Page 43 of The Summer Plans

She’s right, though. I need to talk to RJ about all of this and find out if there’s a logical explanation for why everything went down the way it did.

CHAPTER 13

RJ

When Summer emerges from the bedroom several hours later, she looks relaxed and refreshed. It warms my heart that I made her look that way. Fuck, she’s beautiful. Her brown hair is styled in loose waves, and she tucks it behind her ears as she makes eye contact with me.

I walk over to her and place a virgin strawberry daiquiri in her hand. “Here you go, birthday girl.”

“Mom!” Lana squeals, running over. “Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday!” Logan and Lucas shout in unison from their spots on the loveseat.

“What’s this?” Summer looks down at the drink in her hand. “Is this what I think it is?”

“I want a sip,” Lucas whines, running over. Summer quickly takes a sip, turning out of his reach.

“It’s kid-friendly. I even made a blueberry citrus one that’s diabetes-friendly for Logan,” I tell her as she offers Lucas a sip.

“I have a non-kid version in the blue container in the back of the fridge if you decide you want to mix it up later,” I whisper once the kids are out of earshot. Her responding smile stirs something in my chest.

“We have a whole day planned for you,” Logan says, walking over to give her a hug.

“You do?” Summer looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “You didn’t have to go through the trouble. I don’t normally get to spend my birthday with you guys, so I’m happy just hanging out with you.”

I smile with full dimple. “It was no trouble.”

Lana grabs Summer by the hand, tugging her to the loveseat. “We’re gonna watch a movie with you, and then you can read your books on the beach with us.”

“And then RJ is making spaghetti with garlic bread.” Lucas says. Logan has his nose back in his book.

She glances at me over her shoulder, and I nod. “Can you start the movie for me? I’ll be right back,” Summer says to Lana as she walks toward me.

I flash her a smile, and my pulse quickens when I catch her staring at my dimple. “Are you hungry? I know it’s been a bit since breakfast. Do you want grilled cheese? Or we can snack now, and make an early dinner?”

“Thank you. This is really nice of you.” She drops her gaze, and I fight the urge to touch her, to hook a finger under her chin and tilt her eyes to mine.

“We wanted to do something to make your birthday special.”

She glances up, her eyebrows bunched in confusion. “We?”

I nod. “Me and the kids.”

“Oh.” She glances back at the kids quickly before she continues. “Can we talk?”

Fuck. This sounds serious. I wrack my brain for what I could have done. Was all this too much? “Right now?”

“Hurry, Mom, it’s starting,” Lucas calls.

Her eyes lock on mine. “Coming!” she says to him before addressing me. “Later.”

My stomach twists in knots as she walks over to the loveseat, cuddling with Lana and Lucas. I pull out my phone.

I did everything you said.

I made her pancakes. Breakfast in bed.

But she looks pissed and said she wants to talk to me later.