Page 57 of The Summer of Us

“Yes, it is. He’s here, in fact, and wants to say hello.” Sunny paused. “You met him before.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“Linc.”

Silence filled the room. Then Emily spoke. “Linc? As in Linc Franklin? The boy who broke your heart?”

Sunny swallowed. “It’s Linc Webber now. There are things about that time you don’t know.”

I loved hearing her say my name and the way she defended me. It made me want to kiss her.

“Sunny,” Emily hissed. “Are you sure about this? He almost destroyed you.”

I stepped in behind Sunny. “It almost destroyed me too.”

They looked shocked, both of them silent.

I pulled my chair beside Sunny and sat down, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “It’s a long story. I didn’t leave her. I was taken away from your sister—from my life here. I searched for her when I came back—all of you—but you were gone. Then, by accident, I found her again.” I tightened my hand on her shoulder. “I’m not leaving her again—ever.”

Emily leaned forward. “Sunny—”

Sunny cut her off. “I know what I’m doing, Emily.” Then she smiled, her voice softening. “I’m happy. Really happy.”

Hayley tilted her head. “You look happy.”

“We both are,” I stated. “I will do whatever it takes to keep your sister. To earn your trust again. I’ve been half alive without her.”

Emily sniffled. “We missed you.”

I smiled. “I missed you too, kiddo. We have a lot to catch up on, but I think you girls need to talk. So, I’ll leave you to it. Sunny can give you my cell number, and I’ll answer any questions you have.”

“Don’t hurt her,” Hayley demanded. “Don’t do that again, Linc.”

“I won’t,” I swore. I stood and kissed the top of Sunny’s head. “You know where I am.”

I walked into the bedroom, the girls’ voices following me.

“Is he staying with you?”

“Tell us everything, Sunny!”

“God, he got handsome. Is he that good-looking in person?”

I shut the door to give them privacy, but I did hear Sunny’s reply to the last question.

“Even better. And he’s so amazing, girls. You have no idea.”

I hoped they would accept my presence in Sunny’s life. I knew I had to work and earn their trust, but I would do it. I would take care of them as well as Sunny.

I knew their forgiveness would take time, but I would be patient.

I would do anything for Sunny.

An hour later, Sunny appeared, her eyes red-rimmed but peaceful. I held out my arms, and she lay beside me, her head on my chest. I had heard parts of the conversation through the door, at times serious, at times more lighthearted with sisterly teasing and jibes. She had assured them she was fine and explained in brief detail what had happened. The girls had a lot of questions she answered, then they moved on to how we found each other and what the future looked like for us.

“You defended me.” I kissed the top of her head.

“Of course.”