.”
My blood rushes to my head, and I’m flying out of my chair in record time. “What? Why?”
“She threw up. She thinks it’s something she ate.”
Summer is sick?I start shoving papers into folders, not knowing if that’s even where they go or not, and close my laptop.
“She’s grabbing her stuff now and getting out of here,” Warner continues. “Just wanted to let you know, since it’s trivia night. We might need extra hands.”
“Call Sophie. Get her in here. Promise her Saturday off in exchange for the hours.”
“You got it.” He nods, but he doesn’t move.
“What?” I bark at him. “Something about that confusing?”
“Uh, no. No. I just ... Where are you going?”
“I’m going to check on Summer.”
“Ah.” He pushes his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Realize what?” I ask, tossing my laptop into my bag.
“That you two were a thing.”
I pause, casting a glance up at him.
He puts his hands in the air. “Hey, it’s fine. My lips are sealed. I just wouldn’t have been hitting on her had I known she was off the market.”
“Well, she is.”Fuck. Why did I say that?“I mean, it’s not ... we’re not ...”
He chuckles. “It’s fine. Your secret’s safe with me, boss.”
He gives me a knowing smile, then raps his knuckles against the table before turning to leave. I stand there staring after him, wondering where the hell he got the idea that Summer and I are together.
I mean, we are. Sort of. But how the fuck would Warner know? We’ve been careful at work. We hardly even interact. Checking on my employee shouldn’t be a red flag either. I’d do that for anyone.
“Warner!” I call out to him.
He about-faces. “Yes?”
“How?”
“What?”
“How do you know?”
He lifts a shoulder. “Just a hunch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy before. Couldn’t help but notice it started when she showed up.”
He dips his head toward me before carrying on.
If he’s noticed, does that mean others have? Does Noah know? Does Summer’s dad? She’s barely spending time at home. He has to be aware thatsomethingis going on. Not necessarily with me, but still.
Are we making this more obvious than we think?
I don’t know. All I know is that I need to find Summer and make sure she’s okay.
Five minutes later I’m walking out of the cidery just as she’s pulling open the door of the old cruiser that’s still somehowrunning. It spent three days in the shop getting the starter replaced, and apparently that’s not the first time in the last year. It was on the tip of my tongue to offer her one of my cars to drive, but I never did.
