Page 45 of It Starts With Summer

Parker snorted.“We’re not closeted.It’s just until camp is done, so Matt doesn’t separate us.”

“And Sutton will not be saying anything to Matt,” Ben said firmly, right as the camp bell rang.“You guys go to the party.We’ll be right behind you.”

Parker gave me a wide-eyed look as we followed the path back to the lodge.“Wow, those two?”

“Those two what?”

“I think they fucked,” Parker said.“Or something.Why else would Ben have any say over what Sutton does?Didn’t you pick up that vibe?”

“Huh.Yeah, I didn’t pick up any vibe, you know, because I’m autistic.”

Parker grinned.“They were all pissy with each other earlier, too.I want the gossip.”

I hadn’t really noticed that, either, but I said nothing.“I can’t imagine Ben liking Sutton.Ben is so great, and Sutton is so…”

“Sutton,” Parker said, chuckling.

twenty-one

Parker

Thesunwassettingas Ravi and I pulled up to the Yamada Hotel, which was owned by our friend Aiden’s family.It was beautiful and luxurious, and far above anything I’d ever be able to afford, which meant that Ravi’s family was decently well off.Would they judge me for having nothing?

“Remember, it’s going to be okay,” Ravi said as he squeezed my hand reassuringly.“My family is going to love you because I love you.”

“I wish that was how it worked,” I mumbled.

“The world’s heaviest flower, the Rafflesia arnoldii, can weigh up to 22 pounds.It grows in the rainforests of Indonesia.”Ravi held open the hotel door for me.

“Ah,” I said, raising my eyebrows at him.

Ravi’s family was in the hotel’s restaurant having dinner, and as we walked towards them, Ravi leaned in closer and whispered.“Did you know that bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on earth?It can grow up to 35 inches in a single day.”

“Really?”I asked, laughing softly.It made no sense that he was talking about plants at a time like this, but somehow, it was so perfectly Ravi that it made me feel more at ease.He continued rattling off plant facts as we stepped into the hotel lobby.

“Not every bamboo grows so fast, but the Phyllostachys reticulata—” He trailed off as we walked towards his family.“You don’t care about bamboo.Sorry, I think about plants when I’m nervous, so I thought it might help you.”

“You’re right, I’ve never really thought about bamboo,” I said, looking up into his rich, gorgeous brown eyes.“But honestly?It’s an excellent technique.For a whole five minutes there, I was wondering why the hell you were talking about bamboo instead of worrying about what your family would think of me.”

Ravi giggled and tugged me close.“Good.”

A throat cleared, and we both looked up to find that his entire family, all five siblings and both of his parents, had gone silent and were watching us, looking rather stunned.

“Ravi laughed,” one of Ravi’s brothers whispered way too loudly to his sister.“Look how he’s acting.”

I swallowed, wondering if I’d done something wrong, but Ravi’s mother sprang into action, standing and walking over to us.

“Ravi, you look so tan!”She pulled him into a warm embrace.He was a little stiff with her, but patted her on the back.She turned to take my hand.“And it’s so nice to meet you in person, Parker.Believe me, you’ve been the talk of Ravi’s siblings.”

“In a good way, I hope, Mrs.Chandra.”I took an involuntary step back as the rest of the family rushed forward to inspect me.

One of the kids said, “More like shocked that someone would fall for Ravi!”

“What?”I asked, turning to Ravi, who shifted on his feet, pushing his glasses up on his nose.“Ravi is amazing.And so handsome.”

Ravi beamed at me, his eyes wide and glowing.He reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze.“Be nice, guys.He’s my first real boyfriend.”

“Because we didn’t know you were gay!”a teenage girl said, laughing.

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