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I left him and Thea outside and headed upstairs. After slipping into shorts and a T-shirt, I pulled my hair into a messy bun. The smell of grilling steak greeted me when I got halfway down the stairs and my mouth was watering as I entered the kitchen.
Grabbing a bowl from the top cupboard, I dug through the refrigerator and threw together a basic salad. I’d just dressed it when Adam came inside to grab two plates then ran back outside.
When he returned again, each dish held a thick New York strip. He set them down on the table then grabbed a bag off the top of the refrigerator.
“I said you could have this when we were eating,” he said to Thea, who sat watching his every move. “So here you go.”
He handed her a bone and she jogged off to lie in her bed to chew it.
“You’re making big points with her.”
“I was going to get T-bones so she could have a bone, but the butcher said he had some in the back. So I got the strip steak instead.”
“My favorite.”
“I know,” he said with a smile. “Dig in.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I cut into it, the knife slicing through the juicy, perfectly-cooked meat like it was butter. Popping a bite into my mouth, I closed my eyes, savoring the flavors and textures. When I opened them, Adam was watching me, a small smile playing on his lips. I finished chewing.
“Mmmm, this is so good. My compliments to the chef.”
“Why thank you, ma’am.”
Across the room, Thea happily chewed her bone while we ate and talked about our day. The steak is huge, so I only got halfway through before calling it quits. I sat back, resting my hands on my stomach.
“I’m stuffed.”
Adam set his fork down and pushed his plate away. He’d eaten more than me, but still had a good portion left. Which is surprising, because he usually cleans his plate.
His eyes met mine and held, and a strange energy filled the room. My stomach that had been so sated a second ago tightened and turned, threatening to send the steak I’d just enjoyed back up.
“Summer…”
He trailed off and shook his head. I sat there frozen, waiting for him to speak again. In the back of my mind, I know what he’s going to say, but I refuse to believe it until he says the words out loud.
“Summer,” he started again. “Andrew has been cleared to work. My dad doesn’t need me here anymore.”
I wanted to scream that maybe his dad doesn’t need him but I do. But what I actually did was run up to the bathroom and empty my stomach of each and every bite of that amazing steak he’d cooked for me.
* * *
Adam
Summer feltfragile in my arms as I carried her into the bedroom. I set her on the bed and settled behind her, pulling her tight against me. Thea hopped up and rested at her feet.
The three of us stayed like that as shadows crossed the ceiling and eventually the room went dark.
Summer’s breath had been coming in short stops and starts when she was crying, but now she’s breathing deep and even. I thought she was asleep, so I was surprised when she spoke.
“When did you find out?”
“Right before you got home,” I said. “Andrew was at the house talking to my dad. He’s pretty excited.”
“And you?”
“What about me?”
She turned in my arms to face me.
