Page 68 of Wish You Were Mine

Maybe you should, I tried to communicate with my eyes, but she either didn’t pick up on the unspoken message or she willfully ignored it.

“What’s been going on with you lately?” I asked Frannie, purposefully diverting the conversation. “We didn’t get a chance to talk much earlier.”

She shrugged. “Same as usual. I’ve just been taking care of Marcy and trying to snatch sleep where I can.” She shook her head. “I’m obviously not getting enough of it though, because I keep misplacing things this week, and I could have sworn I heard Dean outside while I was making breakfast this morning, but when I checked, he was still in bed.”

My gut twisted. I knew how hard it was to function when you weren’t sleeping well. “If you ever need me to babysit for a night or two, just let me know. I’m happy to watch Marcy so you guys can have some time to yourselves and get a good night’s sleep.”

Frannie smiled tiredly. “Thanks, Ash. I don’t think we’re quite ready to be away from her yet, but maybe I’ll take you up on that in a month or two.”

“Whenever you need is fine with me.”

A guitar strummed behind us, and I sat back and turned away from Frannie and Ashley. Blair had brought out his guitar, which he’d lugged all the way up here—although God only knew why—and his fingers deftly played the strings, striking up a lighthearted tune.

I offered Summer a sandwich, but she shook her head, and began to sing instead. I closed my eyes, letting her voice wrap around me, but then forced them open again. Much as I loved reveling in the sensuality of her singing, I wanted to watch her too.

Her lips curved upward, and she radiated a type of carefree joy that I didn’t often see from her. She sang an upbeat Six60 song about roots and family, and when she reached the chorus, the other Braddocks joined in.

She swayed with the music and grinned at Blair, who smiled back, his shaggy hair flopping over his forehead. For once, I wasn’t eaten up by jealousy because of their interaction. Somehow, in my gut, I knew that Summer was mine. I had nothing to worry about when it came to him.

“She’s very talented,” Ashley murmured, loud enough for only Frannie and I to hear.

Frannie tapped her foot to the beat. “She always has been.”

Ashley sent me another knowing look, and then stalked away, back to whichever group she’d arrived with.

Summer and Blair finished their song to enthusiastic applause. Summer gave a little bow and Blair called for requests. Someone yelled out the name of another Six60 song, and he started to play.

I shook my head, amused. He must have done some research between now and last time he’d visited. He hadn’t known any of the iconic kiwi band’s songs then. I passed around the chocolate and sandwiches, making sure to keep some aside for Summer, along with her muffin.

After a few songs, Summer stopped singing and gratefully accepted a sandwich. She ate while Blair played, and before long, we were one of the last groups remaining by the lake.

When Blair packed away his guitar, I decided I’d better do the same with my gear and began to wrap the food and pack it away. The others followed suit. Toby had left earlier with a group of guys his age, and Nate was dozing on the blanket with Tess sitting cross-legged beside him, reading.

Liam nudged Nate’s shoulder to wake him and he blinked sleepily and sat up.

“Time to go?” he asked.

“Pretty much,” Liam replied.

Groggily, he sat up and stretched, then got to his feet and stepped off the blanket. I shook off the loose tussock and mud from the blanket and folded it away. Once my bag was packed, I slipped my arms through the straps and waited for Max and Dean to lead the group down the hill.

I waited to take up the rear, where I knew Summer would be, so she didn’t strain her sore ankle. Hopefully she hadn’t overdone it today. By unspoken agreement, we paused until the rest of the group was far enough ahead that we could speak in private before we trailed after them.

“What was that about with Ashley?” Summer asked.

I grimaced. “She wants to meet up tomorrow.”

She pursed her lips and gave me the evil eye. “And you said…?”

“I agreed.”

“Ash—”

“Wait,” I interrupted. “I agreed because she seems suspicious of you and me, and I didn’t want her to say anything about it. I made sure she knows that tomorrow isn’t a date.”

She scowled. “I don’t like it.”

Honestly, neither did I.

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