Chapter 73 Summer
SEVENTY-THREE
SUMMER
Fraser reaches me first. “Summer!” he shouts, shoving aside Marco like he’s an annoying toddler. The next thing I know, I’m in his arms. My face is crushed into his broad chest, and I’m sucking in his fresh, piney scent.
Instantly, my body relaxes.
Home, my brain sings. Home. This is it. This is where you belong.
What’s happening?
Fraser grips me tighter. “Jesus,” he says in my ear, sounding frantic. “Are you okay? What the hell is this! Are they trying to eat you?”
I don’t respond, my breath still shuddering, and he cups the back of my head with a big hand.
“Hey, you’re okay,” he soothes. “You’re okay. I’m here, you’re fine.”
“Get away from her,” I hear Cameron warn someone behind me. His weight presses against my back, and my eyes flutter closed.
Home, my brain insists. This is it.
I feel Cameron grasp my waist. “Is she okay?” he asks over my head.
Fraser scoffs. “Of course she’s not okay. All of these people were trying to, like, gobble her up. Baby, we’re gonna get you outta here, okay?” His rough beard scratches my cheek.
Before I can nod, there’s another voice behind me. “Summer.”
I turn to Alec. My eyes widen. He looks awful. Like, maybe he contracted a deadly disease in the last four days? He’s lost weight, and his eyes are hollow. The strobes flash over his face, cutting harsh shadows under his cheekbones.
For a few seconds, we just stare at each other, the air between us crackling. Then, like he physically can’t help himself, he’s scooping me into him. His hands are on my face. His forehead is against mine, his breath shaky against my cheek.
“Christ, sweetheart,” he says. “I am so sorry. So sorry. Should have never let you leave. Should have never let you go. I just— You almost got hurt, and it scared the shit out of me, but it wasn’t fair.
Are you okay?” His hands are roving over my back like he’s trying to make sure I’m all in one piece.
I don’t answer. My brain isn’t functioning. The men are here. They’re touching me. And Alec, who I have never seen less than perfectly in control, is stumbling over his words. I can feel his heart hammering in his chest.
“Shit,” he swears, cupping my face. His thumb comes back wet in the flashing lights. “You’re crying. They made you cry.”
That, finally, makes me laugh. “They made me cry?” I croak. “You made me cry.”
He looks like I’ve stabbed him in the stomach.
“Stop it,” Cameron growls suddenly behind me. “Stop taking pictures of her. What is wrong with you?”
I turn. It seems like half the people in the club are circling us, phones outstretched, filming us.
Shit.
Lulu waves at me, elbowing aside a wannabe rapper. “Is that them?” she yells over the music. “They’re fit!”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
A nearby girl suddenly grabs Cameron by the arm. “Oh my God, your arms are massive!” she squeals. I think she’s a model. “Look at these biceps! Are you a fitness influencer?”
“Get off him,” I snap at her.
Cameron frowns at the girl, trying to gently bat her away, but she digs her nails into his forearm. “Let go,” he tells her. She doesn’t, shoving her phone in his face.
I storm forwards and shove her off him. “What is wrong with you?” I snarl. “You can’t just take pictures of people!”
She laughs in my face. “What do you mean? You’re being crazy.” She turns her phone on me. I stare at her, boiling with rage.
A hand appears on my back. “Can I get you out of here, honey?” Fraser says in my ear. “As much as I’d like to see you claw her eyes out, I don’t know if it’s the best look for your branding.”
I breathe in slowly through my nose. He’s right. I have no idea what’s happening right now, but I need to get out of here.
I nod, and his strong arms band around me. He pushes me out through the crowd with Alec and Cameron at his side. Camera flashes blink behind us.
It’s lightly drizzling rain as we all step out into the dark car park outside the club. I pull free from Fraser and stride up to Cameron. His usual jeans and plaid shirt look out of place against the concrete of the city.
“Are you okay?” I demand.
He looks at me like I’m speaking Martian. “Am I okay?”
His hand flexes as I take his arm, examining the nail scratches in his skin. I’m boiling with rage. “She grabbed you. You hate getting touched. And she forced you to take a picture. Who does that?”
My peers. That’s who. The people I call my friends. I suddenly hate them. I hate this job. I hate my life. I hate all of this.
“’S fine,” Cameron says roughly, watching me.
“It’s not fine, it’s a violation. She just took those pictures like you belonged to her. And you’re…” The words die in my throat.
“Yours,” Cameron says simply. The amber light from a nearby streetlamp glows down over his face. “Aye. Body and soul. I’m yours. ’Bout time you realised.”
I stare at him, breathing fast. I think I’m about to pass out. “What?”
He doesn’t answer. Just looks at me.
I drop his arm and back up a step. “What are you all doing here? What’s happening?”
Fraser gives me a hopeful grin. “We missed you,” he tries. I just stare at him, shivering in the night air.
Alec pulls off his jacket. “Here. You must be cold.” He steps forwards to drape it over my shoulders.
I stumble back, almost tripping in my heels. “Don’t!”
Dismay spreads over his face. “Okay,” he says. “Okay. Sorry. I won’t touch you.” He tugs a hand through his hair. “Shit.”
Muffled music pounds through the alley. Rain slides down the back of my dress.
“I reckon we need to talk,” Fraser declares. “Want to go back to ours?”
“Yours?”