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“Why don’t you ask her?”
I should feel terrible for using him to sweet-talk Summer up to our place, but the truth is that I need to see her and apologize for my asshat behavior.
When we get to the bar, Mac is behind the bar with a few other members of staff. The Saturday night buzz is only just beginning as I hoist Easton up into my arms and ask, “Summer here?”
She should be. I know her shift pattern by heart.
Mac side glances before he tells me, “She helped set up for tonight and then said she had to leave.”
“Was she sick?” I ask, worry instantly drowning out my sensibilities.
“I don’t know.” He shrugs as he turns to serve a customer that waves him over.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial her number as we head to the elevator. It rings out as we wait for it to arrive. And while we’re riding up to the penthouse, I dial her again, but she doesn’t pick up this time either.
My chest squeezes so tight that I can barely breathe. I’m falling into a black hole when the doors ding open.
Get yourself together, I silently berate myself, but the moment I look up and Easton turns to look out of the elevator, all I see is her soft smile.
Damn, if I felt awful about the way I treated her yesterday before, now I feel like I need to get on her knees and beg her to forgive me. I don’t deserve her.
“Sum!” Easton croons her name over and over until I set him on his feet, and he runs to her.
Completely ignoring the fact that she’s balancing a small rainbow cake in one hand and a present in the other, he engulfs her in a hug. I can see it in her face that she wants to hug him back. The wide smile and flushed cheeks give her away as well as the way she’s trying to crouch without dropping anything.
“Here, let me take those.”
Summer doesn’t argue. Lifting Easton into her arms, she wraps her arms around him and sings the birthday song to him. Easton’s clapping and giggling so loud that it’s impossible not to forget about everything outside of the moment.
“Thank you,” I mouth at her as I let us into the suite, and before she can get too far away from me, I pull her back, kissing her without warning while Easton tries to push his face between ours.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” I whisper into her ear. “It was wrong. I was rude, and you did not deserve that.”
Kissing me back softly, she nudges her nose with mine before pulling away to let East show her his new race kart.
Standing in the middle of the room with cake and present in hand, all I can do is watch as she takes off the birthday hat on her head and puts it on Easton’s.
Right here is where it hits me. There will never be another like her. No one could make the chaos as insignificant as she does. There isn’t a single soul in this universe that is as blindingly brilliant as hers. And there’s nothing I won’t do to keep her.
When it comes to Easton and Summer, I simply need to have them.
13
SUMMER
Easton could barely keep his eyes open after the events of the day, so while Parker bathes him, I clean up after our little celebration.
It wasn’t the zoo, but he was over the moon with my gift and the cake. We sang songs, played a few party games, and laughed so hard it hurt. He’s an incredible kid. A credit to Parker and a joy to be around.
Parker appears after putting him to bed, and I smile as I grab my purse from the side.
“You’re leaving?” he asks, sounding disappointed. His tired smile wavers, and I stick to my guns.
“Yeah, it’s probably for the best.” Avoiding his gaze, I root around in my purse for my car keys.
“Stay. Please.” His fingers gently wrap around my hand, and he waits until my eyes meet his. “I’m sorry. And I want you to stay.”
“You’re wrong about me not understanding that you need to protect Easton,” I whisper, letting the hurt from the other day seep out. “I can’t bear the thought of him being upset, hurt, or neglected. It makes my heart ache. I’d move heaven and earth for that kid.”
