Chapter 15 The Cursed Kiss #2
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 the collar 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.
A million thoughts swirled through my head. Was she actually scared?
“You okay?” I asked.
Summer nodded. “Just caught off guard. They finally put a bit of effort into the sound effects!”
A few of us chuckled.
The wagon kept moving, slow and steady. Wylie had taken refuge in Henry’s protective arms. We continued on for a while longer.
No surprise at all, Summer and I had similar thoughts. “Was it always like this? I remember having lots of fun. Now it just seems like we’re driving around in hay.”
Everyone laughed.
“Guess some things just seem better when you’re a kid,” I said.
We nodded and looked at Wylie with a smile plastered on his face.
In my prison cell, I’d pictured them here every year without me, enjoying a good time. Now it seemed this was one activity they’d skipped.
“Whose idea was this?” I asked.
Henry lifted his can. “It’s your first Halloween back. We have to do all the things.”
Summer’s eyes widened. She obviously didn’t know this outing was on my behalf.
Then, to my surprise, her eyelids fell slightly; she didn’t roll them or look annoyed. What was up with her? Maybe she was really sick. I also noticed she wasn’t drinking.
Although she had never been one for beer.
“Will they have hot cider and donuts at the end of the ride?” Daisy asked.
I shot her a look. “They’d better. Any fall activity that doesn’t have hot cider and those donuts will owe me a refund.”
Summer laughed . . . at something that came out of my mouth. All of us stared at her.
“Uncle Thad, do you love donuts?”
Before I could answer Wylie, Summer spoke. “He’s obsessed! Nobody can get between him and those donuts.”
“She’s right,” Henry added.
As everyone laughed, I wondered if my relationship with Summer had made a turn for the better.
We were in the same space and hadn’t exchanged one insult.
At the office, we were also able to act like adults.
Damn, my father was right! He wouldn’t hear that from me, but dropping the case and putting us in close proximity seemed to be the best idea.
The jerk of the wagon alerted me that the ride was over. When the smell of donuts hit my nostrils, my cheeks lifted. “Donuts are on me!”
No one protested.
I handed the donuts out to everyone, Summer included.
She looked into my eyes, and our fingers brushed against each other slightly.
Again, the electricity charged through me.
I was glued in my position, hand hovering in the air as I stared into her eyes.
They looked a lighter brown than I remembered.
The little details in her features grew bolder, held my attention prisoner as I couldn’t rip my eyes from her.
Summer didn’t pull away either. She lightly cupped the donut, mouth parted in a slight ‘O.’
What are we even doing?
I removed my fingers from her donut, and we continued staring at each other as if the world had crashed.
Something was off. I couldn’t place what it was, but there was a shift in the way Summer looked at me, interacted with me. The woman I knew would snatch the donut like it was her birthright. Suddenly, she was acting all shy?
“Thanks.”
“What’s up with you?” Screw this, I had to know.
Summer looked around at everyone staring at us. “What?”
“We just enjoyed a hayride without any bickering or threats, and now you gently take the donut. I thought pigs would fly before you ever accepted a damn thing from me.”
Summer sighed. “I’m tired. Aren’t you? Tired of fighting?”
Henry smiled, and so did the others. Was anything ever this easy? Could the person who wanted you dead just lose interest in such a short amount of time? I was at a loss for words.
“Uncle Thad, Aunty Summer asked you a question.”
Maybe it was the beer or the alcoholic cider, but I was definitely happier than I’d been in a long time.
“Yes. I’m tired too,” I answered.
Seconds passed, and we didn’t look away from one another. Maybe if I looked long enough, I could be convinced this was really happening.
Faintly, I heard Wylie ask, “What’s everyone tired of?”