“I don’t care, can you just try?”
“Sure.”
While she waited for Aggie to call, Summer paced up and down Hope’s living room, nearly tripping over the piles of books she was supposed to be sorting and putting in the bookcases.
“What did he say?” She pounced on Aggie the moment her friend hung up the phone.
“Nothing. I got his voicemail. I left a message and asked him to call as soon as he could.”
“I'm going down there,” she said, snatching up her bag.
“Summer, no, even if you go you won't be able to see him,” Hope said.
“I made tea for everyone.”
All three of their heads swiveled toward the voice. Chance walked into the room carrying a tray with four mugs of steaming tea.
Summer didn’t want a cup of tea, she wanted Luke. He’d promised her lunch and a relaxing day in bed together, and that was how she wanted to spend her day.
“You need to sit for a while.” Hope took her arm and led her to the sofa. “You’re supposed to be resting your leg. If you keep pacing around like this, you’re going to wind up popping your stitches.”
Her knee was already feeling much better, she could bend it a little, and it no longer hurt, now it just itched. Itched so badly she wanted to rip it right off.
“Come on, Summer, just sit for a while, put your leg up, drink some tea, calm down a little, and if we haven't heard anything in an hour I’ll drive you down to the precinct,” Aggie bargained.
“Fine.” She reluctantly sank down onto the couch. “One hour.”
Chance handed out cups, and Summer wrapped her hands around hers, enjoying the heat that soaked into them. She took a long drink, and it warmed her all the way down to her stomach. She hadn’t realized just how thirsty she was and hungry too. She had never ended up having breakfast, and she hadn’t wanted to eat lunch until Luke was here to have it with her.
As she drank, she listened to Hope and Chance talk about their new house. They were both so excited. That could be her one day. Her and Luke, buying a house that would be theirs to share. Newly engaged. Ready to start their lives together. Their future bright and full of possibilities to make it anything they wanted.
If only the cops would find the real killer.
Summer yawned.
She was feeling sleepy.
She tried to focus on the conversation, but everything swirled together until she couldn’t make out the words.
Everything was getting fuzzy, she squinted, trying to concentrate, but the world around her was making slow revolutions that made her stomach turn.
The mug she had been holding slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor.
She tried to say something, to tell her friends that something felt wrong, but she couldn’t seem to get the words out.
She was so dizzy.
The room spiraled around her and then went black.
* * * * *
5:09 P.M.
Nick was not looking forward to telling Summer that he wasn't bringing Luke home. Now or any time soon it seemed.
He wasn't looking forward to telling Aggie either.
He hadn’t wanted to leave his brother alone at the police station, but Luke had insisted that he go and check on Summer. It seemed like Luke and Summer had really connected. He was happy for both of them, they deserved some happiness.