Page 65 of The Monster I Loved
As I mulled over the options, a scent overwhelmed me. Summer had leaned over to show me something in the file I was holding, and her perfume was light and sweet.
Her mouth started moving, but again I couldn’t hear shit.
My thoughts drifted to the other day when we were on the search, and I saw that gentle smile sweep over her face.
Summer isn’t all edges. I followed the movement of her lips. If I could see that smile again, maybe I wouldn’t be in such a crappy mood. Tingles spread across me as I pictured her leaning this close to me with that smile, her hair thrown to the side, showing a tempting amount of that arched neck.
“What do you think?”
Fuck, I was barely paying attention. I cleared my throat loudly as I blurted, “Let’s do it your way.”
Summer stared at me. “My way?”
God, did she have to pin me with a back-and-forth when our bodies were this dangerously close? I didn’t have the energy to drag this out right now. And I realized it wasn’t like she could kill the project; we had controls in place to catch any sabotage she could imagine. “Eventually, we have to start trusting each other.”
As soon as the words fell from my lips, I agreed with them. “This is one of many projects we’ll have together. I’m willing to give it a chance if you are.”
Silence stretched between us. “Okay, I guess that’s a no,” I said.
“No.”
I figured.
Summer shook her head. “I meant no, it isn’t a no...I meant yes.”
Her agreeing was just as weird as me asking. My mouth almost fell open.
“Who are we right now? Not long ago, you tried to kill me. We have so much bad blood.”
A sigh fell from Summer, her chest noticeably sinking with the movement. It was hard not to notice, given how low thecollar of her shirt plunged. I questioned whether she wanted people to look anywhere else. “Lots.”
“You both also have lots of good history. That neither of you chose to remember.”
We both looked toward the door and spotted Henry. I’d forgotten he was dropping by to take me to lunch and calm me down about my father and Mimi. Ugh, just the thought of that woman made my face turn sour.
“Why don’t we all go to lunch together?” Henry suggested.
Summer nodded, but then her face fell. “I can’t, have to hurry and finish work to meet Daisy at the Spooky Hayride.”
Interesting, so if she didn’t have those plans, Summer would be okay eating a meal with me at present? Normally, the very suggestion would’ve probably made her hurl.
After lunch with Henry,I returned to the office but was immediately pulled into meetings by my father. I was grateful when the workday finally came to an end, and I jumped in my car and hurried to meet Henry and Wylie at the annual Spooky Hayride event at the farm. I’d almost forgotten about it until Summer mentioned it earlier today. Most of the town would be there. Minutes after I arrived, Summer’s car pulled in behind me. If we were friends, it might’ve made sense driving here in one car. It was sort of silly, sitting next to her at one stoplight after the next, each staring ahead as if we hadn’t noticed the other. A few traffic lights back, when a light turned green, I sped off, and her little car couldn’t keep up with my BMW’s engine.
“Thad, over here!” Henry called.
As Summer exited her car, I went to him. I crushed hay under my leather shoes as I made my way over. Dang, I forgot to bring a pair of sneakers.
“Uncle Thad!” Wylie greeted me, and I fist-bumped him.
Daisy looked behind me. “Oh, great! Summer is here too; we can start.”
My interest in the activity disappeared as we loaded onto the wagon. The only reason we liked this activity so much in high school was because we were able to make out with our significant other. When Henry took out two twelve packs of beer, I wasted no time grabbing one. The wagon moved slowly along the path, each heavy wheel rolling over the clumps of hay. Summer sat beside me, close enough that our shoulders almost touched. Her arms were crossed. She looked as bored as I felt.
The owners did their best to make the activity worthwhile, blasting all sorts of loud noises through the speakers to give the impression they belonged to a ghost or wolf surrounding us as the wagon rolled down the path. Along the ride, I felt a pair of eyes hot on me.If you have a comment, just spit it out. I didn’t know why Summer was studying me so intensely, but I wasn’t about to bring it up.
Instead, I focused on the boring scenery outside rather than whatever was happening here. My body was never quite right around Summer.
A sudden scream cut through the air somewhere ahead. Summer stiffened beside me, and, for just a second, I felt her press against me. Her breast was like a soft pillow on my arm, and I immediately felt the heat settle on my skin.
