Page 28 of Peaks and Promises

“Mom?” Nate stood awkwardly, his weight on one leg with the other knee bent inward. “I gotta go.”

“Oh, right,” she said. “Where’s the bathroom?”

I pointed at the half-open door to the hall bath. “Right there.”

Nate shuffled inside and closed the door behind him.

Summer let out a long breath and set her purse on the counter. “What a day.”

“Do you want to sit down?”

“Sure.” She went over to the worn beige couch and took a seat. “I still can’t believe he showed up here.”

“What’s his name? Asshole?”

She grinned. “Axel. Actually it’s Aaron Gunderson, but of course he doesn’t answer to that anymore. I should have called him Aaron. It would have made him furious.”

It was hard to imagine how she’d ever been with a club member. I knew the kind of women they usually attracted, and nothing about Summer seemed like their type.

“I know it’s not my business, but how did you get mixed up with a club member?”

Leaning her head back, she groaned. “My mom’s been with a member for years. Stryker. He’s one of the higher-ups in Mayhem. That’s how I met Axel. In my defense, I was young and stupid.”

I put up my hands. “I’m not judging. I know all about being young and stupid.”

“Don’t we all.” She rubbed the space between her eyes. “I wish I knew what Axel really wants. He said he just wants to see Nate, but like I said, I don’t trust him. At all.”

The toilet flushed. I had a feeling I knew exactly what he wanted.

His son.

Nate came out, and for a second, my temper flared. He was not that asshole’s son. Not in any way that counted.

“Better?” Summer asked.

He nodded. “Are we getting the car back?”

“At some point, why?”

“I left my backpack.”

“I’ll take care of it,” I said. “Can you live without it for a day or two?”

“I have homework, but I’m suspended, so…”

Summer sighed and closed her eyes for a second. I decided not to comment. It wasn’t my business.

“I’ll have it towed,” I said. “I know a guy. He’ll take care of it until you can pick it up. That way, if they’re watching your car, it won’t lead them anywhere.”

“I can’t afford—”

“You won’t have to. He owes me.”

“Thank you. Again.” Her eyes flicked to Nate, and she patted the couch next to her. “Come here, buddy.”

I went to the kitchen to see if I had anything for dinner. It was only midafternoon, but they’d get hungry eventually. And I wanted to avoid leaving the house for the rest of the day if we could help it.

“I promised I’d explain what’s going on,” Summer said. “You know how I told you that I’m not with your dad because he made a lot of bad choices?”