“Very. He’s a Dragon, you know,” Summer said. “My dad was having a fit because Kaiser is pretending to be Cristie’s boyfriend so the Dragon keeps his distance. Dad’s afraid that if Kaiser meddles too much, the Dragon might get irritated and fry him.”
“Doesn’t sound fair to play with his emotions like that,” the auburn haired girl said.
“No, it doesn’t. Maybe I could pretend to be the Dragon’s girlfriend and really make them both angry,” Summer said.
“If Kaiser doesn’t really like Cristie, I don’t think he’d get mad.”
“Sure he would, just because I got involved and complicated things.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. You do like to complicate things, though. You have to admit.”
“I’m not denying it. Besides, I really need something to distract me. I’m so bored. And I’m lonely, Harper. I mean, ifCristie really doesn’t want him, what could it hurt? And if she does, it would only help her figure it out.”
Harper looked at her best friend, really looked at her. “You’re not half as wild as you like to think you are.”
“I might be. I could love a Dragon,” Summer said.
Harper rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You need to stay out of it. You don’t want Cristie mad at you.”
“Maybe not, but I wouldn’t be doing anything she’s not doing. Let me fantasize a little, Harper.”
“Fantasizing is one thing. But fantasize about something safe,” Harper said. “Besides, like we both already know, he’s Cristie’s.”
Summer looked at Harper skeptically. “Do you even understand fantasies? They’re not meant to be safe. They’re meant to be an adventure and nearly impossible, hence fantasies. I think you just don’t get it. Maybe it’s because you have a ready-made future waiting for you — a fun one, helping run your family’s farm. Me? I’m bouncing from one thing to another not fitting in anywhere at all, so let me have my fantasies,” Summer complained.
“Having a ready made future isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be,” Harper said.
“What do you mean? You’ve got a job just waiting for you to decide you’re ready. You can’t be fired, and anytime you decide you’re tired of playing with the horses at the Frierson Stables, it’ll still be waiting for you. And if you decide you want to go play with the horses again, you can just tell your employees to keep an eye on things for you. You can’t lose.”
Harper shook her head tiredly. “I’m not playing with the horses. I’m helping train them, and I’m good at it. They respond to me.”
“I know, and I’m glad you’re happy working with them, but your real way to support yourself is in your family business. And it’s a guaranteed in. You’ve got it made.”
Harper didn’t bother trying to explain her lack of enthusiasm to Summer. She’d explained until she was blue in the face and Summer just didn’t care to hear her. So instead, she changed the subject from herself to Summer. “You know you’ve got an in where you want, too. You could work at any of the businesses the Pride is involved with. You could even work for my family at the tree farm. You could go to school and find something else that calls to you. You’ll find your place, Summer. You’re smart, and strong, and beautiful. Whatever you do you’ll do well.”
“Sure I will. Like when Richie asked me to work in the store instead of the restaurant,” Summer said.
“He asked nicely because he needed help in the store instead of the restaurant,” Harper said.
“No! It was because I’d ruined so many meals both cooking, and dropping them, that he had to finally get me out of there. Or when he reminded me that school was starting so he’d hired someone part time to cover my shift at the store so I could go to school like the boys were.”
“Yeah, that was unfortunate. But he really just wants the best for you.”
“Unfortunate? No. It wasn’t unfortunate that he wanted me gone. It was a necessary tactic to keep me from destroying both buildings.”
“You didn’t mean to cause a chemical spill. All you did was decide to fill up your car real quick when there were no customers around. You didn’t know the gas pump wouldn’t shut off if you just left the nozzle in the gas tank and ran to check out the couple of customers who showed up while you were pumping gas.”
“I had to go check them out! It was supposed to stop when the tank got full! It’s got an automatic shut off. It malfunctioned!” Summer said defensively.
“Exactly! Wasn't your fault. Besides, Lazarus saved you. He happened to see the gas still pouring out of the pump when he left the store that morning. He caught it before it was too big of a mess,” Harper said.
“It’s not my fault so many things happen to me. I just have bad luck.”
“Like I said, you’ll find your place, Summer.”
“It won’t be here. Everybody kind of tenses up when I walk in somewhere. I’m pushed aside here now just like I was in high school.”
“That’s not true. We all love you. And you weren’t pushed aside in school. We had each other.”
