Page 7 of The Truth About Love

“I’ll show you.”

The intensity of the moment grows too much to bear. I pull back, fighting to put distance between us and end whatever spell he’s put me under.

“Proving the existence of love and showing me beautiful things,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t betray just how affected I am by the conversation, “you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

He stands up and shoves his hands into his pockets, revealing the empty classroom behind him. I didn’t even realise that class was over, let alone that everyone had already left.

“I’m more than capable of getting the job done, Summer-Raine.”

I stay rooted to my seat long after he’s left, replaying his words over and over in my head until I’m dizzy. I don’t doubt his ability to fulfil his promises to me. If anyone can prove to me that love is real, it’s Auden Wells with his dimples and kind heart. My worry isn’t that his efforts will be wasted on me.

It’s that I can already feel them working.

***

My sister calls me on the walk home.

“Summer, hey.” Her voice is breathless, like she’s just got back from a run.

“You been working out?” I ask, crossing the palm-tree lined street towards the house, letting myself in through the front door and instantly reaching for the packet of Oreos I know are waiting for me in the cupboard.

“What, no?”

“Winter, you’re panting.” Something rustles in the background, heavy footsteps and a voice so distinctly masculine there’s no way it belongs to my sister or her roommate. “Oh, you little hussy, I know exactly what you’ve been up to.”

“Fucking sue me.” She laughs. “Ain’t nothing wrong with a bit of bump and grind at four o’clock in the afternoon.”

For as much as I resent my parents, I’ll forever be thankful to them for the existence of Winter-Skye. We fight like sisters do, of course, but she’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a best friend.

“Hey, I’m not judging. Who’s the guy?”

“Brett, Brent, Ben, something or other.”

I snort. “You’re such a hussy.”

“I’m just living the college lifestyle, baby.”

“Tell me you’re at least wrapping it up.”

“Yes,Mama.I’m not an idiot.”

“Mama would hardly approve of your extracurricular activities, Winter-Skye.”

“Oh, spare me the double-barrel bullshit, Summer-Raine, I hate it as much as you do.”

Trapping the phone between my ear and shoulder, I shove an Oreo into my mouth and carry my books upstairs to my bedroom, dropping them onto the bed.

“Speaking of Mama,” Winter says. “How are the rents? They being good to you?”

“They haven’t been here long enough for me to say either way. Some conference in Miami has had them gone since last week.”

I imagine my sister rolling her eyes through the phone. She’s as used to our parents’ constant absence as I am. Back in Cape Coral, before Winter went off to college, we’d spend every night they were gone having slumber parties in each other’s rooms, stuffing ourselves full of snacks and watching trashy Netflix original romcoms until we passed out.

The nights I spend alone now are starkly different.

“When will they be back?”

“Few days’ time, I think.” I keep my phone fixed in the crook of my neck and rifle through the homework I’ll need to get done tonight.

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