Page 65 of Be My Summer

It was a pleasure to watch unfold. I wanted nothing but bliss and happiness for us, but that wasn’t how life worked. We were being dealt shit at the moment, but there was no doubt in my mind that Saul didn’t matter the hand. He only cared about the players. As long as it was him and I, we’d win the game in the end. Together.

We arrived at Saul’s place within fifteen minutes. The burst of energy I had suddenly gotten was depleted by the time we entered the elevator. Everything felt like too much at once. Everything except him.

“Whaaaat?” I asked, watching Saul as he watched me.

“Nothing.” He lowered his head with a smile.

“Liar.”

“I’m just thinking.” He chuckled. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I was trying to remain respectful but I almost kicked down your front door two weeks in a row.”

Shaking my head, I asked, “Why didn’t you?”

“Because, I didn’t want to get on your bad side, Summer. That would’ve hurt me more than not hearing from you all this time.”

“I wanted to answer–the phone and the door. I just–”

“Couldn’t.”

“I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re grieving. That looks different for everyone.”

“No. I am sorry. I shut you out. I shouldn’t have. Just had so much going on in my head and in my heart.”

“It’ll get easier.”

“I can hardly wait.”

Ping.

Saul’s fingers slid between mine as we stepped off the elevator and entered Saul’s home.

“We’ll wait toget–”

Our steps halted. Our conversation ended. And, both of our mouths slacked with the heaviness of words.

“What are you doing here?” Saul was the first to speak. “You need to leave.”

“I j–I just want to talk to you. Both of you. I owe you both apologies,” my mother sighed.

“You don’t owe me shit.”

“Watch your mouth so–”

“He doesn’t have to watch a fucking thing, lady. And, you heard him clearly when he said you need to leave. He was loud enough and clear enough.”

“Summer, is it?”

Tittering, I licked the skin of my teeth.

“You’re as pathetic as they come. Yes, it is Summer. But, please let this be the last time that name rolls off your lips.”

“I didn’t come here to upset either of you. I came to a–”

“You need to leave.”

“Can I at least talk to her?”