When she spotted me, she smiled and tugged the earbuds from her ears.
“Hey, Auggie. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know you still can’t dance worth shit,” I teased her.
She stuck out her tongue. “Watch it, bro, or I’ll remind you what happened at your first school dance.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I was twelve and hadn’t grown into my arms and legs yet.”
I’d tripped over my own feet and face-planted on the floor in front of all the other kids. Oscar had punched some guy out for laughing just a little too hard, and Dad had been called to get us for ruining the school dance.
“You still haven’t grown into them,” she said. “Declan made you look good on the dance floor earlier.”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that.” I tugged at her hair and sent the pinned curls falling.
“Hey!” She swatted at my arm, but I dodged the slap and sat on the bed.
“Are you almost done packing?”
“Yeah. I don’t even know why I brought all this stuff for the short stay.”
“You know you don’t have to go back so soon.”
“I kinda do. I have a little thing called a job, and unlike you, I haven’t worked up enough vacation days yet.”
“I’m not here on my vacation days, Summer.”
She must’ve heard the seriousness in my voice. She stopped packing and stared at me. “What do you mean?”
“I actually quit my job, but I haven’t told anyone yet.”
Her mouth fell open, and she blinked comically. “Nobody? Not even Oscar?”
“Not even Oscar.”
She threw a bra at my head. “Then why are you telling me first? You know Oscar will be petty when he finds out I know something before him. Especially something this huge about you.”
“I’ll tell him soon.”
She came to sit beside me and grabbed her bra from my head. “Why did you quit? I thought the business was expanding into Cincy.”
“So did I, but they announced they were moving to another city. They didn’t give me a choice about relocating.”
“Shit, that sucks. Does Dad know?”
“Nope. All he knows is that I decided to return to Cincy, that’s all. I took my vacation time, but I’ve already handed in my resignation, so that’s that.”
“I don’t know what to say, Auggie. This is so not you.”
She was right. I always played things safe. I wasn’t opposed to leaving a job, but I’d have at least secured another in Cincy before I made any hard and fast decisions.
The deed was already done, though. I was here and jobless, although I didn’t worry too much about it. I’d send out some job applications and see what would happen from there. I had enough saved up for a whole year if it took a little longer than I anticipated.
And if my actions seemed more like an Oscar moment, we all had those from time to time.
“Difference isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Summer. Look at how happy Dad is.”
She nodded her agreement. “True, their wedding today was so beautiful.”
“It was.”
She reached across my lap, took my hand in hers, and squeezed it. “I want that with Penny someday,” she said on a whimsical sigh. “But I’m so afraid I might’ve screwed everything up. I’ve been a big idiot, Auggie.”
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my side, kissing her hair like I’d done so many times when she was just a little girl climbing into my bed because she was afraid of the lightning or monsters.
“We’re all idiots sometimes.”
She smacked me in the gut, and I grunted. “You’re supposed to make me feel better. You’ve never acted like an idiot before.”
But I had a feeling that was about to change. I could sense all the stupidity coming on, and I didn’t know how to stop it. Maybe I didn’t even want to stop it.
Charles Moore. The only man who could have me make an ass out of myself. I couldn’t seem to leave the man alone, even when he threw up shields left, right, and center.
“Relationships aren’t easy, Summer, but I think you and Penny can work things out. She was devastated when we couldn’t find you.”
She hung her head and tried to move away at the reminder, but I wouldn’t let her.
“Hey, don’t go. You made a mistake, but the only person who hasn’t forgiven you yet is you. Be easy on yourself, Summer.”
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me. “I know. Thanks, Auggie. You’re going to be a great father one day.