Chapter 14 #2
“My bad, my bad.” I laughed then changed the subject. “Guess who I ran into at the diner?”
Summer’s eyebrows rose while chewing her food. I sighed, preparing myself for a big reaction.
“Valerie.”
"Wait,” Summer said with a hand wave. She finished chewing then wiped her mouth. “Did she bolt for the exit?”
I shook my head while laughing. “Not this time.”
After explaining my conversation with Valerie to Summer, I expected an immediate no from her. To my surprise, she sat silently.
“You don’t have anything to say?”
Summer bit her lip and inhaled deeply. After exhaling, she said, “I think only you know what you need to close this chapter. Although, I do find this situation funny... since you don’t believe in closure.”
I groaned while walking over to the fridge. Inside was a variety of drinks from fresh squeezed orange juice to sparkling water. Summer liked her options. I took out the pitcher of juice and a glass from the cabinet.
“It’s not that I don’t believe in it... I just don’t find it beneficial.” After pouring her a glass of juice, I settled on a bottle of water. “And this isn’t really closure.”
Summer accepted the glass with a smile. “You’re getting the resolution by seeing her one last time. It’s the textbook definition.”
My eyebrows met. I always viewed closure as getting answers to looming questions. Seeing Avery wouldn’t grant answers. In the back of my mind, I’d always wonder why Vanessa chose to run. More than anything, I was disappointed with how she ended things.
“Closure would be Vanessa telling me why she chose to move instead of following through on our plans. I’d know the reason why she did so much shit behind my back.
I accepted her in a way her family couldn’t, but she treated me the same as them.
When I get answers to those questions, I'll have closure.”
“I didn’t know this was still bothering you?” Summer’s eyes searched mine for an answer.
She wasn’t the only one shocked by my outburst. I guess my conversation with Valerie brought latent feelings to the surface. I licked my lips, acutely aware of the heat coursing through me.
“It hit me when Valerie brought up their dad cheating. Nothing I did for her would have been enough because I'm not the cure to her trust issues.”
Summer placed her hand on mine. Her eyes were soft and filled with compassion. “None of what happened was your fault. You are a great person and an even greater partner. You love your people deeply. It's one of the things I admire about you.”
I couldn’t help my smile. “You admire me?”
With an eye roll, she replied, “Of course. Why do you think I wanted you to be his godfather? You’re the best person I know.”
Summer and I were the siblings who didn’t say I love you often. She knew I’d always be her protector beside Ryder. It had always been that way and would remain. We were so locked in that expressing our feelings for one another wasn’t needed, but it was still nice to hear from time to time.
After finishing her hash browns, Summer closed her container then pushed it aside.
“Alright, let’s head upstairs before the itis hits.”
We started toward the steps. She glanced at me. “Tell me something good. What else is happening in your world?”
As we climbed the stairs, I considered sharing the most pressing development in my life. I needed to talk to someone about me and Robyn. Mel never had good relationship advice and my mom would jump straight to wedding planning. Summer fell somewhere in the middle.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with Robyn.”
Summer turned to me with bright eyes and the biggest smile on her face. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Tell me more please.”
We entered baby boy’s room and I nodded at how different it looked.
The paint was a nice touch with his dark brown crib and dresser.
Summer had each frame against the wall where she wanted them to hang.
On top of the dresser were the nails, hammer, and a level.
She took a seat in her rocking chair and eyed me.
“I’m waiting,” she said while rubbing her belly.
I tied my hair back to keep it out of the way and began unboxing the nails. While doing so, I told her everything that had transpired over the last two months.
She held her cheeks. “I love everything about this. You know I love me some Robyn. Every time she has an appointment with me, she brings food.”
I shook my head. “Now we’re arguing over petty shit and I can’t keep trippin’ over her dating losers.”
“Is he really a loser? Robyn doesn’t seem like the type to entertain such.”
“Not the point. He doesn’t deserve her.”
“And you do?”
Ignoring her sarcasm, I marked where the picture should go before hammering in the nail and hook in place.
“Are you ready for a relationship?” she asked after a moment of silence. “You seem to enjoy being single.”
“I want Robyn.”
“Okay,” she sang. “What does she want?”
Turning to Summer, I shrugged. “I don’t know and neither does she. You know, she’s the one who started trippin’ first? All because I was texting Lex.”
Summer groaned. “Lex is back around?”
“Not really. Just been texting, mostly memes and shit.”
“She thinks she’s slick. Tryna laugh you right out of your drawls.”
I froze in place with furrowed eyebrows. “Nah. She knows that’s not happening.”
“Does she? I don’t know, NK. You’ve been on some hoe shit since Vanessa skipped town.”
“Come on, Sunny,” I tried to reason, knowing she was one hundred percent right. In the beginning, I was reckless but reeled it in before it got too bad.
Summer’s eyes narrowed and her head tilted. “You must’ve forgotten the night you had three women trying to go home with you after we closed. Or the time the waitress at My Place left her number on your receipt and you actually called her.”
“We met for drinks once,” I defended.
“Hey, you are single. You can do what you want. However, if you’re trying to pursue Robyn, you gotta let that hoe stuff go. That means no more memes with Lex. You weren’t thinking about that girl at all. What made her text you anyway?”
“Bumped into her at Springville Fest. She invited me to her housewarming party, but I missed it. So I sent her a gift.”
“And the conversation has been ongoing?”
I shrugged. “Basically.”
Summer kissed her teeth. “Men are so gullible. For everyone’s sake, stop texting her. She thinks this is access to you and it’s not. I need you to remember why you ended it with her in the first place.”
“Robyn has some shit she needs to end too.”
The flowers on her dining room table came to mind and I was peeved all over again. He always missed the mark and she allowed it. Robyn loved attention, effort, and intention. From what she has told me, he lacked in all areas.
Summer’s laughter pulled me out of my thoughts. “You have some nerve being jealous right now.
My eyebrows wrinkled as I feigned indignation. “I’m not jealous. I’m disappointed that she’s settling.”
“And what are you doing entertaining Lex?"
I hung the next painting with Summer’s advice echoing in my mind.
Alexa had a fiery personality and it became a lot to handle so early in our situation.
She addressed everything that bothered her, and it was draining.
When she came to me about Robyn, I had to draw a line.
I would never be okay with her disrespecting my best friend.
We dated for only three months, which wasn’t enough time for her to be as possessive as she was over me.
“I can’t wait to see Robyn tomorrow. I’ma tell her to leave you alone.”
Summer laughed at the glare I shot at her.
“What are you doing to her hair?”
“Sew-in with a middle part.”
“How much?”
Humor filled her eyes. “Robyn gets my homegirl discount. But if you’re paying, it’ll be two-fifty.”
I shook my head. “Remind me to send it later.”
We spent the next few hours getting the nursery together.
The baby shower was two weeks away and the parents-to-be anticipated a ton of gifts.
They purchased his furniture and set it up, hoping to make unpacking the gifts easier.
Shiloh and I were planning a surprise nesting party to help them prepare.
It was close to five by the time we finished. After breaking down the boxes and discarding them, I prepared to leave.
“I appreciate you spending the day with us,” Summer said once we reached the front door. Just as she went to open it, the doorbell rang. Her eyes widened when she saw a delivery man.
“Delivery for Summer?” he asked, his eyes bouncing between me and her.
“I didn’t order any food,” she explained while accepting the box. Summer looked at me for an explanation.
“Shiloh,” I supplied.
When Summer mentioned wanting pizza for dinner, I texted Shiloh to see if she knew Summer’s order. Next thing I knew, Shiloh sent an order confirmation. The delivery time coinciding with my departure was coincidental.
Summer beamed. “You two are the best.”
I kissed her forehead then said, “Anything for my Sunny.”