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“I’m a few weeks from giving birth and not sleeping. No one needs to see me sultry.”
“It’ll be fun. Trust me.”
Summer’s friends didn’t leave until nearly midnight. Erica dropped each of them off before driving back home. She expected to walk into a dark downstairs—Allison had gone to bed nearly two hours before—but the kitchen lights were still on and Summer was waiting at the island.
“Why aren’t you in bed?” Erica asked.
“I was waiting for you.”
“It’s late.”
“I’m not sleepy.” Summer traced a pattern on the quartz. “Tonight was fun. Thanks for doing everyone’s makeup.”
“I had a good time.”
The teens had been good company. Tomorrow she would thank Allison for suggesting pizza. That simple act had allowed Erica to spend time with her daughter and her friends. She wasn’t looking to join the group but appreciated the chance to check in with all of them.
Erica sat next to her daughter. “You have great friends.”
“I know. They’ve all been totally there for me while other kids at school have been so mean about Dad.”
“You’d said it was getting better. Has that changed?”
Summer shook her head. “No. I get a few comments, but not every day. I told Donovan what was happening, in case he wanted to take someone else to prom.”
That was news, Erica thought. “What did he say?”
“He told me he would take on anyone who messed with me.” Her daughter looked at her. “As a friend, Mom. We’re not dating.”
“So you’ve told me.”
“I want to make sure you believe me.”
Erica smiled. “I do.” She made an X over her heart. “I promise I’m not secretly hoping you fall in love with Donovan. But I’m curious if there’s anyone you like.”
Summer shrugged a couple of times. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think a guy is cute but I’m not sure that’s enough. The good-looking guys are so self-centered and the jocks can be jerks. The nerdy guys all run away when I say hi.”
Erica tried not to laugh. “Wow, that’s a lot of generalizing and making assumptions. I know stereotypes exist for a reason, but a lot of times it’s not for a good reason. Maybe you’d like to get to know a few of these guys rather than lumping them into groups.”
“Oh, but that’s so mature. You know I hate that.”
They smiled at each other.
“You don’t have to date,” Erica said. “If you’re not interested or don’t feel ready, then it’s fine. Take your time. It’s like the whole hair-and-makeup thing we did tonight. Your friends love it, but it’s not your thing. Embrace that.”
“Sometimes I feel out of step.”
“I always felt that,” Erica told her. “Sometimes I still do. The softball moms are great, but we have nothing in common. They don’t have jobs, let alone a career. They’re all married and I’m single.”
“You’re not single. You have Killion.”
Erica remembered too late that she’d never explained her somewhat transactional relationship with the man and it was probably best she never did.
“Killion and I aren’t serious,” she said instead. “We like each other, but we’re not madly in love.”
Summer looked at her as if she was an idiot. “Mom, the man’s crazy about you. Of course you’re in love.”
Erica leaned back in her chair. “I’m not. We’re friends and have similar interests.”
