“Okay. Did you ever tell Ethan that?”
Yes, of course I did. Didn’t I? I know we spoke about me opening the resort, wanting to see my dad’s plan come true. But we didn’t have that talk until very recently. I suppose, early on, it may have been unclear what I wanted to do. And my life before here was nomadic at best.
“Here’s the thing, Summer,” Paige pipes in. “Mila called us as soon as she saw you. She went to talk to Ethan and sent us here.”
The jab of hearing his name hurts. And yet, I also desperately want to know how he is. What kind of messed up madness is that.
“He’s a wreck, in case you’re wondering. He knows he made a big mistake, and is apparently reacting strongly to it.”
“That doesn’t matter. I know he’s sorry, but it doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t trust me. He lied to me. So how can I ever trust him?” My voice comes out as a croak and I take a sip of my tea, letting the still-warm liquid soothe my throat.
“Did you ever stop to think about why he lied?” Serena takes my hand in hers.
I shake my head dumbly. I still don’t have an answer to that question.
“Let’s try this from another angle. Did you know Ethan has only been in one serious relationship since their parents died?”
Oh.Oh.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I blurt out, trying to make sense of this revelation.
“You know that, but does he? Think about it from his perspective, with his past experiences. His mind had him worried that you might have left him if you took the offer from the hotel guy. And you leaving would be another loss of someone Ethan loves. Mila’s theory is that her idiot brother couldn’t handle that possibility and went about it in a typical man way. By ignoring it.”
I stand up, pulling my hand away from Serena. She’s making a really good point, but that doesn’t mean I want to hear it. Walking over to my bed, I pick up the chocolate bar and take a large bite.
“So, what,” I mumble around my mouthful of chocolate. “I’m meant to just forgive him for lying to me, because his parents died, and he’s scared I’ll leave him like his ex did? That’s not fair to me. His problems with trust and honesty screwed this up, not me.” The damn tears are threatening to start again, and I swipe at them angrily.
“That’s not what we’re saying, Summer. You have every right to be mad at him. Hell, I’m pissed at him on your behalf. Remember? Chicks before dicks.”
At the sound of Mila’s voice, I look up to see her standing in my doorway. Suddenly I forget why I didn’t want to see her, because I do. I walk over to her and let her fold me into her arms for a hug.
“I’m sorry, Mila.”
“What the hell for?” She holds me at arm’s length. “You did nothing wrong. My brother is the idiot who fucked up. That’s why I left his drunk ass at his place, with Reid going to check in on him, so that I could come here.”
Mila walks us back over to the couch and sits down with me. “He feels awful, Summer. And so do I.”
I look at her, confused. “Why do you feel bad? You didn’t lie.”
She winces. “I sort of did. I knew about the email he received. I told him he had to tell you, and then I just assumed he did. I’m sorry.”
I don’t have any energy left in me to be upset at her, so I just let my head fall back against the couch.
“You need to get out of town,” Mila announces. “Paige, don’t you have that book fair thing in Vancouver this weekend?”
My gaze bounces between them, sensing some sort of unspoken conversation that’s going on.
“I do. Summer, you should join me,” Paige says. The out of the blue offer is suspicious, and I know I’m being manipulated, I just don’t know why. But honestly? Getting out of Dogwood Cove for a couple of days sounds amazing.
“When do we leave?”
Traveling to Vancouver with Paige was a really good idea. Some distance from both the town and Ethan is helping me to calm down and process what happened, and Paige is the perfect traveling companion, largely leaving me to my own thoughts. She’s a good friend, thoughtful and insightful, but she knows when to back off. I’m grateful for the space I’ve had to think.
And the time to miss Ethan.
I wish I didn’t miss him. I wish I could hold onto my anger, like a protective shield. But I can’t. I spend a lot of time thinking about what the girls said and trying to figure out what I want to do about it all. Cole Devereaux’s card has been folded and unfolded a hundred times.
On our second and final night in the city, Paige and I pick up sushi and bring it back to the hotel with a bottle of wine. We lounge in our robes, eating and drinking. Paige is far more relaxed and open than I’ve ever seen her, but still intelligent and insightful as ever.
