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Fuck.Tomorrow was our last day on the island, and now I wouldn’t get a chance to spend time with Summer before heading back to New York on Saturday. By the time Michael’s wedding reception was over, I’d be 30,000 feet in the air.
I was worried about that. My time with Summer here was like a gift, but it was fragile. It felt like we were in our own personal little bubble here on the island. I couldn’t help being afraid that if I didn’t do something big before leaving Pompeo Island, I would lose her again. I couldn’t stand that possibility.
“Okay,” I said, knowing that I didn’t really have a choice.
“Don’t look so glum,” Keith said with a small smile. “We’re not going out for our last group adventure until the early afternoon. Your morning is free.”
It wasn’t much, but I would take it. I had to see her early tomorrow.
* * *
The next morning,I rushed through my morning routine, knowing that I had limited time. Summer mentioned yesterday that she had plans to go to a popular flea market on the island this morning with her parents before they all went to the wedding venue to decorate for tomorrow’s nuptials.
I knew that my plan might be crazy, but I was going to head there too. The best decision was to face this situation head-on. It was probably what I should have done three years ago, when it first happened, but I was a coward. I was afraid that the anger and rejection I would see in the eyes of Summer and her family would break me.
The only reason I felt like I could face it now was because Summer was on my side. I had convinced her of the truth, so now I had to somehow do the same with her family.
It was bound to be harder since I couldn’t seduce them like I did her. But I was determined to give it my best shot, for Summer’s sake.
The market was teeming with people, even though it was barely eight in the morning. There were open stalls and booths set up on each side of the street, stretching out for three full blocks. They had everything here. Arts and crafts, linens, antiques, and even cheesy tourist stuff, like the island’s name printed on coffee mugs and T-shirts.
My eyes scanned the area as I walked, looking for any sign of Summer or her parents. It didn’t take long to spot them. They were standing in between two booths, and it looked like Summer and her dad were eating candied pecans out of a paper bag. I’d already passed that stall, and the cinnamon smell was intoxicating.
I stopped for a moment, just taking in the sight of the trio. I hadn’t seen Will for three years but he looked like he had aged about a decade. There were far more grey hairs on his head and the fine lines that used to be around his eyes were now deep wrinkles. There was a slight sadness in his eyes that didn’t used to be there either, one that was associated with deep loss.
They were talking, seemingly carefree, and I started to doubt my plan. I hated to interrupt their family time together, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t let this go on without trying to explain everything to them.
So, I walked over. Summer was the first one to spot me, and I hated the panic that I saw in her eyes. She didn’t want her parents to know about us. I already knew that, but seeing the emotions play out across her face really drove the point home.
There was no backing out now, whether she liked it or not. Her parents had also noticed the change in her expression. They both turned and saw me approaching.
It turned out that I was right to be worried about how I would be received. Will’s face fell, while Summer’s mom, Emma, went from smiling to furious in about two seconds.
“You!” she spat, hands on her hips as she glared at me. I came to a stop just five feet away. “You have some nerve approaching us like this.”
“I just want to talk,” I said, holding my hands up in front of me in a gesture that was meant to convey I didn’t mean any harm.
“Why would any of us talk to you?” Emma snapped.
Will didn’t say a word. He just took a step back and looked away, as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me.
“I just want to explain what happened three years ago,” I said, my eyes darting to Summer’s face. She looked like she was watching a disaster unfold. I silently begged her to speak up, to try to get them to listen to me.
“You think we don’t know what happened?” Emma asked with a humorless laugh. “We received the paperwork from your scumbag father, dissolving the business.”
Emma’s temper was even more fiery than Summer’s, but I didn’t find it anywhere near as appealing. Her voice was getting louder and people nearby were starting to stare.
“I know my signature was on that, but—”
“It’s too late for regrets now,” Will finally chimed in, looking so hurt that my own heart ached for him. “It was my business, my life’s work, and now I have nothing to do with it. Do you know how that feels?”
I didn’t, but I also knew that I wasn’t responsible. I looked to Summer as Emma went to her husband’s side, looping her arm through his and patting his chest while murmuring soft, soothing words that I couldn’t hear.
“You should leave,” Summer said, frowning as she looked at her dad. “You’ve upset him.”
“But I just wanted to tell them—”
“No,” she snapped, and her anger shocked me. I thought we’d moved past this. “Just go.”
