SUMMER
“DARLING!”
I dash toward Monty as soon as I spot him, letting him envelop me in a hug. Despite my effort to stay composed, I quickly give in, hugging him back with all my might and planting a messy kiss on his cheek, which makes him wriggle and pull away.
I can’t help but chuckle.
“You’re still upset with me, aren’t you?” he says as we sit down at the table facing each other.
After I let Whit read Monty’s text from last night, he said, “Put the poor man out of his misery and go meet him for lunch. He adores you.”
“He hurt me,” I had replied, my voice small.
“Are you complaining? Look at us,” Whit had said, gesturing around his bedroom. Though it was early, we were already in bed, unable to get enough of each other. “I don’t hear you griping when I’m balls deep inside you every damn night.”
No, I suppose he doesn’t hear me complain at all. Why would I? I’m with the man I love, all thanks to him and his scheming with Monty.
“I’ll get over it eventually,” I said with a sigh, shaking my head.
Monty pouts. “Please. I was traipsing across the continent all alone while you celebrated your grand return to Manhattan by getting thoroughly romanced by your exquisite boyfriend, day and night. Don’t even try to deny it,” he adds as I open my mouth to protest. “You lovebirds are all over the gossip sites. They can’t stop talking about you two.”
“Only because of my mother and his father,” I say.
The headlines scream of history repeating itself. It’s utterly embarrassing. To avoid the paparazzi, Monty chose a small café not too far from his place, and I showed up with a wide-brimmed hat and giant sunglasses. It worked—no one is paying us any attention, and it helps that we met at such a random time. The lunch crowd is long gone.
“Right? Scandalous. I love it. I’m sure it makes Sylvia scream into a pillow at least three times a day.” Monty laughs heartily.
“She’ll get over it,” I say with a pleasant smile, though I’m not so sure. She’s so angry with me. With us. Whit didn’t fall in line, and I know she’s disappointed.
It doesn’t help that she despises me and my mother.
Monty sobers immediately. “I’ve spoken to Sylvie recently.”
“You have?” My heart twinges at hearing her name. I still miss her. Despite everything, she was my only friend at Lancaster, and there’s a void inside me that she used to fill. We said such harsh things to each other the last time we spoke, and I regret that. All those outside influences conspiring against us.
“Yes. She’s doing wonderfully. Soaking up the sun, clearing her head. Finding herself, she said. Poor little lost rich girl in search of the meaning of life,” he explains.
“I know the feeling, though I wouldn’t call myself rich,” I say wistfully. I miss Paris, where I found myself, but I’m grateful for my life here too. With Whit. I didn’t realize how much I needed him until I saw him again. And now we live together. He wants to marry me.
I keep refusing him. It makes him so angry. I tell him to channel all that energy into our sex life, and he does exactly that.
It certainly makes for some memorable experiences together. “You’re rich now,” Monty says with a grin.
“I don’t care about his money.”
“Half the appeal of Whit Lancaster is his money. I’d roll around naked in one hundred-dollar bills with that man if he’d let me.” Monty fans himself dramatically.
I laugh, knowing he’s exaggerating. He’s not actually interested in Whit, though he does respect him as a friend. He did so much for me. Finding me. Arranging for us to reunite after so long.
His apparent betrayal still stings a little, but I can see now that he did it for both of us. We were hurting without each other. Monty was just trying to help.
“Do you think you’ll ever forgive Sylvie?” Monty asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “She might end up being your sister-in-law someday, you know.”
I don’t like thinking about marrying Whit. Not yet. We’re still so young, and a marriage is meaningless if you’re not ready for it. I just want to be with him. Learn more about him. Grow with him.
That’s enough for me. For now.
“I’m sure I will forgive her eventually. After all, I’ve forgiven you,” I tell him, making him smile.
He places a hand on his chest, and I examine him closely. He looks tan and fit. He’s ditched his eclectic wardrobe for a simple black T-shirt and very expensive jeans. He even looks like he’s lost a bit of weight. He complained before that college life left him pale and pudgy from sitting at a computer all day. “You have? Really?”
I nod. “Of course. You’re one of my only friends. Same with Sylvie. I just hope she can forgive me as well.”
There’s still much work to be done between Sylvie and me. And even with Whit and me. None of us are perfect.
But we’re doing the best we can.
Monty and I chat and eat, sipping on fizzy cocktails, and I listen to his juicy stories, which are fascinating. He knows so many people and their secrets.
I’m extra glad he doesn’t know mine.
By the time our server clears our empty plates, Monty’s phone keeps buzzing. He discreetly checks it, pushing the phone away each time.
“Who is it?” I ask curiously.
“No one.” He grimaces. “A boy.”
“Someone special?”
“Someone with a big ego and an even bigger dick.” Monty rolls his eyes. “I pick the worst sort of men.”
“I happen to like big dicks and big egos,” I say with a laugh. “You would, considering who you’re with.”
“He might not be so bad,” I tease, waving at his phone. “Answer him.”
“He wants to meet me for drinks,” Monty says.
“You should,” I urge.
“Right now?” He gives me a look. “I don’t want to just bail on you to go hang out with my boo. That’s rude.”
“Oh, he’s your boo now?” I raise an eyebrow, sipping the last of my drink.
“I’m just calling him that. I don’t know what he is,” Monty says dismissively.
“You should go,” I say softly. “Have fun tonight. See where your boo might take you.”
“You won’t be mad?” He sounds genuinely concerned.
“No.” I shake my head. “I can’t stay mad at you for long.”
We pay for our meal and exit the restaurant, hugging each other for a long moment before we finally part ways.
“Don’t be a stranger,” he says as his Town Car pulls up.
Of course, he has his own car service. I’m sure I could have one too if I mentioned it to Whit. But I’m perfectly content with an Uber or a Lyft.
“Bye!” I wave at him.
Monty opens the door, pausing to turn toward me. “Want a ride?” I shake my head. “I’m good. Thank you.”
I watch the car drive off before pulling out my phone to order a ride.
“Summer?”
I freeze at the familiar male voice and slowly turn around to find…
Augustus Lancaster standing in front of me, with a pretty woman on his arm. She doesn’t look much older than me, which is a bit scandalous.
But not necessarily surprising.
“I thought that was you,” he says when he sees my face. “What are you doing around here?”
“Meeting a friend for lunch,” I try to smile, though it’s hard. I’ve never felt like he liked me much, though Whit swears he does. “How are you?”
“Great. Wonderful. Uh, this is my friend, Janna.” The dark-haired woman waves and smiles, revealing bright white teeth. She’s beautiful, impeccably dressed, and carrying a red Chanel bag.
I immediately wonder if Augustus bought it for her.
“Nice to meet you,” I tell Janna, then glance back at Augustus. “Where’s Whit?” he asks.
“Back at the apartment.”
“Tell him to answer his old man once in a while. I’d love to take you two out to dinner sometime soon. After all the—noise dies down, of course,” he says.
I’m sure he’s referring to the photographers and gossip sites. “Sounds good. I’ll be sure to let him know.”
They start to walk away, and I watch them. They actually make a stunning couple. Augustus whispers something to Janna before pulling away and coming back over to me, his face hopeful.
He reminds me so much of Whit—his mannerisms, his voice, his looks. He seems like the older version of the man I love.
“I want to thank you, Summer. For making my son happy,” he says sincerely. “He was so angry after the divorce. He completely withdrew from all of us, and I didn’t know how to reach him. He’s changed since you two have been together. And that’s all thanks to you.”
My cheeks warm, and I duck my head. “Thank you. I—he makes me happy too.”
“I know.” He pats my shoulder in a very fatherly way, and I remember what Sylvie told me. How she warned me away from him. I don’t get those sorts
of vibes from him now, and I lift my head, smiling at him. “How are you getting home?”
“Oh, I was just about to call an Uber—”
“Absolutely not,” he interrupts. “I’ll drive you home.” “What? No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Yes,” he says firmly. “Come on. My car isn’t too far. Plus, it’ll give us an excuse to drive it. It’s brand new.”
He grins like a little boy as I follow him over to where Janna stands, waiting for us.
Hmm. Maybe it won’t be so bad being a Lancaster after all.
