Page 65 of Winter Glam in Amsterdam

"I didn't do shit," I press out after finally finding my voice again and resume my pacing. "I'm sorry, but you falling in love with me is not an excuse to disregard my feelings or what I'm saying. Becauseyourfeelings are not more important thanmine.And if I ask you to leave me alone, this is not up for negotiation based on your feelings."

"But, Summer—"

"Nobut," I quickly interrupt him. "I got all my hopes up, thought there was finally something I was doing right. That my life could finally go in the right direction, that I could get this job all on my own and start to fuckinglivemy life. And then it turns out it was all just a sham."

I swallow past the stinging emotion in my throat.

“I’m not sure what Luca’s role is in this, but he really should have known better.”

“If it helps, he said it wasn’t a good idea.”

"No. It doesn’t.” All the fight suddenly drains out of me, and I sit down on my bed. “I can't deal with this. So I will say it one more time. Leave me alone, Tanner. Because right now, all you've done is hurt me, and I'm not exactly looking for a round three."

"I'm sorry, Summer, I never intended—”

"Well, your intention doesn't change the result now, does it? Just like it didn’t the first time."

A dry laugh bubbles out of me.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions and all that. And right now, you're making everything worse. So please, just stop, Tanner. Because each time you're meddling, each time one of your fucking bouquets appears in front of my door, it's ramming another knife into my chest. And I've got enough going on as itis. Thank you for Amsterdam. I truly mean it. But please… just leave me alone."

And with that, I hang up without waiting for his answer, ignoring the phone buzzing as I tear my door open to Luca’s confused face.

"Is everything okay?"

"No." I shoot him a glare. "Why the fuck are you encouraging Tanner?"

He opens his mouth to reply, but I quickly interrupt.

"No, you know what? I don’t want to know. I can’t believe you told me you wouldn’t meddle and now, turns out you’ve done plenty of that for your buddy, but won’t for me."

I try to storm past him, but he quickly grabs my wrist and pulls me to a stop.

"Fucking stop it, Summer." I freeze as his voice booms through the hallway. Thank God Mom and Dad are in the garden.

"I'm not going to continue to let you steamroll all of us without even hearing the other side."

"Well, I heard enough already." I try to wriggle out of his grasp, but he only tightens his hold.

"Well, that’s too damn bad, Summer. Because spoiler alert—I’ve also heard enough of your constant whining and woe is me. I’m not going to let you continue to complain about the job market and the rigged system and whatnot as long as you're not changing anything about it.”

“What do you think I’ve been trying to do for the past year, Luca?” I ask, but he talks over me.

“Is the whole thing rigged against you? Maybe. But so many of us have offered you a way out. But you’re so damn stubborn and determined to make it even though youknowhow low your chances are, you seem like you’re continuously running against the same glass front.

“All Tanner did was tell his friend tolookfor your application in the stack of thousands they probably received. If they invited you for an interview, that’syourskills. If they liked you after the interview, that’syourskills. And I’m not going to let you give my friend shit for creating a chance for you."

"Luca, let go of me."

But he’s not done. “I didn’t know you to be such a spoiled brat, but apparently, you do need a reality check once in a while."

I freeze. Did he really just say that?

“Wow. That’s low, Luca.” I pull my hand out of his grasp and shock washes over his face when his own words settle. “Be happyyou are where you are. Not all of us are that lucky,” is all I mutter before I storm outside, hearing him curse under his breath as I leave.

Annoyance washes over me when I hear a knock on my door later at night. I swear to God, if this is another of these fucking bouquets, I’ll make a bonfire of them. The living room is full of flowers already, a cards soaking in the middle of them because I never bothered to take them out. I didn't quite have it in my heart to throw one of those beautiful flowers away yet, but looking at them manages to fill me with a deep-seated rage.

Maybe a bonfire wouldn’t be the worst idea I had today.

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