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“Who says I want some brilliant guy who makes a ton of money?” she snaps.
It catches me off guard. I’ve always known Summer to be a bit sassy, but she’s never snapped at me. Then again, we’ve also never had a serious conversation like we’re having now.
“I do like you, Dane. A lot,” she whispers.
“I know you do. I’ve always known. But you’re only eighteen. You have your whole life ahead of you and that life isn’t here in Pine Hollow.”
“How would you know that?”
“I’ve heard you talking to Greer about leaving this town when you graduate.”
She bites her bottom lip and looks down at the ground. “It would be different if I had a reason to stay. Or if someone wanted me to stay.”
I move closer to her and wrap my hands around her upper arms, squeezing them gently. “You need to get away from here. Away from this,” I say as I nod toward her house.
Fuck, she smells so good. Like sparkling sugar and vanilla. Her signature scent. I always love to get a whiff of it when she passes by.
“I know you’re a Daddy, Dane. I’m a Little.”
The world spins, and I can’t manage to draw a full breath. Did she really say…? She’s…a Little…? There have been times I’ve wondered but then kicked myself for even thinking those kinds of thoughts about my sister’s best friend. How long has she known? How does she know I’m a Daddy? It’s not like I’ve been vocal about it. Well, except for Charity coming out of the garage and calling me Daddy. Which I’d scolded her for afterward. Not that it matters. I don’t plan on seeing her again.
I scrub a hand over my face and sigh. It doesn’t matter if Summer’s a Little. It doesn’t matter if I have feelings for her. It doesn’t matter if she likes me. She deserves more than what I can give her. More than what this town can give her. Even though it’s going to hurt like hell, I need to make her understand.
“Summer, you’re a great girl. I hope you find the Daddy of your dreams one day. I’m not him. You have two months until graduation. Then you’re going to go to college with Greer up in Washington. There’s no reason for you to stay in Pine Hollow.”
Her eyes shine with tears, and it breaks my fucking heart. I have to stay strong, though. She deserves better.
“You only like me because I’m older and your bestie’s big brother. It’s a teenage crush. You’ll get over it. You need to go to Washington and start your life. Become the lawyer you’ve always dreamed of becoming and meet some doctor or judge or anyone who can give you the life you deserve. Who can give you what you never had here in Pine Hollow.”
She winces as a tear rolls down her cheek. “You…you don’t have any feelings for me?”
I can’t breathe. Everything inside me is screaming, “Yes! Yes, I have feelings for you. Yes, I could picture being your Daddy. Yes, I’ve thought about you in so many impure ways. Yes, I want you to stay.”
But all of those yeses are selfish. I can’t be selfish when it comes to her. She deserves better than that.
So, I lie, “No. I don’t have any feelings for you. We’re just friends. You need to get over whatever you feel for me and move on.”
I turn around and walk away without looking back. If I do, I might not be able to keep going. I might crumble. I love my life here in Pine Hollow. I love being a mechanic. But someone like Summer Pierce deserves more than that. She deserves everything and more. One day, she’ll thank me. And one day, maybe I’ll stop thinking about her.
1
SUMMER
Present Day…
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“I’m making a peanut butter sandwich. Do you want one?”
My eyes flick down to the ketchup bottle my mother is holding and pause. Ever since I arrived home a couple of months ago, she’s been doing things that make no sense. And I feel guilty as hell. Why didn’t I come back to Pine Hollow sooner? Why did I not realize her illness was progressing much faster than I thought? How long has she been making herself ketchup sandwiches? Has she actually been eating them?
“Why don’t I make you a nice hot grilled cheese and some soup? Doesn’t that sound better for a snowy day like today?”
She looks up from the counter and smiles. “I’d like that, Janet.”
I swallow heavily, trying to force the enormous lump lodged in my throat back down. She calls me by a different name every day. I gave up correcting her after the first few times. It upsets her, and it can turn the whole day from good to terrible.
“I’ll get it started. Go sit down in your chair and watch the snow. The flakes are huge.”
