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“You said I could borrow it.”
Summer tilted her head. “You spend an awful lot of time trying to get everyone to see that you’re a grown-up, but you act like a child.”
Natalie’s eyes filled with rage.
Summer knew the truth hurt. “I get it. You pout, they all pay attention. You’re upset, they all try to make you feel better. And because it works for you, you use it to your advantage.” Her mother was the same way, though to the extreme. She hoped her sister learned a better way before she found herself without any real friends. “You know you should have asked to use the car. Instead, you went into my room while I was at the hospital, took the keys, and left without anyone knowing what you did.”
“I’m sure you can’t wait to tell them.”
“We’re not kids, Natalie. I’m not tattling to your parents. I’m talking toyou. Directly. Honestly. Like adults.”
“It feels like you think we’re going to be this close family unit just like that.”
“We are family. But the rest... that’s why I’m staying here, so we can find our way to being friends. But we both have to want it.”
“I’m not against it. I’m just...” Natalie couldn’t seem to come up with the right word.
“Resistant” came to Summer’s mind. “I get it. I’m the outsider. But, Natalie, I want to be a part of your life. You’re going to be busy with college soon. This is our chance to build a solid foundation. I’d love to visit you at school, have you come see me in Texas, maybe go on vacations together. I don’t want our relationship to be two strangers meeting for holidays and birthdays. We didn’t grow up together, so we don’t share history. But I’d like to hear your stories and make memories with you, too, because I’m not goinganywhere. I am your sister. What we make of that is up to you, because I’m all in.”
Natalie took a few seconds before she sighed. “Okay. I’ll stop... putting you off and try the whole friend-sister thing.”
“Thank you. Now, you did something wrong, and you need to make it right.”
“I came here to apologize.”
“Great. I’m happy to hear it.” Summer waited, knowing Natalie meant for the sentiment of her statement to be accepted as the apology. But Summer expected more from Natalie. She refused to let her off the hook so easily. Not the way the rest of them did.
Natalie pressed her lips tight, then sighed again like only teenagers could do when it felt like the world was against you and you had to do something you didn’t want to do, but it was expected, so you grudgingly complied. “I’m sorry I didn’t take you to the hospital when you asked.” She scrunched her lips. “I really didn’t know it was that bad. Seeing Cody so upset about it... I guess it finally sank in that you really did need help.”
Summer understood all too well that Cody’s anger and upset impacted Natalie more than Summer’s suffering, but let it go in favor of getting Natalie to acknowledge what she’d done.
“Yes, I took the car without asking. I won’t do it again. And I hope you will let me borrow it, because it’s a really awesome car.”
Summer held back a grin and nodded that she’d let Natalie borrow it again.
“Because of all this, Dad says I need to learn some responsibility. He’s making me work at the company until I leave for college.”
“It’s a chance for you to try something new.”
Natalie narrowed her gaze. “I knew you had something to do with this. You were forced to work with your grandfather, now I have to work with my dad.”
“See it as an opportunity to show everyone what an adult you areby earning your own money. You never know, you might discover you love working in one of the departments.”
“I doubt it.”
“There are a lot of people who would love a paid internship at Dad’s company. It’ll look good on your résumé when you do find what you want to do.”
“Not work there.”
“Dad is going to bounce you around from one department to the other. Take advantage of that. Ask questions about what people do for the company. How does it all fit together? What feels like fun versus something you dread doing?”
“All of it.”
“How would you know?” Summer shot back. “All I’m saying is, give it a chance.”
“Like you want me to do with you.”
“Exactly. Plus, if you do a good job, it’s a way for you to show off and be a part of what Dad and Cody work so hard on every day.” Summer knew mentioning Cody would perk Natalie right up and spark her desire to prove herself to him.
