Page 56 of Be My Summer

She turned, unsure of why he was beckoning for her. When she laid eyes on the cause for commotion, the uncertainty on her face dissolved. Her cheeks lifted and her lips curled upward into a smile.

“And this is my wife, Angela Rutherford.”

Summer’s grip around my hand tightened. She struggled to find words. The sparkle in her eyes disappeared and was replaced with tears. She swallowed back, suddenly unsure of herself. I watched her rapid decline in high definition.

No.

No.

What’s the matter?

Summer.

“Angela, this is Summer, Saul’s girlfriend.”

“Nice to meet you, Summer. I’m Saul’s mother. You’re such a pretty girl. Hopefully my son isn’t giving you too many problems,” my mother joked.

Summer didn’t find anything funny. Her face was straight. Her body was rigid. Her eyebrows were cinched and pushed forward.

I turned, facing her while blocking my parent’s view. I wasn’t inclined to what was happening in that pretty head of hers but before anyone else discovered it, I wanted to be the first to know.

“Baby, what’s the matter?”

“I need to go.”

“Summer.”

“Saul– I need to go. I need to get home to my father.”

“Is everything alright?”

She shook her head. “Nothing– nothing is alright.”

“Talk to me.”

She turned, heading in the opposite direction.

“Is everything okay?” My mother asked.

Ignoring her, I focused on Summer.

“Son–” my father called out, but I was in too deep.

I didn’t hear anyone or see anything but Summer. She was a few steps ahead of me and the only thing I was interested in was catching up to her. She was my priority. She always would be.

“Summer. Slow down, baby. Talk to me.”

She ignored my pleas and continued toward the parking lot. I rushed behind her, finally catching up to her as we neared my truck. I planted her body against the bed of the pickup and immediately regretted it.

Tears trickled down her cheeks at an alarming rate. Her makeup was ruined. Her face was wet with shame, regret, disgust, and pain.

My heart ached.

My head ached.

My stomach ached.

My entire fucking body ached.