Page 28 of Always and Forever
“I wish you were here, Ethan,” she says in a whisper.
“God, so do I.”
Before I go to sleep that night, on the very lumpy mattress in Aunt Marilyn’s guest bedroom, I send a silent prayer to the renovation gods that the damage isn’t too extensive, and I can get out of here quickly.
But the next morning, my prayer is proven to be in vain. Thanks to the fans and dehumidifiers I had running all night, the puddle that had previously covered the floor is mostly gone. But now, with the light of day and the basement empty of boxes, I can see exactly how bad the damage is. The drywall and insulation will all have to be ripped out and replaced, and I still haven’t located the source of the leak. My suspicion is a broken water line somewhere in the ceiling between the basement and the main floor, but I won’t know for sure until I rip down that ceiling. All of which means, I’m going to be here for longer than I originally thought.
Sighing inwardly, I open my phone to make some calls. First to my office, to let them know I won’t be back until the end of the week. Then I text Mila to bring her up to date and finally, I make the call I really wish I didn’t have to make.
“Hey, shorty, bad news,” I say when Summer answers the phone.
“Oh no, is your aunt’s house okay?”
“The water damage isn’t quite as bad as I thought, but there’s a lot of work to do. I’ll get the drywall and ceiling taken down today, then I can deal with the leaking pipe. But there’s more cleaning up to do, and I’ll need to re-insulate and re-drywall before I can come home.” I sigh. “Then I’ll have to come back another time to finish off everything.”
“I’ll come with you next time and help,” Summer says firmly.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” I can’t help but say.
“Me? No, you’re the amazing nephew who dropped everything to go and help.”
“You’re more than that, Summer. You’re the woman who understood me having to cancel plans last minute, who’s patient and supportive, and offering to help.” I pause, wanting her to really get how much that means to me. “I appreciate it, that’s all.”
“Well, feel free to express your appreciation to me in person when you get back,” she says with a sassy tone that makes me grin.
“Trust me, I will.”
13
Summer
Today was yet another day of cleanup at the resort and trying to keep myself distracted from missing Ethan. Unfortunately, that meant I lost track of time and now I’m running late for book club. When I step out of the shower, there is a message waiting on my phone that makes me giggle.
ETHAN: Try not to have too much fun talking about imaginary men tonight, okay?
Wrapping a towel around myself I type out a reply.
SUMMER: Well since there’s no real man around to entertain me…
ETHAN: Wow. I leave for three days and you move on without giving me a chance.
SUMMER: Book boyfriends do it better, or so I hear.
ETHAN: You heard wrong. And when I get home tomorrow, I’ll prove it.
I flop down on my bed with a loud sigh, thankful that no one is around to see me blush. He certainly knows how to stir things up, even from a distance. I’ve had plenty of time this week to fantasize about being with Ethan, and something tells me reality will be even hotter than my wildest fantasy.
I just have to get through a night with the girls without letting anything slip about me and Ethan.
After some calming breaths I get up and finish getting dressed. We’re meeting at Paige’s house, a small cottage right off Main street. With two bottles of wine in hand, I lock up my apartment and set out on foot. No sense in driving when I’m pretty sure both bottles will be empty by the end of the evening.
When I get close to Paige’s house, the front door flies open, and Mila hollers out at me.
“Get in here, Summer, I need a drink!”
Laughing, I pick up the pace and hurry up the path to Mila, who gestures impatiently for the bottles in my hands. I pass them over and step inside, taking off my jacket and shoes. Moving further into the house, I can hear Serena laughing, and the murmur of Paige’s more subdued voice. I find them standing in the kitchen, where Mila is pouring generous glasses of wine. The kitchen island is covered in plates of different finger food and my mouth waters. Ethan’s texts had me so distracted I forgot to eat dinner.
“Summer, we need you to be the voice of reason, please. Paige is trying to tell me that the story line is the most important aspect of the book. She obviously didn’t read the shower scene. Right? I’m right, aren’t I?” Serena is talking a mile a minute, and Paige is shaking her head.
