Page 31 of My Summer Girl

Back to One – Brian McKnight

“I quit.”

My two words an hour later stun Paloma speechless when I walk into her office at the Love Hub. Her mouth drops open, but it’s more than in shock. It’s almost comical. I didn’t think I would lead with this. I actually mentally planned to coax her into it, like give her sweets and call her pretty. Lessen the blow a little. Unfortunately, that isn’t how the words came spilling out.

“You quit?” Paloma repeats slowly, staring at me like I’ve grown ten heads and arms to follow. Her quirked eyebrow would be hilarious, if not for the fear that lances through me.

This is unprecedented. Cupids don’t quit. I’ve never done this before—chosen myself. I’m not used to having that look directed at me. Usually, it was one of my siblings. More than likely Xó or Val. They’re the sporadic ones. They don’t habitually follow rules like me.

I’m the rule follower.

The one who gets gold stars and awards.

Right now, the disappointment on Loma’s face tells me that’s not how she feels. Her lips purse as if to argue my decision to quit, but something there also doesn’t want to poke at me. Like by disagreeing, it’ll somehow make me quit twice.

That’s not how it works.

After all, I’m an Amor. The longest living lineage of Cupids. We’re the creators of love. Our name means love in our mother tongue. Unfortunately, that also means that I get in far more trouble for the simplest things. We’re held to a gold standard, a pedestal to match our ancestry.

It’s unfair.

It also didn’t help that Di got herself and I the reputation of evil twins. They called us menaces, because all we do is cause mayhem within the human realm. It frustrated me to no end to only be Di’s sister. I’m more than that. Not just the other piece of my sister, but me. Someone who has wants and desires that are often overlooked.

“Just for the summer,” I quickly add, wanting something to come back to. It’s not forever, right? “I want to live life, even for just a few months.”

She scrunches her face and nods animatedly. Like she’s saying, uh huh, sure. “Just for the summer?”

“Yes, the entire summer,” I confirm, holding my ground while ignoring the expression she offers me. Her eyes roam down my body, almost like she is memorizing this moment, like it’s pivotal somehow, historic or something.

“Okay.”

The single word shocks me. It isn’t a reprimand or an angry, hostile response. Cupids don’t quit. Hades, I was never hired. We just grew up and all became what we are.

“I can do that?” The words tumble out of me in exasperation. We are taught from the littlest ages that our only duty is to others. Humans and monsters alike.

Finding their love.

Giving them their happiness.

Offering them what we’ll never experience.

“I don’t see why not,” she mutters with annoyance and an eye roll. What is happening?

“Please make this make sense,” I prod. “We aren’t even hired. How the hell am I allowed to just walk away?”

“Are you trying to convince me to let you go or are you arguing because you want to stay? I’m extremely confused right now.”

“I—” I pause, folding my arms over my chest. “I don’t know! I want to not be a Cupid for a while.”

“Okay.”

That stupid word again. Why is she not arguing? Where’s the anger and disappointment? She derisively laughs as if she can hear my mental voice. “To answer your question from before, yes, I accept your termination. Secondly, you’re not the first person to ever walk away from this life—”

“Excuse me?” I recoil, thinking of how I’ve never once heard of someone leaving. Her eyes connect with mine, annoyance and heated fury beneath the glow of her irises.

“Stop interrupting like a child, Dulce.” I bite my tongue and nod at her, waiting for the heat to simmer in her expression. “As I was saying. You’re not the first, you won’t be the last, and you’ll be back.”

My heart tells me she’s wrong.

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