Page 13 of Don’t Be A Stranger

I hate to bend the truth a little but I know of Summer’s tendency to feel like she has to fix everything. And unfortunately, her main “projects” lately have been Lily and her dad.

Two situations that she can do nothing about and I’m starting to think it’s driving her crazy.

“She’s good.” I smile. “She was actually eating breakfast with me.”

Summer’s eyes light up at the mention of Lily eating anything. I want to give Summer more of that hopefulness.

“Really?”

No. Lily basically turned her muffin into a pile of mush on her plate from tearing the entire thing apart, convinced she’d find something hidden within the food.

“Yeah.” I nod. “She’s not broken, Summer. Just…particular.”

Summer rolls her eyes. “First of all, I never said she was broken. Secondly, she’s not particular, she has OCD.” Summer’s eyes narrow at me. “You didn’t…encourage any of her compulsions, right?”

I love this girl. I really do but her micromanaging sometimes makes me wanna rip my hair out. Just to get it out of my system and then I’ll go back to hanging on to every word she says.

“Summer?” I grin.

She groans, bringing her hands to her face and aggressively rubbing her eyes. “Okay, yeah, I know she’s not a kid. She doesn’t need babysitting and you would never intentionally do anything to hurt her. I get that.”

She recites the phrases I’ve said to her in the past when we’ve had this exact conversation.

Summer has a big heart and sometimes I think she just doesn’t know what to do with all that love, so it comes across as overbearing.

Honestly, I’m completely holding myself back from telling her that if she’s having a hard time figuring out what to do with that amount of love, she can direct some of it right here toward me.

Not wanting her to start being hard on herself—because she definitely has no reason to do so—I decide to change the subject. “Are you sure you should be sitting on the floor in that fancy get-up?”

Summer looks down at her work uniform and rolls her eyes. “You’re right. I really should be more careful about ruining this beauty.”

She tugs at the suit vest that rests over her dark button-down. The whole look is pulled together with pressed slacks and canvas shoes. I think she looks cute in the Ellingbrook Country Club uniform, however Summer has expressed she does not share this opinion.

She looks down at her watch and groans. “I have to go and serve overpriced meals to people.”

I find myself quickly moving to stand, just so I can reach down and help Summer back up to her feet. Using the excuse of being helpful just to sneak in a touch every once in a while has basically been my life since middle school, when I got a taste of the buzzing sensation that happens in my body whenever she touches me.

“Aww.” I smile at her. Luckily, because we’re the same height, I can look directly into her eyes. “Did you come by just to see me before work?”

“No.” She doesn’t hesitate. “Beth wanted to grab a coffee before heading over.”

I take the risk of her pushing me away and wrap my arm around her shoulders. Luckily, she does what she’s always done and leans into my side. “Want me to whip something up for you?”

Her lips pull back in disgust. “No thanks, I’d rather walk across hot coals.”

We start walking toward the front of the building, not only because she’s not allowed through the back, but also because I want more time with her. “Need me to pick you up later?”

She shakes her head and I have to admit that anyone else driving her anywhere causes a strange form of jealousy to grow and expand within the cavity of my chest.

Summer is one of the most self-sufficient people I know. Asking for help isn’t really her forté but I like that there’s at least one thing in life she needs me for. It makes me feel like she needs me just as much as I need her.

“No, Beth and I were going to grab something to eat after.”

“Okay.” I nod and force myself to finally pull away so I can hold the door open for her. “Just call me if anything changes.”

She gives me a quick hug before walking over to the table where her coworker, Bethany, is sitting on her phone, wearing the same uniform as Summer.

I force myself to clock back in and focus on taking orders instead of watching Summer leave and wishing I could just keep her with me. In more ways than one.