I don’t control Summer. Nobody does. She’s made that clear since the day I met her.
But it doesn’t escape my notice that she’s been cooking up a storm since our conversation at my house when I told her I was in her corner.
Did that mean more to her than I thought? Did she really hear what I was saying beneath those words? Did she know how much I meant it?
“Hey.”
I’m so lost in my head that I didn’t even hear my door being pushed open.
Summer stands in the entryway with a soft, almost mischievous smile. She’s not even on the schedule today.
“Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were coming over later.”
She lifts a shoulder. “I was bored.”
But her eyes are sparkling far too brightly for that to be true.
“Want to play some pinball?”
I check the time and am surprised to see that the cidery is five minutes from closing.
Where the hell did the day go?
“Uh, yeah. Just let me wrap this up, and I’ll be out there.”
“Okay, but don’t take too long. I still owe you a rematch from last time.”
I smile. “I’ll be quick.”
I watch her go until she disappears around the corner at the end of the hall, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
I’m glad she’s here. Of course I am. But after the conversation with her dad earlier, I’m honestly not sure I want to be near her right now. All it does is make my head foggy and make me feel things that I ... fuck, things I really shouldn’t be feeling.
Things Ican’tfeel.
I wait until fifteen after to go out there and bid good night to our closing bartender. If they’re wondering why Summer is here this late, they don’t question it. I’m sure they figure it has something to do with the remodel.
I find Summer standing at theJurassic Parkmachine, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth, brows furrowed in concentration as she mashes down on the buttons. Fuck, she looks good. She’s wearing another tiny skirt, and I wonder if she’s bothered with real underwear tonight or not.
The machine’s lights go off, the music playing loudly, and Summer pumps her fist excitedly at whatever she just accomplished.
“Oh shit!” she exclaims, pushing the button on the side quickly.
She’s not fast enough, and her shoulders sag at the loss of her ball.
I laugh, and she whirls around at the intrusion.
“I lost.”
“It’s because you got cocky.”
“I did not,” she argues, though we both know it’s a lie. “You distracted me.”
“You didn’t even know I was here.”
“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “I always know where you are, Ezra.”
I always know where she is too.
