“Let’s go talk in the study,” Summer tells me when Augie’s nanny shows up to take over with his care. “You want some lemonade?”
“Please,” I tell her, watching as she glides about the kitchen, the domestic goddess she is pouring us glasses of lemonade.
I envy her ease at performing domestic chores in her multi-million-dollar apartment. Pregnant with her second baby. Married and happy with my brother, who is one of the unhappiest individuals I’ve ever known, besides myself.
Until he met Summer. Once she came into his life—and he allowed himself to admit his feelings for her—he became a changed man. Still a cruel asshole, who barely tolerates the human race, but he does love and adore his wife and son, and soon-to-be baby girl.
A wistful sigh leaves me when I think of me and Spencer. I’m only happy when I’m with him. All of my problems seem to fall away, disappearing completely, when I’m in his presence. When I let him love me.
And I’m not talking about sex either. He shows he loves me in a variety of ways. He takes care of me. Listens to me. Is willing to fight my battles, but backs down when I say I can handle them myself.
His support is what I’ve craved my entire life. My father is too self-absorbed to understand my needs. Or he was too focused on Carolina. Whit. Never me. Sometimes I wonder if he even cares about what’s going on in my world. And my mother…
She’s too obsessed with me. It sounds arrogant, even in my own thoughts, but it’s true.
“Let’s go,” Summer says, and I take the crystal glass of lemonade from her, falling into step behind her as we head for the study.
The interior is warm and inviting, with a giant window that overlooks the city. It’s crystal clear this afternoon, not a cloud in the sky, and the sun blazes high. A typical early summer day in Manhattan, and it makes me want to leave. Makes me yearn to go to the house on Long Island and spend my days by the ocean.
“How are you?” Summer asks once we’re settled in chairs across from each other. “And be real with me.”
I take a sip of my lemonade, the sweet yet tart taste bursting on my tongue. “I’m great. Really.”
“You and Spencer are doing well?”
“The best we ever have,” I admit truthfully.
Her smile is slow. “I love that.”
“Me too.” I hesitate for only a moment. “I love him.”
“That’s so sweet. Does he know this?”
I nod, my cheeks going warm. It’s still embarrassing to me, being truthful with my feelings.
“You two have been living together for weeks.”
“Actually, a couple of months,” I correct.
Summer leans back in her overstuffed chair with a sigh, patting her belly. “Time drags, yet also flies by. I’m going to have this baby in less than a month, and I still can’t believe it.”
“I can’t believe it either, but I’m so excited.” I smile, watching as Summer gazes down at her protruding stomach. “Do you have a name picked yet?”
“It’s so difficult. I wanted to choose an old Lancaster family name for her, but so many of them are extremely old-fashioned. Whit shoots down every single one of them I suggest,” Summer explains.
“Figures.” I roll my eyes, making her laugh.
“We should get together sometime soon, before the baby arrives. You could come over for dinner. Or we could go out,” Summer suggests.
“I would love that,” I admit softly.
I need a friend right now. I can’t unload all of my troubles on Spencer all the time, though he never seems to mind. He’s supportive no matter what, but I don’t want to push him away with my constant neediness.
He doesn’t complain, but I know I can be intolerable sometimes.
Most of the time.
“I’m glad we’re seeing more of you,” Summer says. “We were worried we lost you completely once you married Earl. And then he died, and your mother monopolized you completely, though we believed she was truly helping you. Then you completely locked yourself away in his apartment and rarely saw the family anymore. Truth be told, I was surprised you went to our wedding.”