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He’d been my best friend.
The only one, in that school of self-entitled pricks.
And now, having Summer in my life, I realized?—
I actually had missed him. Or, our friendship, at least.
And yet, he’d betrayed me, in a way that was unforgivable….
….unless… was it as unforgivable as I’d always thought?
Hadn’t I done some terrible things in my own life?
Plus, we were only teenagers—so young.
Still babies.
Should Knight have to suffer his whole life for his act?
I now knew that he’d done it to protect Tatiana—the love of his life.
Wouldn’t I do the same to protect Summer?
“Rook?”
I now realized that Summer was, once again, standing in front of me.
“Are you okay?”
I finally looked away from Knight, to Summer, immediately drowning in her eyes. The pain in my chest and throat constricted, then flowed out, draining from me, as her warmth infused me.
Her.
It would always be Summer.
The calm in my storm.
“You did this for me?” I asked her.
“No,” she snarked, suddenly smiling when she saw I’d relaxed. “I did it for the cake. The fact that it's your birthday is just a bonus,” she teased, swatting me playfully. “Plus, I thought it might stop your broodiness if you could bury the hatchet.”
“Literally,” Callie pulled an axe from behind her with a mischievous grin.
“Callie!” Summer said.
“Let’s—take that from you,” Hawke took a hold of the handle.
“But!” she protested, “I’ve been waiting all week to use this.”
“Maybe next time.” He pressed his lips into a firm line, but I could tell he was trying not to smile.
She shot him an exasperated look but he just crooked an eyebrow at her, and she —reluctantly—let him take it from her.
I took a moment to take in my surroundings—Knight, Tatiana, Amara, Callie, Hawke, and Summer were all standing in the study. There was a large ‘Happy Birthday’ banner over the fireplace, with streamers and balloons, cake and all kinds of decorations.
“Christ,” I rubbed my hand over my face. I’d come in ready to shoot people and they were trying to surprise me.
“Um, why so serious? You guys are too weird,” Callie broke the tension in the room, “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving.” She grabbed a plate and began to pile it with pizza and other food. “Want some?” She shoved the end of the triangle towards Hawke. Before it could reach his mouth, he’d grabbed her wrist, halting her.
