Maybe This Time(69)

Quinn laughs, a full on belly laugh. “She left as soon as I walked up.”

“She’s still sneaky, I see. So what have you been up to, Quinn?” I ask, sipping my drink.

“Still at uni studying science, and working part-time,” he says, shrugging like it’s no big deal.

“I’m proud of you.”

He blushes a little. He's so modest. “What are you doing these days? How’s living with your brother?” he asks, sounding genuinely interested.

“It’s awesome, actually. Xander and I get on really well. And I’m studying to be a nurse, and work in a bar for now.”

“That’s good. I’m happy for you. When are you heading back?” he asks, bumping me gently with his shoulder.

“Tomorrow.”

“That sucks. You girls sleeping out here tonight?” he asks.

“Yeah, just like old times.” We used to always camp on Sandra’s parents' land, sleeping under the stars. Speaking of the devil, Sandra walks out holding a large container, which I hope has food inside of it.

“I come bearing food!” she calls out.

“Thank God,” I reply.

“Sandwiches. I made your favourite, Summer,” she says.

“Cheese and tomato,” Quinn and I say at the same time. We share a look.

I help Sandra set out the sleeping bags, and we all lay there under the stars, chatting and eating.

A glance at my phone shows eighteen missed called from Reid. I start to worry, thinking something might be wrong, but there are no calls from anyone else, just a message from Ryan saying to be safe. Dad and Xander rang me before, and I told them I was visiting a friend and will be back home tomorrow. They both sounded worried, so I assume they heard the gossip already.

My last thought is of Reid before I fall asleep.





**


Yellow sunflowers.

My mother’s favourite flower. I place down a solitary sunflower on my mother’s gravestone. I miss my mum every day, but it hurts that she kept me away from dad and Xander all this time. I think it was selfish of her, and even a little vindictive. She gave me an amazing childhood, though, so I guess I can’t really complain. Some people aren’t that lucky, to have a mother and father who both love and want them.

My mum died from a heart attack. I still remember the pain of losing her, like it was yesterday. There’s no point in looking back, thinking about the ‘what ifs’. I decide to think of the fond memories I have with mum, and there really are a lot of them.

“Love you, mum,” I say softly, before turning and walking to my car. I slump down into the driver’s seat, knowing that it’s time to head home.





Chapter Twenty Five


Exhausted, I walk slowly to the front door. I have a moment of déjà-vu when Reid opens the door before I can even pull my key out.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I say, too tired to be dealing with him right now. He says nothing, but moves aside so I can enter. He’s shaved the almost beard thing he had going on, but he still looks tired like he hasn’t slept.

I walk past him without a word, straight into my room. I slam the door behind me, the force rattling it on its hinges. I quickly lock it, before he can try and enter, and then pull off my denim jacket and fling it onto the ground, and hop straight into my bed. A soft knock alerts me of his presence at my door.

“Summer, can we talk, please?” he begs. His voice contains something I haven’t heard in it before, and I frown wondering what it might be. Remorse? Guilt? No, it’s fear.

“I’m tired, Reid, I just want to sleep. I’m sure your new girlfriend would love to see you, though,” I call out, making a grunting noise at my own comment. I hear a tap against the door, and then a sliding noise. I wait ten minutes, and I know he’s still there, so I can’t even sleep.

“Reid, what are you doing?” I ask.

“I’m gonna sit here and wait for you to talk to me,” he says. Stubborn man.

“Go home, Reid.”

“No.”

“I don’t want you,” I say, frustrated.

“Yeah, well, I want you enough for the both of us,” he replies calmly.

“I hate you,” I tell him.

“No, you don’t, you only wish you did because I’m an asshole.” He's an asshole, alright.

“If you love me, you'll just leave me alone.”

Silence. Then, “That’s bullshit. I do love you, more than anything, and that’s why I’m not gonna give up.”

“If this is how you love someone, by leaving them and cheating on them, then I want no part of your love,” I yell, my voice cracking.

I hear him curse. “Please open the door,” he rasps. I groan and get up, unlocking the door. Seeing him sitting down on the floor doesn’t make me feel good at all.