Page 79 of The Bright Side of Brooding
I’d deliberately left the schedule flexible toward the end of the week. Since this was the first longer trip I’d taken anywhere other than back Stateside, I’d wanted to give myself flexibility. Part of me had feared hating the travel or being miserable and mired in grief the whole time. I didn’t know what would happen, but now, maybe I’d come back a day or two early. Spend a little more time with Summer since I wouldn’t have any training session that weekend.
“Good plan.”
“Hope so.” I exhaled, unable, or maybe just unwilling, to keep the words I felt coming in. “I’ve missed you this week.”
Summer stiffened, then sat upright. “Busy week, as always.”
A false cheeriness I didn’t understand tinged her words. “Did I say something wrong?”
Her lashes fluttered. “No. No.”
I inspected her. Red at her cheeks, a little flush up her neck, and not the good kind stemming from close contact.
“You sure? Seems like maybe my saying I missed you made you…” Uncomfortable? Upset?
Her brow furrowed, and she pressed her lips together, studying me. After a large breath, she spoke. “I’ve had a few exes who didn’t appreciate my tendency to… overschedule myself.”
My eyes narrowed. Admittedly, I hated the sound of thosefew exes, but also the latter words there. “Do you feeloverscheduled?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Then you’re not.”
She blinked. “Just like that?”
I nodded. “Just like that.”
“So, when you said you missed me, you meant…”
I grabbed her hand and held it in both of mine. “Something like you probably meant when you said it last weekend. I meant I like you, Summer. I like seeing you. I miss seeing you on the days I don’t get to see you.”
Her lips turned up ever so slightly, and she leaned close. “I missed you too.”
