Page 30 of If the Summer Lasted Forever
She’s quiet for a second as she processes it. Then, apparently confused, she asks, “Why don’t you just date him for real? Even if you won’t admit it, I know you like him.”
Sighing, I sit on the swinging bench. “He just broke up with his girlfriend a few months ago, and he’s not over her. And I don’t date summer guys anymore—you know that.”
“Yeah, but it’s a stupid rule. You can’t assume every guy is like Thomas.”
I know she’s right, but it’s not that easy.
“I saw him yesterday,” she says, her tone too casual.
“Who?” I ask, but I already know.
“Thomas.”
“His family’s back then? At Upper Ridge?”
“Yep.” She pauses. “There’s a girl with him. Gia thinks she’s the girlfriend.”
Surely it’s not the same one.
Guilt cloaks me. I really didn’t know Thomas had a girlfriend when I was dating him. For obvious reasons, he didn’t inform me. But I still feel like a cow.
“What were you doing at Upper Ridge?” I ask, changing the subject. “Traitor.”
She laughs, and it’s a tinkling, happy sound. “Tanner asked me out.”
Poor Jarrett, I think.
“So, you went out with him last night?” I ask, going inside to stir the chicken before it burns.
“Yes, and it was amazing,” she gushes.
Properly distracted, she goes on about her date for the next fifteen minutes. Every time it seems like she’s going to return to the subject of Landon and me, I steer her away. I don’t want her dissecting my feelings for him.
“Are you going to Misty’s thing next Friday?” I ask when dinner is just about finished.
“She’s planned one already?” Paige groans. “Summer just started.”
“Yep, and thanks to Gia, Landon and I are going.”
“I’ll bring Tanner,” she says. “We’ll make it fun.”
Then she suddenly laughs like she’s just thought of something.
“What?” I ask, nervous.
“You’re going to have to take Landon into the barn, or no one will believe you’re actually dating.”
My chest tightens, and my stomach grows warm. “The only one I have to convince is my mom.”
“You know how gossip spreads in this town. But if you don’t want to make it believable…”
“You are such a brat.”
I can practically hear her grin. “I know, but you love me anyway.”
I growl, reluctantly agreeing, and then we end the call.
“Who was that?” Mom asks, startling me as she walks into the kitchen.
