Loving Summer (Loving Summer Series) (12 page)

            “You didn’t!” I shake my head. “You wouldn’t.”

            “I would if that’s what it takes to protect you,” Drew says simply.

            I laugh softly at that, moving back from him slightly. “Drew, I’m not a little girl anymore. I don’t need protecting.”

            I feel someone behind me before I can hear them. When Nat speaks there, I start.

            “Do you love him? Is this why you said what you did before?”

            Just hearing his voice is enough to send chills down my spine. Drew obviously sees that, because I see his fists clench in anger.

            “Do you love him?” Nat repeats as I turn around. He looks so angry standing there. “Do you love that TV star boyfriend of yours?”

            I thought he meant Drew. I don’t even know why I thought that. Do I love Astor? Part of me wants to say yes there and then, but I don’t want to hurt Nat and Drew like that, and there’s a part of me that doesn’t even see why I should have to give
them
an answer to that question.

            “That’s between me and Astor, Nat,” I say.

            “Then maybe you should go tell him,” Nat replies, obviously not happy about it. “He came by after you went for your run, and he’s waiting in the living room. He says he’s leaving for his film shoot.” I can see the concern, jealousy and anger there. “Are you going with him, leaving us to go to North Carolina?”

            “Aren’t you a little late with all this?” Drew demands, standing. “You’re with Chrissy.”

            “Not anymore,” Nat snaps back. “I broke it off with her because of the way I feel for Summer.”

            Drew looks like someone has just thrown cold water on him. He certainly looks like he wants to argue and I… I don’t want to be in the middle of it. I want to see Astor before he leaves, so I head back down the beach to the house.

            When I get there, Astor is actually pacing back and forth. I didn’t even know people did that. He stops as he sees me and rushes over to kiss me.

            “I had to see you before I left,” he says. “I want you to know that I’m serious about us, Summer. I’ve never been so certain about anything. Please, come to North Carolina, even if it’s just for a day or two. I don’t think I can stand not seeing you for weeks on end. Even if you just fly out for the weekends.”

            “Astor, I…”

            He presses an envelope into my hand. “You don’t have to arrange anything,” he says. “These are the tickets for the flights, so all you have to do is show up. Please say that you will.”

            I want to, but with Aunt Sookie sick, and everything else that’s going on, can I? The answer to that is simple. How can I
not
, when Astor is standing there looking so sad at the thought of being without me?

            “Okay,” I say. “I’ll do it.”

            He kisses me again then, and this time it’s like it goes on forever. He kisses me until we’re both deeply out of breath, like he’s determined to make as much of a last impression on me as he can before he goes.

            “Summer, you just made me the happiest guy in the world.” His fingers drift down to the pendant he gave me. “Someday Summer, I’m going to replace that silver seashell pendant for something else more permanent, and I don’t want you arguing about it. Clear?”

            That makes me pause, imagining what it might be like. It’s a good thought. I nod, while his thumb plays with my lips.

            “I am going to miss these luscious lips of yours, Summer. And of course,” Astor continues. “I’m crazy jealous that you’re going to be in a house with two guys who are obviously in love with you, rather than with me.”

            What can I say to that? “I’m just happy being with you, Astor. And I’ll see you sooner than you think.”

Chapter
14

T
he next couple of weeks pass by in a blur. Aunt Sookie is pretty reluctant to take time off from her school, but she finally agrees to do it and concentrate on her recovery when my mother comes down to see her, taking her off on a trip to Palm Springs. Mom’s eager to see her, and she’s happy to see me again now I’ve been at Aunt Sookie’s place for a while. She greets me with a big hug, asking me how I’m getting along there.

            I find myself thinking of Astor, and of how well things are going with him. “I’m doing great, Mom. Just great.”

            I’m also
busy
. I told Aunt Sookie that I wouldn’t have any problems covering her classes at the school while she takes time off work, but that means I’m there a
lot
in the next couple of weeks. There’s a big difference between helping out with a class here and there, the way I was doing, and keeping up with the running of the school full time. Aunt Sookie had to be the first one there in the morning and the last one out of the school at night, which means that I have to do it while I’m filling in for her.

            It’s not so bad though. I actually enjoy teaching the classes, and not many people seem to have a problem with me doing it rather than my aunt. There’s one older guy who starts complaining before one of the classes, coming up to me and demanding to know why Sookie isn’t there, but I’m ready for that.

            “She’s had to take some time off,” I say.

            “And she thinks that it’s acceptable to leave some girl in charge here?”

            I shrug. “Yes, she does. Listen, how about this? Take the class as usual, and if you’re not satisfied, then you don’t have to pay for it or come to the next one.”

            “Well, that’s fair, I guess,” he says grudgingly.

            It’s actually a lot better than fair, but I leave that alone. I don’t know what Aunt Sookie will say if I actually have to give the guy a free lesson. It doesn’t work out like that though. I throw my all into a lesson on delivering monologues, with that idea of just taking the core of a character and saying it to the audience in that really authentic voice. By the end of it, the guy is ready to come up to me and pay all too willingly.

            “I’m sorry I ever doubted you could do this,” he says. “That was actually a very good lesson. Where did you learn to do that?”

            How do I explain that I got most of it from years of playing dress-up with my aunt? I don’t. So I just smile instead. “I guess it must run in the family.”

            The others are quick to help out with the school too, and they do pretty well. I guess that playing dress-up did a lot to help their acting skills too, and their confidence.  Sometimes, Drew comes in and helps people to work on parts with muscular enthusiasm and plenty of energy. Sometimes, Nat does it, and he’s more about careful preparation along with understanding the role on a deep level. Then there’s Rachel, who is still pretty preoccupied with Ryan, but she’s good at getting people to make different choices when it comes to seemingly obvious roles.

            I love working with all of them. With Rachel, it’s just having fun with my closest friend. With Drew and Nat… I have to admit, there are moments when that is harder. If we read through anything together, there’s always that sense of tension there, like they want to do far more than just act with me. I know how they feel, just as I know how
I
feel. About Astor.

            “How are things going with you and Astor?” Rachel asks me when I get back from my first weekend in North Carolina.

            I smile just thinking about him. “It’s so amazing being there with him, Rachel. We’re getting so close.  We talk about everything and anything. Sometimes we don’t even have to say anything, but hold hands, and it feels so right.”

            “Has he…” Rachel doesn’t finish that thought, but I know what she means.

            “He’s not putting any pressure on me,” I say. “Honestly, there have been a few moments when I’ve been tempted, but Astor has backed off.”

            “That doesn’t sound like most guys.”

            I shake my head. “Astor
isn’t
most guys.”

            I don’t even tell Rachel that there have been moments when I’ve been just a little worried, because I know how stupid it will sound. I
do
tell her about Lindsay New, the girl playing opposite him in the movie. She’s a vision of blue eyed, blonde haired loveliness, with the kind of body that comes when you have a personal trainer following you around all day. And of course, she’s very popular at the moment too.

            “I think I hate her already,” Rachel says.

            I smile. “I thought you were over the whole ‘pretty girls are mean’ thing.”

            “Oh, don’t tell me that she’s nice as well,” Rachel continues. “I don’t think I could handle that too.”

            I shrug. “I haven’t really seen enough of her to know. I mean, she’s said hi when Astor is with me, but it’s not like we’re friends.”

            “And Astor?” Rachel asks. “Are he and Lindsay friends?”

            It seems like she’s cut through to exactly the problem. Astor and Lindsay
are
friends. They’re close on set. I guess they have to be, since they’re playing lovers in a movie with plenty of romance, but it can be hard seeing them talking together casually about lines or scenes and knowing that in some of those scenes, Astor is going to kiss her. I know it’s just acting, but… well, it’s hard to think about that happening when I’m not there. I’m only around the set on weekends, after all. I guess I just have to trust Astor.

            Fourth of July comes around quickly, and we make plenty of preparations down at the beach house. Aunt Sookie is back from her trip with my mom, looking a lot better than she has been. She hugs me when she sees me and tells me what a great job I’ve been doing at her academy.

            “It’s been fun,” I say.

            She nods. “I’ll bet it has. I have to admit, I’m looking forward to taking at least a few classes again. Oh, don’t worry, I’m not going to do too much too fast, but I want to do
something
. I’m not good at sitting around.”

            I don’t point out that what with trips to Palm Springs and everything else she does, Aunt Sookie isn’t exactly sitting around. Instead, I just suggest that we could help get some food together for the barbeque we’re having on the beach. So we end up at the same market where Nat, Drew and I bought so much food when we first got there. We fill a big cart with stuff for the evening, making sure that we also grab plenty of healthier options. That’s one thing about Aunt Sookie’s illness. We’ve all become more aware of what the food around us is like.

            “How was Mrs. Donovan when you went to Palm Springs?” I ask Aunt Sookie while we shop for food.

            She shakes her head. “Nadine didn’t go.”

            “I thought you invited her down?”

            “We did, but she couldn’t make it, what with the divorce and everything. I guess…” Aunt Sookie shakes her head. “I guess it would have been nice if she could have made it, but she’s been pretty down, with everything that’s going on.”

            I guess she must be. It’s a terrible situation, and it isn’t good for Drew, Nat or Rachel either. They all seem pretty happy, and I guess it’s good that they have somewhere like Aunt Sookie’s place to go over the summer, but there are moments when I catch a glimpse of how hurt each of them is over the divorce and their father’s infidelity.

            It’s easier not to think about that right then though. We’re there to make sure that we have a great Fourth of July, and between us Aunt Sookie and I get all the food we’re going to need for a real feast out on the beach. When we get back to the beach house, the others seem to be in the same party mood. Nat is working to get the barbeque together, Drew has taken charge of some fireworks, and Rachel is helping to get the area for the barbeque ready, with a little help from Ryan. I can see some of the looks Nat and Drew give him for being there.  They still distrust him, although he seems to be a steady guy for Rachel, someone who she can lean on right now. Although he does not look the part, he seems like a great boyfriend right now for her. From the looks shared between Drew and Nat, I just hope that they can all keep from arguing. This is meant to be a happy occasion, after all.

            Actually, for the first half hour or so, it
is
a happy occasion. Drew and Nat seem more relaxed around one another than they have been for a while, Aunt Sookie is talking to Ryan and Rachel, and I find myself enjoying the food from the barbeque while some of the neighbors on the beach come around to join in the celebration. I go over to see if Aunt Sookie wants anything from the barbeque.

            Then her phone rings.

            “Yes? Phillip? Why are you… what about Nadine?” Aunt Sookie listens to the caller, who seems to be Mr. Donovan, for several seconds. From the way the color drains from her face, I know it isn’t good news.

            “What?” Rachel says. “Is there something wrong with Mom?”

            Aunt Sookie actually ignores her. That, even more than the rest of it, tells me how serious this is.

            “You’re sure?” she says. “No, I mean, it couldn’t have been an accident or something? No, of
course
I’m not saying that, it’s just that I never expected… No, well, we all know why that is, don’t we? Yes, you too. Goodbye, Phillip.”

            Aunt Sookie hangs up, looking furious for several seconds as she just stands there. Cautiously, almost tentatively, I reach out to touch her arm.

            “Aunt Sookie, what’s happened? What’s wrong?”

            She starts, as though only just remembering that I’m there. “I need to talk to you, Drew, Nat and Rachel, inside now.”

            “What is it?” Rachel asks. “Did something happen to Mom? I want to know!”

            “Rachel, I’ll tell you inside.”

            Rachel shakes her head. She looks utterly terrified, as though she can’t quite believe what is happening. “Tell me now. If something has happened to Mom, I have a right to know.”