Page 27 of Summer in Kentbury
“Have I mentioned that your brother is grumpierthan you? Were you taught to grunt while learning how to speak?” she jokes.
“Ha, ha.” I try not to sound annoyed, but a twinge of frustration creeps into my voice. “Is he being rude to you? If he is, I can talk to him.”
“Nah, he’s cool, and I’m thankful that he’s helping expedite the case. I might be able to open the store again by the end of August, but . . .” she hesitates, and I can almost see her biting her lip. “I feel like every time we’re on the phone, he’s mad at me.”
“Nah, that’s just him,” I say, trying not to sound defensive because what the fuck is wrong with my brother.
“So I’m right.He islike you,” she insists, and I can imagine her eyebrows raising, a challenge in her voice.
Being lumped in with my brother’s demeanor is pretty shitty. He’s arrogant and self-centered, always putting his own interests first. He’s the kind of guy who talks over people in meetings, who thinks he’s always right and everyone else is just there to follow his lead.
“Raffa should take some anger management classes—and maybe learn some manners while he’s at it,” I say.
“So I’m right, he’s just like you,” she insists, and I can feel my hackles rising.
“Am I really like that?” I ask, my voice tight with tension.
“Less now than when I met you, I have to admit. In any case, have you heard?” There’s clapping on the other side, and her voice takes on an excited tone. “The camp’s doors open tomorrow. You’ll be here, right?”
Paul did tell me yesterday that everything is finally set. McKay and Lou keep texting me about it. I’m not ignoring them, but definitely dodging their calls.
“Sin, you have to be here when they open,” Lavender says, her voice pleading.
“I still have work to do,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose as I remember I’m on the phone.
“You’re our swimming instructor,” she reminds me, and I can hear the disappointment in her voice.
“What part of ‘don’t count on me’ do you people not get?” I snap, immediately regretting my tone as the words leave my mouth.
“See, growly,” she teases, and I can almost see the smirk on her face.
I groan, running a hand through my hair. “What’s gotten into you today, Wilde?”
“I got to meet some of the campers. I’m extra excited—you have to be here, Sin,” she says, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
“But—” I start, but she cuts me off.
“No buts. You promised us two weeks and not only did you leave way before the time promised but you didn’t even say goodbye. Time to make it up to us,” she insists, and I can imagine her pointing a finger at me accusingly.
“I already explained it to you. It was an emergency,” I say, my shoulders sagging with the weight of the world on my shoulders.
“Which is fixed, and now you can come back,” she insists, her voice taking on a persuasive tone. “It’sjust for the summer. We don’t have that many weeks left.”
Somehow the way she says it makes me wonder if her plans are changing. Don’t get me wrong, that small town is cute and a great place to relax. Living there is impossible when you have a lot of people who depend on you. Still, I have to ask, “Are you planning to move full-time to Kentbury now?”
“Nope. My business is in the city, but I will come more often,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Recharging by getting my fill of small-town magic is essential to survive the big bad city.”
“Big bad city?” I ask a little skeptical. “Why stay if you don’t like it?”
“Oh, I do like it. It just sounded catchy to say that,” she corrects.
“Would you ever be willing to move somewhere else?” I ask her, the question tumbling out before I can stop it.
“I . . . I don’t know. Why am I moving?” she falters, clearly puzzled.
“What if the guy you fall in love with lives in another state—or country?” I press, my heart hammering in my chest as I wait for her answer.
After a long pause, she turns the question back on me. “Would you move?”
