Page 12 of The Summer Plans

“I was gonna watch some TV.” She hooks a thumb over her shoulder.

“That’s funny, I was going to ask you if you wanted to watch a movie with me.”

Why is this so awkward? This woman used to be one of my closest friends. Until I fucked everything up.

“What did you have in mind?”

“The Princess Bride?” I scratch my neck, smiling, and her eyes lock on my dimple.

She blinks several times. “That’s my favorite movie.”

“I know.” I don’t tell her that it’s also my favorite movie from the number of times she made me watch it when we were kids. Whenever I missed her or wanted to feel close to her, I’d put it on. I could almost feel her presence in the room anytime I watched it.

Grabbing the remote, I start the movie, but when I turn to sit next to her, she puts her legs up, taking up the rest of the small space. My feet feel like lead weights as I clomp over to another loveseat and flop onto it with the grace of Fezzik. Who am I kidding? That giant man probably wouldn’t even fit onto this comically small living room furniture. Remind me to talk to my sister about her decorating choices.

We sit in relative silence watching the movie. I silently mouth the words and chuckle each time Summer quotes them out loud. What I wouldn’t give to have a normal-size couch I could stretch out on as she lies against me. I’d run my hand up and down her back and shift my body to press my erection into her thigh until we were making out like teenagers. Then I would roll on top of her, pull her panties down, and finally feast on her, challenging her to quote the movie while I gave her an orgasm that would steal her speech.

“I love this movie!” Sophie says from behind me, dousing me and my daydream with a bucket of ice water.

I grab the throw pillow and place it over my erection. My daughter takes that as an invitation to sit next to me. Fuck my life. I love my daughter, but she isn’t the person I want snuggled against me right now.

Once the film’s ended and Sophie’s retreated to her room, I stand and stretch. My shirt lifts as I reach over my head, and I catch Summer’s eyes zeroing in on the exposed skin of my abs.

“Mind if I use the bathroom in your room to brush my teeth and wash my face?”

“You wash your face?”

I nod. “I have a whole skincare routine.”

She tilts her head, her brows furrowing like she thinks I’m messing with her.

“Girl dad. I could tell you all about cleansers, toners, and serums. And I’m no stranger to a makeover or two.”

She smirks and it’s hard to tell if she’s blushing or if it’s just the sunburn coloring her cheeks. “Yeah, you can use the bathroom.”

After I grab my toiletry bag from my suitcase, I follow Summer into her bedroom, doing my damnedest not to stare at her ass. I fail miserably. Fuck, I want to bite her ass cheeks. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m not sure what it is about her that’s bringing out this animalistic need in me.

It’s probably the fact that her kid told me her ex would yell at her. No man that calls a woman names knows how to please them in bed. And the thought that this amazing woman hasn’t been properly fucked is a crime.

I shake my head, clearing the dirty thoughts as she gestures to the bathroom. “I’m going to change in the closet.”

Before I can protest her ridiculous idea, she turns on her heel and hustles over to the walk-in closet, wheeling her bag inside. This woman cannot get away from me fast enough.

Rushing through my nighttime routine, I go through the motions, completing each step with the lack of gusto I normally use. Thoughts of Summer swirl around in my head as my brain picks apart each encounter we had, analyzing it like game tape, highlighting all the plays I fumbled.

Loud groans come from the closet, and I slowly approach it. “Summer? You okay in there?”

“Don’t come in here!” she shouts as she grunts and sighs heavily.

“Are you wrestling an alligator in there? Or a swimsuit?”

“Ha ha,” she yells back sarcastically, and I take that as my sign to retreat.

“Well, I’m headed to bed. Have a nice n⁠—”

“Wait,” her small voice says. “I need help.”

“What do you need?”