Page 7 of No Summer Hotter than You

She let out a long groan. “Being on these apps makes me hate men even more.”

“Why do you think I haven’t bothered dating at all after Pierre?” I asked.

“Well, shit. I wouldn’t date anyone either if I had the chance to date a hot French man that knew how to move his hips,” Jackie mumbled. “Be honest. Do you miss him?”

I shook my head at the mention of my three-month fling from almost two years ago. Pierre was a sexy French man who was visiting his brother, who married an American and lived here in Sunset Valley. He was here for three months, and we agreed it would be all passion and nothing serious.

“No, of course not.”

“Then why aren’t you dating?” Jackie questioned. “It’s been at least two years since him, right?”

I noticed immediately how Alicia straightened her back. She and Jackie shared the same look of curiosity, and I didn’t even know why. We had all been friends since middle school, so we were never shy to call each other out on the nonsense we put ourselves through or when we deviate from our goals and dreams.

Or, at times, have a serious intervention when one of us was too invested in a relationship with a boy or girl never worthy of our attention. We’ve been through thick and thin together all through the years. But tonight wasn’t supposed to be an intervention.

I thought I was here for a fancy dinner to catch up with them since we hadn’t seen each other since March. But it was all slowly starting to feel like an interrogation about my love life. Or, more specifically, the lack of it.

“Look, I’m just not interested right now. I’m busy with work, as always. Anthony and I are now considering buying our next property together fix it and then sell it or rent it out,” I explained before taking a bite of my steak.

“Speaking about him, what’s this whole thing with you and Anthony?” Alicia asked, trying to be as casual as she could.

As I choked on the piece of steak in my mouth, I caught the quick glance Jackie threw at Alicia. They clearly planned to take the conversation this direction and I took the bait without realizing it. With a face as red as my wine, I coughed lightly as I sipped on my glass of alcohol to wash down my food.

“What are you insinuating?” I asked.

Jackie and Alicia shrugged as they sipped their wine.

“Well, it’s just . . . I don’t know. You and Anthony seemed to be much closer this past year,” Alicia said with a big smile.

“Ever since you bought that duplex together, you two have been joined at the hips,” Jackie chimed in. Her tone was slow, as if she was trying not to say the wrong words. “The way the two of you are around each other lately is . . .”

“Making us wonder if you two may be secretly together, Shoua. So, are you and Anthony in a romantic relationship?” Alicia finally asked.

I blinked. “What? No!”

“What do you mean ‘no’? You clearly have feelings for him!” Jackie said, and my cheeks blazed hot red.

My two friends gaped at my reaction.

“Oh my god! You are in love with him! Ever since when?” Alicia said, squealing.

Love? I’m not in love with Anthony. However, I couldn’t deny how I have a crush on him. I like my friend, but this wouldn’t be how I’d behave if I was in love with him. I would be as crazy as I was with my ex-boyfriend, who I thought I was going to marry, and would’ve told him right away about my feelings.

But this wasn’t how I was with Anthony. I didn’t want to tell him. Not one bit.

I let out a breath as my stomach fluttered at the thought of when it all may have started. I guess it was when he came to the scene of my car accident. Anthony was the only person I had ever allowed myself to cry in front of. No one else, not even Julie, who’s my closest cousin and is practically a younger sister to me, has ever seen me cry.

I hated crying. I hated the way my eyes prickled hotly whenever tears are about to escape the dam. I hate looking vulnerable, like I’m using my emotions to manipulate others to pity me.

Anthony was the first person I had ever shown my tears when he rushed to where I was after my car accident. He never made a comment about it either. Instead, he just let me cry into his chest and held me like I was the most precious thing to ever exist. It was in his arms where I felt the safest to let it go and cry to my heart’s content. With him, I didn’t have to cry alone and in secrecy.

“I bet it was ever since that car accident last year,” Jackie said, smiling softly.

My friends let out squeals of excitement as they dramatically hugged one another.

“Girls, I’m not in love with Anthony. He’s the person who’s been there for me through the best and worst moments of my life. I’ve known him the longest out of all my friends. We have a deep connection, but it doesn’t mean I’m actually in love with him,” I clarified, firmly. I took another sip of my wine for liquid courage.

That’s what this is. It’s all just a crush.

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