Page 65 of Don’t Be A Stranger

I turn my attention to Moose, my eyebrow arched. He nods his head and mouths “Ava’s boyfriend.”

Okay, good. At least they know the guy.

I turn back to Summer who’s quietly singing and poking my cheek.

“Ready to head home?” My voice remains soft, quiet, and just for her.

She presses her cheek to mine. “I like home.”

The drive back to the apartment consists of Bethany and Summer giggling over absolutely nothing in the backseat, while Moose gently argues with them to keep their seatbelts on. Then getting them up the stairs wasn’t very easy. I had to take Summer’s heels off as she couldn’t walk up the short flight of stairs to the apartment entrance. Although I did love those shoes and the height they gave her.

Then Bethany took it upon herself to push all the buttons on the elevator but luckily, we’re only on the second floor.

“I love you lots and lots and lots.” Summer has been telling me this for the past five minutes while I’ve been trying to get her into pajamas.

I chuckle. “I love you too, Summer.”

Summer stops trying to help me get her into something more comfortable and stares at me. I keep my eyes on her face and not the exposed skin of her top half, or her toned arms and elongated torso.

“Not tons?” Her voice cracks.

“Of course I love you tons.” I hold up one of my shirts, ready to slip it over her head. “I just think it’s time for you to lie down.”

“How?”

“How?” I can’t help but laugh. “How do you lie down?”

Summer, drunk and swaying, still tries to shove my shoulder. I catch her elbow to keep her steady.

“How do you love me?” she clarifies.

I know how I want to answer that. I’m just not sure how she wants me to answer.

“’Cause I really love you.” Summer doesn’t give me a chance to speak yet. “So much—sometimes it hurts right here.” She points at her chest.

She’s drunk. I have to keep reminding myself of that. Nothing she’s saying holds any weight.

I carefully slip my shirt over her head, leaving her hair even more of a fluffy mess, despite me trying to braid it back for her but Summer won’t sit still.

She continues. “I steal your clothes because I like smelling like you,” she hiccups. “And I like when you call me Pretty Girl. My favorite thing in the whole world is your laugh. I don’t just love you like a friend. I love you differently.”

Summer rubs her eyes and her words are mumbled but I can make out most of what she’s saying. Only because I’m standing a little closer than I should.

I don’t think I’ve ever questioned if Summer loved me or not. But with her dad in chemo, Lily ending up in the psychiatric hospital, and her trying to keep up her grades and swim time on top of all that, I’m sure Summer just needs something—someone—to keep her grounded. To talk to so she feels less alone. Less like everything is out of her control.

I’m happy to be that for her but I know that it’s only going to be temporary. I’m something constant in her life right now but when she inevitably outgrows this life, it’ll only make sense for that to include me.

My hands come up to her cheeks and against my better judgement, I kiss her forehead. She buries her face in my neck. Summer’s breathing is gentle and her chest presses against mine, allowing me to feel her heartbeat.

Sometimes it hurts right here.

“Let’s get you into bed now, okay?” I gently suggest.

Summer doesn’t argue with me. Not when I sit her down on the bed or hold up a glass of water to her lips. Not even when I tuck her in and don’t slip into bed next to her.

“I’ll be on the couch if you need anything,” I whisper into her hair.

She yawns and buries herself deeper into my pillow. The same pillow that she—