I laugh before saying, “I called the bakery earlier today?—”
“You called the bakery?” she interrupts.
“Uh, yeah,” I respond, confused as to why she sounds so alarmed. “Someone answered but hung up as soon as I said hello.”
“I think you should come visit,” Juliet says suddenly.
My head spins at the change in subject and why she’d randomly ask me to visit. Twice in one year? After refusing to let anyone visit since she moved?
“Why?”
“You’ve been so sad ever since… well, you know. I think maybe coming out here could be good for you.”
I sigh. “I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t think I’m going to be any fun to be around.”
It’d been months since Summer left without a trace. Dean Callahan refused to tell me where she transferred to whenever I asked, and he’d made it very clear last time that if I asked again, there would be consequences.
It’s been months since Summer left, and yet here I am. Still pining after her. Still miserable. Still fucking heartbroken. Still pathetic.
“Just come for the weekend,” she insists. “The ocean air, your adorable niece, and some home-baked pie could really do you some good.” She must hear me let out an exhale because she continues. “I know you have nothing better to do; you’re officially on summer break as of two days ago.”
She’s not wrong.
I groan. “I’m really not in the mood, Juliet. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I think I’ll stay here and try to get ahead on my schedule for the fall.”
“Can you just listen to me for once? Just listen to me and stop being so damn stubborn!” she snaps.
“Woa,” I say, shocked. “What the hell?”
“I’m serious. Get your head out of your ass, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and just come visit your favorite sister and your adorable niece.”
There’s something in Juliet’s tone, a seriousness that I rarely hear from her. She had never liked raising her voice when we were growing up, and anytime anyone yelled at her, she tended to flinch away.
“Okay,” I say hesitantly, drawing the word out as I think over why Juliet would need me to go visit her. “Can you at least tell me what’s going on? Are you and Terra okay?” I ask, growing worried that something terrible may have happened.
“We’re fine,” she assures me quickly. “I just… ugh,” she groans, and I can tell that something has been frustrating her for a while now. “Oh, fuck it,” she hisses. “Look, Summer transferred to The Monterey Bay Institute of Psychology, which is about twenty minutes away, and she’s been working for me for months now. I wanted to let you both figure your shit out, but you’re both stubborn, and she’s possibly even more stubborn than you. I really thought she’d reach out, but she hasn’t, and you’re both so fucking miserable all the time, and honestly, your piss-poor moods really bring me down, and I’m sick of it. Just fucking talk to each other already.”
I stand there, mouth agape at Juliet’s outburst. She doesn’t swear too much, and when she does, it’s certainly not multiple swear words in a row.
Then it hits me.
Summer is in Carmel-By-The-Sea. She’s been there this whole time. Working for my sister and going to school out there.
This whole time she’s been under my nose. And Juliet hadn’t said anything.
“Before you get mad,” Juliet starts, correctly reading my growing anger in the silence. “What happened was a lot for both of you. She came to me, clearly heartbroken and lost. I offeredher a job because she has all these extra bills to pay. I thought after she got settled and got acquainted with the town that she would eventually reach out to you, but she didn’t. I know that I should’ve told you sooner than this, but I didn’t want you to skip out on your classes to drop everything and come here when I wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to see you. But she’s finally started to look happier lately, and I just thought… maybe now would be a good time to reach out.”
I can hear how sorry she is in her tone, along with the anxiety she must have felt hiding this from me. “It’s okay, Juliet. I’m not mad.” And I really mean that. I understand that Juliet was trying to be a good friend to Summer, and it makes me happy that Summer had someone like my sister to lean on while going through all of this.
“Oh, thank God,” Juliet sighs. “Good, because having both of you be mad at me would suck.”
“Summer’s mad at you?”
“Well, not yet,” she clarifies. “But after she finds out that I spilled the beans, she might be.”
“Do you really think she’d be that upset if I came to see her?” I ask quietly.
“No, I think she’d be happy to see you. I think she’s just worried you’ll give up your job to be with her, and she doesn’t want that.”
