Chapter 21
Summer
Nick and Seb are waiting for us just past security when we arrive back in Charleston. “Hi Grumpy,” I smile as Seb picks me up in a hug.
“Shortie. Z,” Nick nods before grabbing my bag and leading us out to the Jeep.
“I didn’t expect to see you, Hurry,” I smile.
“Things are happening, Sunshine. We’ll talk when we get to your house,” he tells me.
That’s not ominous at all. Seb looks a little tired today, but that’s all I can discern. “Okay,” I reply.
The humidity is really high when we get outside, and I take a few deep pulls of air as we walk to the parking area. Seb chuckles at me, so I just shrug. Zander and Seb talk as Nick drives us back to our house.
“Hydrate, then run,” Nick tells me when we get inside. I raise a brow at him but change and chug some water before the three of us go for a run.
Once we’re on the road, I ask Seb what’s going on. “E went to the society stuff and the fundraiser last night and ended up in the newspaper.”
“Okay?” I don’t see how that’s an issue. He was bound to end up there at some point with all the things he’s going to.
“He wasn’t alone,” Seb says, handing me his phone.
I see several pictures of E with one girl.
One polished, pretty girl. In the first picture, he’s dancing with her.
The second is of them laughing and leaning towards each other, sitting at a table with her arm on his.
The third is them walking in a garden with her arm around his waist. I stop running.
Reading through the article, they tout E as the next Seagrave heir and ask whether this is his match.
They’ve been to three events together apparently, and his grandmother is quoted as saying she approves of the relationship. Wow, just wow.
I look up and see Nick has stopped several feet ahead of us. He raises one eyebrow at me, so I wave the phone around. He walks back and takes it from me to have a look. I wait while he reads the article. “Idiot,” he mutters, and gives Seb his phone back. “Are we running?” he asks me.
I nod as Seb and I follow him. “Have you talked to him today?” I ask Seb.
“No, I didn’t try to, and he hasn’t reached out.”
That’s concerning. “There must be an explanation, Hurry. He loves you. I bet his grandmother set him up. Maybe E told her I was away this weekend?”
“That’s only two out of three events, Sunshine. Even if his grandmother set them up, why didn’t he tell us or let her get so close?”
That’s a good point. I only missed the Saturday events.
“I don’t know, Hurry.” I don’t think he would cheat on us, but his decisions have been less than stellar lately.
Maybe it’s like the dating schedule his grandmother arranged, and he doesn’t see it as real?
But he knew the idea of him going out with other girls hurt me, and Seb agreed it was wrong.
What a mess. We won’t get answers right now, so I try to shake off my thoughts and refocus on my run.
We practice knife work, then Krav Maga when we get back to the house, and I’m a panting bowl of jello when we’re done.
I walk Seb and Nick to their Jeep and get a quick peck from Nick before he hops in the driver’s side and Seb gives me a sweaty hug before he gets in the passenger side.
“Bye, Sunshine, call me later,” he yells, waving as Nick drives away.
Smiling and shaking my head, I go inside and tell Zander I’m getting a shower as I walk by the couch. The hot water felt heavenly, and I revel in its warmth until my skin began to prune.
I grab a snack and let Zander know I’ll be doing homework and talking to the guys.
Once I’m settled on the bed, I call Seb first. Once we’re connected, I dial E, but it goes straight to voicemail.
I try several more times but it rings once and then goes to voicemail.
Getting started on my homework, Seb and I chat for a while, then I try again.
Something isn’t right here. Why would his phone be off?
I ask Seb to put Nick on speaker with us.
“Grumpy, how do I get around a blocked number? There’s a setting or something I can change, right?
” He tells me how to dial to get around being blocked, so I hang up and call E using that method.
The phone rings this time, and E answers.
Telling him to hang on, I dial Seb into the call.
“Sunshine, did it work?” Seb asks.
“Hey Seb,” E responds.
“E, my number is blocked on your phone,” I tell him.
“What? No, that doesn’t make sense,” E replies, bewildered.
“Well, it is. I’ve been calling you for over an hour. Nick showed me how to get around a blocked number, and that’s when I got through.”
“How? I always have my phone with me. What is the point of blocking your number?”
“Maybe to keep us away so you can spend time with your new girlfriend,” Seb accuses, hurt lacing his voice.
Silence descends on the call. “E, I assume you’ve seen the paper by now. We need an explanation,” I say.
“I didn’t have dates lined up, I swear. My grandmother cancelled all the dates. I told you that. She was at my grandparents’ table at the events.”
“Okay. You seemed cozy in the pictures, E,” I respond. I'm trying to remain calm since Seb is so worked up.
“I’m not interested in her.”
“Doesn’t change the pictures, E. How did her arm end up around your waist while you two were walking alone in the garden?”
“It wasn’t my idea. She’s friendly. The camera caught the perfect moment.”
“Moments, E, more than one,” Seb says.
“So, this is the girl your grandmother has chosen for you?” I ask. “As far as Charleston society is concerned, you're together. Have you talked to your grandparents about the article E?”
“Yes, Grandmother said not to worry about it. It’s just gossip.”
“And your response was?” I ask.
“She’s right. It's just gossip. We know the truth. It doesn’t matter what they think.”
I take a deep breath as Seb curses like a sailor.
I remind myself he’s scared and in a difficult situation.
Sarah’s voice enters my head, reminding me not to compromise my values to make others happy, though.
“E, I am not Alex nor Reesa. We are together, or we’re not.
You asked me to be your girlfriend while Seb waits in the shadows.
I agreed against my better judgement because Seb said he was okay with it.
Now you have another girlfriend, according to society.
I'm not okay with that. Those pictures are damning. You put yourself in a compromised position where those photos could be taken. That’s on you. ”
“I’m sure they will print pictures of us too,” E replies, his tone patient and calm.
“I’m sorry?” I reply. “Your response to the situation is I’ll be in the newspaper sometime, too? Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“I can’t control the newspaper, Summer.”
“Oh, shit,” Seb says.
I swear there’s something in the damn water down here that makes people act irrationally.
Alex and E might be related. How can he not see the problem?
Taking a deep breath, I give myself a moment to gather my thoughts.
“Okay, E, let me make this as simple as I can. If I am your girlfriend, then there is no one else. No. One. No pretend girlfriends, no society girlfriends, no newspaper girlfriends. No grandmother setups. You’re almost 18 years old.
Handle your business. You can be cordial to people without them touching you inappropriately.
You allowed that to happen, and that's wrong. Did you miss your grandmother quoted in the article as approving the relationship, E? You and I need to take a break until you get your life sorted.”
“What does that mean?” E asks, his voice quieting.
“It means we're back to being friends, E. I'll be here as your friend, but not your girlfriend right now.”
“How can you doubt I love you?”
We are speaking different languages; I swear.
“I care about you too, E, but you’ve genuinely hurt me, and you don’t seem to grasp that.
You’ve put conditions on your feelings for both of us, and I can’t accept that.
I’m sorry.” After hanging up, I cry quietly, my face buried in Jake’s soft, familiar pillow.
Did I really just do that? Break up with E?
My phone rings a few minutes later, and I see Seb’s name. “Hurry,” I cry.
“I know Sunshine. You are so strong and brave.”
“Did you guys break up too?”
“No. We didn’t get into that. I definitely want to kick his ass, though. What's he thinking?”
“He’s thinking about his inheritance, not me. Do you think he and Alex switched bodies somehow?”
“Seems like it. Maybe he'll handle things now and realize what he’s doing?”
“I won’t hold my breath, Hurry.” Look at Alex, still engaged despite not proposing. What is wrong with people that money and reputation come before all else?
“Everything is so messed up, Sunshine.”
“Yeah, it is. I wish I could fix everything so badly.”