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“Just say whatever you’re dying to say.”
“I’m going to be blunt about this.”
I can’t help a smile. “Because you’ve been so subtle until now?”
“You still have feelings for her. It’s the way you look at her. I saw you at Blake’s wedding. And you’ve been helping her dad.”
“I—how do you know about that?”
She shrugs one shoulder. “The Bennett rumor mill.”
“Of course.”
Talking to my family should come with a warning label: everything you say can and will be used against you.
“Exes don’t usually stay involved with each other’s families. Far be it from me to read too much into this—”
“Summer, here’s some honest feedback: you always read too much into everything.”
She holds up a finger as if saying “Pay attention.”
“Even so, I have a theory. Hear me out, and I promise I won’t say anything more on the topic today.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“My theory is that you two have been in contact with the other’s family because you want to be part of each other’s lives any way you can.”
Summer is one of the most romantic and optimistic people I know. Coupled with her tendency to read too much into everything, her theories are usually far-fetched. But this particular one hits surprisingly close to home.
Summer glances at me but doesn’t break her promise.
“I’m almost done here. Do you have a cloth? Something I can wipe my hands on? I have grease everywhere.”
“I’ll look for something.” She disappears to the back of the car, returning with a cloth.
Handing it to me, she says, “By the way, rumor has it Simon Luther will be your client.”
“It’s true. And yes, I will get you his autograph.”
“You really are the best brother. How did you guess that’s what I was going to ask for?”
“Just a hunch.” Summer had posters of the actor all over her walls growing up.
“I love your job. And I’m so happy you dropped the extreme adventures part.”
“Me too.”
My company offers everything that falls under the concepts of events, tours, adventures, and experiences, and it’s attracting quite a famous clientele. When I started out, the big focus was on extreme adventures. I brushed aside my family’s concerns, subscribing to the It can never happen to me mentality. Until it did happen to me. Out of sheer luck, I wasn’t seriously injured, but at the next family dinner, it became clear that I couldn’t put them through so much worry again.
“This is done.” I rise to my feet, wiping my hands more vigorously on the cloth. The grease sticks.
“Thanks so much. I’ll head straight home. You?”
“Need to stop by the office first.”
She gives me a peck on the cheek, sighing. “I still can’t believe Blake’s a father. Next thing we know, it’ll be your turn.”
Summer’s optimism in all its glory. That’s not in the cards for me. Out of the nine of us, only Summer and I are single. I’ve watched my elder siblings and my twin fall in love and start families over the past few years. The connection each has to their spouse is so strong, I often feel like a third wheel when I’m in a room with just one of the couples.
