Chapter 36
ASHER
I practically crumple into my office chair. My head hits my desk with a dull thunk, and I groan. This spring semester has been absolutely brutal.
Due to my ‘indiscretions’ last semester, I have to prove myself to the board and the dean.
I’d tacked on more office hours this semester to help students who were struggling with the class material.
And though it pains me to think of anything to do with her, Summer’s suggestion about study guides has led to major improvements in my classes’ overall test scores.
I’d tried to call Juliet earlier today in between classes, and when she didn’t answer her cell, I tried the bakery, but someone had answered and promptly hung up on me. When I called for a second time, it went to voicemail. I decided to try again later; something was clearly up.
Elijah texts our group chat to ask if Jared and I want to come over for dinner. I reply with a thumbs-up emoji before putting my phone face down on my desk with a sigh.
Jared and Elijah had made these past few months bearable.
Jared’s still trying to finalize his divorce—his ex-wife had insisted on the divorce but was now dragging her feet over signing the papers—but he’s let me go on and on about how miserable I am, and he never gets pissed about it.
And Elijah… well, he’s still chaotic as ever, but when he can tell I don’t want to socialize, he’ll bring some takeout over and watch whatever sports game is on.
I hope that wherever Summer is, she has a support system that’s just as good as mine, if not better.
I force myself out of my chair and slowly start packing up my things, not wanting to be late to Elijah’s, but at the same time, I feel exhausted. I’ve felt so tired ever since Summer disappeared. I can go, eat some food, and then head out without being rude.
It takes me about half an hour to really get going and drag myself out of my office. It’s well past the time Elijah told us to come over, and predictably, I’m the last one to arrive.
I walk into Elijah’s apartment without knocking; both of my friends are sitting around the huge mahogany dining table. Neither of them has served themselves food—they’ve waited for me. The smallest trickle of guilt zips through my chest.
“Long day?” Jared asks gently, and I hate that they feel like they have to walk on eggshells around me. Though I don’t blame them, I’ve had quite a few outbursts since Summer’s departure.
“I just wanted to get some prep-work in,” I say with a noncommittal shrug before plopping down in the open seat.
“For the fall semester?” Elijah responds as he starts dishing out the Indian food from the takeout boxes onto three plates on the table.
I nod. “Yep, just trying to stay ahead of things.”
Jared tosses me a can of beer as Elijah sets a full plate in front of me.
“How are things with you guys?” I ask to break up the silence. I shovel the first bite of food into my mouth as I wait for one of them to answer.
“Good,” Jared says. “Hopefully, my divorce will be finalized soon.”
“Dude, you got robbed,” Elijah snorts, but I can see by the downturned corners of his mouth that he’s genuinely bothered by the way Jared has been treated.
“She’s letting me keep the dog.”
“He was your dog to begin with.” Elijah rolls his eyes and stuffs food into his mouth so that he can’t add anything else.
“I’m glad you got to keep your dog,” I say.
“He’s about the only thing she let him keep,” Elijah mumbles around a mouthful of food, but the words are easy to make out.
“It’s almost over,” Jared responds, pointedly ending that conversation.
“What about you, Eli?” I jump in to give Jared a break.
His fingers drum against the table as he purses his lips and tilts his head back and forth. “Nothing new here, just same old same old.”
Well, that was no help.
“No crazy work stories?” I pry.
“Nope. Mostly, I just get paid to catch cheaters. It gets old after a while.”
“Have you ever considered taking different cases?” Jared asks.
“Sometimes,” Elijah responds vaguely. “Depends on my will to live that week.”
Jared lets out a surprised cackle. “God, you’re insufferable.” He throws his balled-up napkin at him.
“One of us has to be!” Elijah insists. “Otherwise, this would be the dullest friend group ever.”
More napkins are tossed at him from both Jared and me as we make booing sounds.
My two friends bicker back and forth, and a small spark warms my chest. I feel lighter in this moment than I have in a while.
Yeah, I really hope Summer has someone like these guys to support her in life.
Juliet returns my call right when I’m walking into my apartment.
“Great timing, Juliet,” I say as I balance the phone between my ear and shoulder. “I just got home.”
“Sorry, I missed your call,” she responds. I can hear her whisking in the background. I look over at the clock in my kitchen, and my eyebrows furrow.
“You’re still working?” I ask. “I thought you said you hired an employee a few months ago.”
“I did,” she says quickly. “But we got a rush order for a birthday cake this afternoon after we closed, and I said I’d handle it.”
“You’re not working yourself too hard, are you?”
“No, Asher, I’m not.” Her voice oozes annoyance, and it’s not hard to imagine her rolling her eyes at me. “It’s been really helpful to have someone else helping out with the bakery. It gives me more time with Terra, and it’s fun to be able to gossip while baking.”
I laugh before saying, “I called the bakery earlier today—”
“You called the bakery?” she interrupts.
“Uh, yeah,” I respond, confused as to why she sounds so alarmed. “Someone answered but hung up as soon as I said hello.”
“I think you should come visit,” Juliet says suddenly.
My head spins at the change in subject and why she’d randomly ask me to visit. Twice in one year? After refusing to let anyone visit since she moved?
“Why?”
“You’ve been so sad ever since… well, you know. I think maybe coming out here could be good for you.”
I sigh. “I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t think I’m going to be any fun to be around.”
It’d been months since Summer left without a trace. Dean Callahan refused to tell me where she transferred to whenever I asked, and he’d made it very clear last time that if I asked again, there would be consequences.
It’s been months since Summer left, and yet here I am. Still pining after her. Still miserable. Still fucking heartbroken. Still pathetic.
“Just come for the weekend,” she insists. “The ocean air, your adorable niece, and some home-baked pie could really do you some good.” She must hear me let out an exhale because she continues. “I know you have nothing better to do; you’re officially on summer break as of two days ago.”
She’s not wrong.
I groan. “I’m really not in the mood, Juliet. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I think I’ll stay here and try to get ahead on my schedule for the fall.”
“Can you just listen to me for once? Just listen to me and stop being so damn stubborn!” she snaps.
“Woa,” I say, shocked. “What the hell?”
“I’m serious. Get your head out of your ass, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and just come visit your favorite sister and your adorable niece.”
There’s something in Juliet’s tone, a seriousness that I rarely hear from her. She had never liked raising her voice when we were growing up, and anytime anyone yelled at her, she tended to flinch away.
“Okay,” I say hesitantly, drawing the word out as I think over why Juliet would need me to go visit her. “Can you at least tell me what’s going on? Are you and Terra okay?” I ask, growing worried that something terrible may have happened.
“We’re fine,” she assures me quickly. “I just… ugh,” she groans, and I can tell that something has been frustrating her for a while now.
“Oh, fuck it,” she hisses. “Look, Summer transferred to The Monterey Bay Institute of Psychology, which is about twenty minutes away, and she’s been working for me for months now.
I wanted to let you both figure your shit out, but you’re both stubborn, and she’s possibly even more stubborn than you.
I really thought she’d reach out, but she hasn’t, and you’re both so fucking miserable all the time, and honestly, your piss-poor moods really bring me down, and I’m sick of it.
Just fucking talk to each other already. ”
I stand there, mouth agape at Juliet’s outburst. She doesn’t swear too much, and when she does, it’s certainly not multiple swear words in a row.
Then it hits me.
Summer is in Carmel-By-The-Sea. She’s been there this whole time. Working for my sister and going to school out there.
This whole time she’s been under my nose. And Juliet hadn’t said anything.
“Before you get mad,” Juliet starts, correctly reading my growing anger in the silence.
“What happened was a lot for both of you. She came to me, clearly heartbroken and lost. I offered her a job because she has all these extra bills to pay. I thought after she got settled and got acquainted with the town that she would eventually reach out to you, but she didn’t.
I know that I should’ve told you sooner than this, but I didn’t want you to skip out on your classes to drop everything and come here when I wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to see you.
But she’s finally started to look happier lately, and I just thought…
maybe now would be a good time to reach out. ”
I can hear how sorry she is in her tone, along with the anxiety she must have felt hiding this from me.
“It’s okay, Juliet. I’m not mad.” And I really mean that.
I understand that Juliet was trying to be a good friend to Summer, and it makes me happy that Summer had someone like my sister to lean on while going through all of this.
“Oh, thank God,” Juliet sighs. “Good, because having both of you be mad at me would suck.”
“Summer’s mad at you?”
“Well, not yet,” she clarifies. “But after she finds out that I spilled the beans, she might be.”
“Do you really think she’d be that upset if I came to see her?” I ask quietly.
“No, I think she’d be happy to see you. I think she’s just worried you’ll give up your job to be with her, and she doesn’t want that.”
Nerves settle deep in my gut, but excitement rises in my chest. Honestly, I feel like I’m going to puke, but I push myself to my feet. “Okay. Okay. I have to get some things in order, but then I’m coming to visit.”
“Yes!” she squeals.
“Thank you, Juliet. Now I gotta go pack.”
I’m about to end the call when I hear her voice yell, “Make sure you plan some grand romantic gesture!”