Page 24 of Love to Hate You

Normally he’d give the standard line about how she was great, his childhood had been great, everything was great, but for some reason he couldn’t find the usual lies he clung to. “That was harder. Don’t get me wrong, she was intrusive and unreliable and at times difficult. But . . .”

“She’s your mom and you loved her.” It was said with quiet reverence. There was no way she could relate to his childhood, not with how she was raised, but somehow he felt as if she understood what he was saying. Understood like she’d been burned too.

“Well, this family practically shares the same air. Nothing is off-limits, and no secret will be left unturned,” she said.

“Team Swift for the win,” Autumn sang, and both Wes and Summer turned at the exact moment. Summer’s mouth fell open. Wes couldn’t help but snort, which earned him a glare.

Their siblings were dressed in matching white shorts, dock shoes, and pink shirts with a giant photo of the pop artist across the chest. Autumn did a little booty shake and spun around to show off the back, which readTEAM SWIFT: LIVING OUR WILDEST DREAMS.

“Team Swift?” Summer asked. “What the hell is Team Swift?”

“You know, like swift as the river, and of course the goddess who brought me and Randy together. Isn’t it perfect?”

“It’s perfect, baby,” Randy said, swinging his arm around Autumn’s shoulders and giving her a long, over-the-top display of PDA. “Isn’t she perfect, Summs?”

Every eye went to Summer as if waiting for her answer. As if everyone knew the change of plans except the person who it had affected the most—Summer. To his surprise and disappointment, she retracted those quills normally aimed at him and flashed a too-bright smile. “You’ve always looked good in pink.”

That’s when Wes did a double take of Summer’s shirt. It too was pink and it too had a team name across the back:TEAM TWINNING: TWINS FOR THE WINS.

Her smile was so big it hurt his heart, but everyone else seemed to be oblivious to the fact that this beautiful spitfire was deflating before his eyes. Except Frank, who gave Autumn a stern glare which she ignored.

Autumn bounced over and took Summer’s hands. “Is this okay or is it too much change? I know how you hate change. If it’s not okay, then you just need to say so.”

Summer looked around for someone to help—anyone—but no one came to her rescue. Wes didn’t consider himself to be a knight of any kind, but in that moment he wanted to pull out his shield and protect Summer.

“I thought it was bros to the end?” he said to Randy with a knowing raise of the brow. Like,get on board, wanker.Only the wanker shrugged and mouthed,Family business.

Before Wes could say any more, Autumn’s smile faded and her lower lips puffed out in a practiced pout. “It’s okay, right?”

“Of course she’s okay with it,” Blanche said.

“This is how the guides want it,” Cecilia interjected.

They all looked expectantly at Summer, whose smile became impossibly brighter. “Of course it’s okay.”

“You sure?” Autumn said, as if there were any other acceptable answers.

“I’m sure.”

Frank shook his head, like he got what had just transpired and understood the impossible situation they’d all put Summer in. But then why didn’t he say anything?

“She’s okay with it,” Randy said.

“Of course she is,” Cecilia said.

“I mean,” Summer added. “It’s a game for crying out loud.”

Wes leaned down and whispered in her ear, “If you say it one more time maybe I’ll believe you.”

She blinked slowly up at him as if she were shocked that someone had noticed just how hurt she was by her sister’s actions and family’s reaction. Then her eyes narrowed. “I don’t care if you believe me.”

Wes held up his hands as if to sayI come in peace.“Never implied I did.” Then he slung his arm around her shoulders and began to lead them toward the boats. “Do we get matching shirts?”

She elbowed him in the ribs—hard enough that he stumbled. “Over my dead body. Have you kayaked before?”

“I was on the rowing crew at university,” he said, puffing out his chest.

“You were probably a beater,” she said.

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