Chapter 13 Summer
SUMMER
LUCY
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULYYY
OLIVE
It’s going to be such a good day!
I can already see them setting up on the grass near the lighthouse
IVY
Can’t wait to see you all at the potluck tonight!
SUMMER
I hope people like what I bring
OLIVE
Are you kidding?
IVY
I only know of ONE person who got a whole town meeting to keep her bakery open
LUCY
Summer, you have to be realistic about the consequences
SUMMER
THANK YOU
Finally someone gets it
LUCY
Now that you’ve decided to do this, everyone will become even more addicted to your food and you are going to be forced into cooking for this potluck from now until the day you die
SUMMER
“Heading to your parents’ place?”
“Yes, soon.” I looked up from my phone to Jae drinking coffee behind the kitchen counter.
His loose-fitting tank top with infinite opportunities to flash tattooed skin was going to be the death of me.
Seeing his tongue flick out occasionally to play with his lip piercing was sending me straight to hell.
He was nonchalantly using one of my mugs—a neon green frog with huge googly eyes.
When he took a sip, the angle made it look like he had googly eyes.
I must have you .
A covert glance revealed no sign of Mercer or Lucien.
Jae caught on immediately, setting aside the mug. “C’mere,” he said with a casual toss of his head.
I leaped into his arms and he kissed me hard.
I liked that Jae enthusiastically rolled with whatever I threw at him.
He used the momentum to spin and press me against the pantry door.
His hand flew up to my nape to make sure I didn’t bump my head before stroking the most delicious tingles down my spine.
“Are you running late?” he murmured.
“Time is a construct,” I said, yanking him back for another kiss. He tasted like coffee and bad intentions.
“You should go.” He contradicted himself by grabbing my ass. “I’ll see you tonight.”
But his abs were here right now. I slipped my hand beneath his shirt. “Okay. Bye-bye,” I said, dotting kisses along his jawline.
“Bye.”
“I’m leaving now.”
“I believe you.” He sounded completely sincere even as his head fell back, a stifled moan slipping out as I nipped at his neck.
My phone buzzed several times in my pocket. I just knew it was Lina asking where I was. I stopped mauling Jae and reluctantly untangled myself from him.
“Actually going now,” I said with one last little peck.
I regretfully left him behind, deliciously rumpled.
The day of the Fourth of July was always manic, doubly so now that I had agreed to my own contribution.
But it really was one of my favorite parts of the festival—sitting around my parents’ kitchen table, rolling endless spring rolls with my siblings.
Some were stuffed with fresh fillings in rice paper, and others contained a savory mince that Ba would deep-fry.
I left early to go to the patisserie to finish my own platter.
By the time the sun started its leisurely descent into the ocean, I was ready to eat. And see my friends. But mainly eat.
The village lawn near the lighthouse had been transformed.
Rows of folding tables had been set up, decorated in red, white, and blue.
I added my tray to the spread, already salivating as I spotted wings, sliders, and grilled corn on the cob.
Children ran among the picnic blankets waving sparklers, and The Light Rovers, our local folk band, were already in full swing.
“Summer!”
Lucy was frantically waving me over. I beamed seeing my friends and their packs, already settled in on the grass.
My family wasn’t far from them, and I was surprised to see Mercer chatting with Alvin.
I knew we all worked at the patisserie together, but seeing them talk outside their natural habitat was jarring.
As if sensing my intention to eavesdrop, Mercer patted Alvin on the back and left before I caught up with them. Rude.
“Enjoying yourself?” I asked my little brother.
Alvin scoffed, seeing right through me. “He was just saying hi. You don’t have to be so snarky with him all the time. He’s really nice. He showed me how to laminate dough.”
He did?
“When was this?”
“You were busy with Stanley.”
That must’ve been when the mayor was placing a very convoluted cake order for Harry’s birthday. I didn’t know what to make of Mercer taking the time to teach my little brother.
“Well, good,” I sniffed. “I’m very happy for you two.”
“You’re being weird, Summer.”
I stalked off toward my friends.
It was wonderful to relax and eat good food in even better company.
Olive, Ivy, Lucy, and I squeezed onto one blanket with a spread of plates to share.
Olive was gushing about her latest Mafia romance book (many descriptions of muscles, apparently), a far cry from the anxious omega who used to hide in her lighthouse.
Ivy was thriving during her summer break, even if her poor nose was pink from a light sunburn after too many beach outings.
Lucy unveiled new concept sketches for her wildly successful fashion Instagram account—featuring Felix and Blossom as models.
I brought over Winnie and Mabel when they were getting wriggly with my family.
My nieces were absolutely smitten with Blossom’s bunny antics and a surprising hit with a lot of my friends’ packmates.
Who knew so many big, manly alphas would melt over a chubby baby?
Logan was on his twenty-fifth game of peekaboo.
I caught the look he gave his omega after Mabel let out a particularly gurgly giggle.
“Ivy, that man wants to make a baby with you,” I said frankly.
My ordinarily reserved friend went a blinding shade of red. “Actually, we, uh, booked a heat resort for January,” she stuttered.
“Ivy, shut up.”
“ You shut up,” she replied in a panic.
I shook her violently. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a mom!” I whisper-shouted.
Ivy batted me away, laughing. “Summer, you missed about a million crucial steps there.”
“How is your cohabitation with the Beaufort brothers going?” Lucy asked, her emphasis so suggestive she might as well have said nightly orgy instead.
Olive placed her hands under her chin. “Yeah, have you seen Felix around?” she asked innocently, blinking rapidly beneath her brown bangs.
“ No , I haven’t,” I said firmly. Olive pouted at that.
It was true. The meddlesome cupid of a cat had avoided me since I moved out of my apartment.
My friends needed to get the hint that this wasn’t some slow motion K-drama scene on the verge of playing out.
“They are very pretty, though,” I sighed.
“I might have to get them out of my system before they leave.”
“Get them out of your…” Olive repeated.
“You know, just…take them for a spin. Consensually,” I added after a beat.
Ivy was mouthing soundlessly like she was unable to compute what I was saying. Olive shrugged and seemed fine with my answer.
Lucy clapped her hands excitedly. “Ooh la la. Got a favorite?”
Well, Jae and his jewelry-adorned dick was a clear frontrunner. But that was something only I was allowed to know about. He had wandered over earlier to say hi and I had to quash the urge to scent-mark him in front of everyone.
Lucien, I couldn’t get a read on. His calm demeanor didn’t match his scent. My instincts were insisting he was on the verge of bending me over the nearest surface while he cordially asked if I’d had a good day.
But Mercer was a dark horse. The way he watched me at the patisserie when he thought I didn’t notice was starting to feel…different.
It wasn’t like it was unreciprocated. I’d caught myself staring while he worked on more than one occasion, hypnotized by his impeccable technique. Wondering what else those fingers could do.
I compulsively searched for him among the crowded lawns. Again.
“Hard to say,” I said. Breezy. The breeziest.
There was the briefest glint of appraisal in Lucy’s gaze before she beamed. “You should have fun. One of them, all of them. Whatever you want,” she said nonchalantly, tossing her blond braid over her shoulder. “Felix knows this is just casual. That’s why you haven’t seen him at the house.”
“Exactly.”
Glad they were not going to be pushy about this.
As the last amber streaks of sunlight faded from the sky, we slowly migrated closer to the beach so we could watch the fireworks. Stanley had cordoned off a section to keep us away from the pyrotechnics and was diligently directing people to recommended viewing spots.
My friends naturally fell into their pack groupings. I found myself wandering down alone, and something furry brushed against my legs, nearly tripping me.
“What the—”
Big curious gold eyes stared back at me.
“Hey, Felix. Are you sure you want to be this close to the fireworks?” Fourth of July wasn’t the best time for animals. Lucy had Blossom stuffed down her top, and Ba had gone home early to huddle with Tofu and his pile of anxiety chew toys.
Felix blinked slowly. I got the sense that he thought I was rather dim.
“There’s still time to hide in the lighthouse if you want.”
His eyes narrowed grouchily.
“You’re ridiculous,” I scoffed. “Fine. At least stick with me if you insist on staying.”
There was a free spot on the beach wall and I sat down, plopping him in my lap. I scanned the crowd and found the brothers immediately, chatting with a few townspeople who would’ve known them as boys.
“I know I’ve already kissed one of them, but I might want another.” I stroked Felix until a low, satisfied purr rumbled against my palm.
“Should I go for it?”
His head drooped onto his paws, crossed politely on my leg.
“If you agree, keep purring.”
Felix sounded like he was deep in his REM cycle.
“ So glad we’re on the same page.”
I looked back out among the milling crowd and frowned, wondering where Mercer had gone.