Chapter 32
Summer
Nick’s scent is all but faded from the bedding in his room.
I’ve slept here every night since he left, and it made me cry this morning when I realized it.
I guess there’s no point in sleeping here anymore.
Grabbing his pillow and phone, I trudge into my room with them.
Laying the pillow on my bed, I grab clean clothes to get ready for school.
Motivation is still very much lacking for me.
By the end of Tuesday, something in me snaps.
We’re all down. Alex and Reesa are still painful to be around.
E, Seb, and I are so awkward. Bay is sad but seems to have his shit together better than the rest of us.
Even Gabby is quiet and has been eating lunch with us most days.
I’m just tired of our group being so fractured.
Alex’s situation is the only problem I might be able to solve, so I’m going to call Steven, after giving myself a pep talk.
I grab his number from Seb after school. It’s a stressful call to make, but I’m willing to do so to help Alex and start mending our friend group. I hope I’m right about Steven, because this is the only idea I have. I take a seat on my bed and dial. “Hello?” he answers on the second ring.
“Hello Steven. This is Summer, Alex’s friend.”
“Hello dear. This is a surprise. How are you?”
“Good, thank you. I’m not sure how to approach this, so I’m just going to say it. Alex needs help.”
“Is he okay? Has something happened?” The panic in his voice is clear.
“Not in that manner, no. Sorry. Let me start again. Alex is physically fine. I am calling because I’m very worried about him and I’m hoping you can help.”
“Tell me the problem and I’m sure we can find a solution, Summer.”
“Great. Thank you. This is a long story. Do you have time right now?”
“Yes I do. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Okay. Please let me get it all out at once, then we can talk.” Taking a deep breath to fortify myself, I begin.
“The relationship between Alex and Reesa, starting in sophomore year, was entirely fabricated, at least on Alex’s end.
Since both families approved of the match, and they got along well, they chose to date until the end of high school.
Alex planned on breaking up with her before college, as he’s never loved Reesa.
“On Labor day Alicia gave Reesa her diamond ring, telling her she was engaged to Alex. Reesa rushed home to show her parents the ring and tell them about her engagement. Alex was camping with us, unaware of the incident. I saw Reesa wearing the ring at school on Tuesday. When I asked Reesa about it, Alex was stunned. Alicia submitted an announcement to the Charleston paper, which Alex read on Seb’s phone. I’ve never seen Alex so enraged.
“Alex spent weeks trying to end the engagement without causing a family scandal, but couldn't find a way. He caught Reesa and Alicia planning an engagement party, complete with invitations, and told them to stop at once. He planned a face-to-face conversation with you about all this in late September, but the hurricane canceled your homecoming.”
“Forgive me, my dear, but I have to ask. This sounds like the rantings of a jealous girl and not reality.”
“Alex is one of my best friends, but I’m not interested in him in that way. I have a boyfriend.”
“My apologies, but what you have told me is rather shocking. I knew when they started dating, it was for our families, but I assumed it had grown into something more. There’s a significant discrepancy between what you’re saying and what Alicia has told me.”
“I’m sure there is, but I swear to you it’s the truth. Steven, he’s miserable. I have a feeling you genuinely care about Alex’s well-being more than a potential scandal caused by your spouse.”
“His happiness has always been the most important thing to me.”
“Alex doesn’t know that. He worships you and prioritizes image and reputation above all else. He’s staying engaged for the family, endures all those social functions he hates, and hides Alicia’s flaws from you to spare your feelings.”
“Hold on now. This is a lot to take in. There have been problems with Alicia?”
“Many. No offense, but she’s not a good person.”
“How so?”
“The first thing I learned was that she acted inappropriately, flirting with Alex’s friends, wearing lingerie, and attempting to seduce Nick at the gym during their junior year.
He had to lock her in the closet to get away from her.
Every single guy boycotted the house until Alex handled her.
Her behavior toward me was appalling once we met, despite her insistence on meeting me.
“Then, Alex asked me to change my plans to stay at the house while Zander was in Savannah because Alicia was causing trouble, and he feared she might attack me because of her jealousy over our friendship and its potential interference with her plans for Reesa. Alex hates her.”
“Why wouldn’t Alex tell me any of this? It makes no sense,” I hear him say to himself.
“Does it really, though? When was the last time Alex mentioned a problem to you? Asked for advice?”
The other end of the line is quiet for a moment. “You are correct. I never realized, but there are never any problems from Alex. Not once in years. The only time I can remember him asking for anything was to talk during my scheduled trip home last month. How have I missed all this?”
“I can’t answer that, but please make time to come home soon and have a genuine conversation with Alex. You’re going to have to push him to tell you everything because he won’t willingly.”
“My dear, if even half of what you’ve told me is true, I have been a terrible father. Thank you for the phone call. I'll be home tomorrow.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. I was right about him. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you, Summer. I assume Alex doesn’t know about this phone call?”
“No, but you can tell him. I’m not trying to hide anything.”
“Very well, my dear. Thank you for calling. Goodnight.”
I hang up and deflate onto my pillows. Hopefully, this will get Alex back on track. After texting Bay and Seb the news, I join Zander on the couch. “I called Steven, and it went well. He was completely unaware of everything and plans to discuss it with Alex when he returns home tomorrow.”
“I’m proud of you, Summer. Alex is lucky to have you as a friend.”
“I just hope it works.”
Alex
I received an email that my father was flying in and wanted to meet at 4pm, so I am waiting for him in his office. There was no indication why.
“Alex. Thanks for meeting on such short notice. Have a seat,” my father says, coming into his office, bags in tow.
I sit across from him in the matching high-backed chair by the fire. “What did you want to see me regarding?”
“First, how have you been?” He asks.
“Good.”
“Any concerns?”
“Nothing important,” I automatically answer.
My father raises his eyebrows. “I received an interesting phone call yesterday concerning you. It was your friend, Summer. It seems we have much to talk about, son.”
I close my eyes for a moment. Of course, she called him. “Whatever she told you, I can handle, Father. No need to worry yourself.”
“It seems you’ve forgotten who the parent is and who the child is, Alex. That’s my fault. I’ve been away too much and a terrible father.”
“No, Dad,” I start, but he holds up a hand for me to stop talking.
“Yes, Alex, I have. But that ends now. Did you propose to Reesa? The truth, Alex.”
“No, I did not.” Why do I feel like a failure admitting that to him?
“Did Alicia arrange the engagement behind your back and give Reesa her ring and write the newspaper announcement?”
“Yes.”
My father sighs loudly, looking weary. “I am so sorry, Alex. We will take care of the engagement first thing tomorrow.”
“But the public scandal, Father.”
“Doesn’t matter, Alex. Your happiness is, and always will be, far more important to me.
It’s my fault that you don’t know that. Now.
I’ve heard many unpleasant things about my wife.
I need you to be completely honest with me and tell me what you've been dealing with these past few years. It’s not your job to protect me, son, so please start talking. ”
Shock causes me to stay silent for minutes before I begin. I cannot deny him. As requested, I tell him everything. We take an hour to discuss the most important issues regarding Alicia. My dad seems horrified at what she has done. It is nice to talk so openly like this after all these years.
“I’m sorry, Alex. I lost my way after your mother passed and threw myself into work. Alicia seemed fun and interesting, and I missed having someone. There’s no excuse for leaving you alone and for having to deal with her. I was secretly hoping Summer was exaggerating when we talked.”
“Afraid not, Father.” He orders dinner, and we spend the evening truly talking for the first time in years.
He is the same person I remember from when Mom was alive.
I tell him about E and his inheritance issues, Nick leaving, Summer and Jake, Bay and Seb.
Everything. He is attentive and asks appropriate questions when needed. Before we realize it, it is after 10pm.
“How do you feel about taking tomorrow off school, Alex? There’s much to be done, and I’ll need your help with some of it,” he asks.
“Of course,” I agree easily.
“Wonderful. I still have a few phone calls to make tonight. I’m staying indefinitely, so we can chat more later. Is the diner your mother loved still open?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Let’s plan on breakfast there in the morning, say 8am?”
“Great,” I smile. “See you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, son,” he smiles as I get up to leave.
Heading upstairs, I sit down on the couch to review all we discussed.
The false engagement will be ended. Alicia will be removed.
My father will be around more. Summer was correct; the standards I was upholding for myself were self-inflicted.
I pull my phone out and call her. “Hi Alex,” she answers.
“Hello Summer. It seems you have been busy lately.”
“So your dad told you,” she groans. “Sorry Alex. I needed to do something, and my gut said he would care more about you than society. Are you mad? Did it go bad?”
“You were correct about everything, Summer. Thank you.” I summarize our conversation regarding Alicia and Reesa for her.
“I’m so happy for you, Alex, and relieved. Call if you need anything, okay?”
“I will. I am skipping school to help my father tomorrow and will text everyone now. Goodnight Summer.”
“Night, Alex.”
Seb, E, and Bay are quick to answer my text.
They are happy and unsurprised. I cannot believe I was so wrong about family expectations and put myself through so much stress with Reesa and Alicia.
If it was not for Summer, I hate to think how far this would have gone.
I will need to find a way to thank her properly.