Page 46 of Summer's Echo
Me:Ok. I’ll bring your car in about an hour. That cool?
Sun:Yeah. Thanks, E.
Me:Anytime. You need anything?
Sun:No. See you later.
I walked into what I thought was an empty house, until Sadie bounced out of the kitchen, a bowl of popcorn in her hands.
“Hey, brother,” she greeted, all smiles until she caught sight of my expression. Her face dropped. “What’s wrong?”
I moved toward her slowly, reaching into the bowl for a handful of popcorn. “Summer,” I muttered before heading to the kitchen.
Sadie let out an exaggerated sigh. “Get over it, brother. She’s married now.”
Leaning on the kitchen island, I dragged a hand down my face. “But she’s not.”
Sadie paused mid-chew, staring at me like I’d lost my damn mind. I didn’t even give her time to voice the obvious question written all over her face.
“Summer called off her wedding,” I said, nodding as I lifted a brow, mirroring her shock. “Before I even got to the church, Brooke called me. Summer never showed up to her hair appointment. She wasn’t at her condo. Wasn’t answering calls.”
Sadie’s eyes widened. “Wow.” She dragged out the word, her mouth falling open in exaggerated shock. “I bet Ms. Teresa was losing her mind.”
I nodded. “Low-key…I was too. I just didn’t think she’d do something like that. There had to be something wrong.” I exhaled, remembering the weight in my chest, the gnawing feeling that something bigger was happening. “But then I asked myself: Where would she go to clear her head?”
At the same time, Sadie and I said, “Quest.” I nodded.
“You went to get her,” she said, more a statement than a question.
I nodded. “I was the only one who could.” My voice was quieter now, the memories of last night and this morning replaying in my mind.
Sadie’s hands shot up, motioning for me to hurry up and reveal the rest of the story. “And? What happened?”
“And…I brought her here,” I said, shrugging. “Since the house was empty, it was the best place for her to continue to hide. I called her parents. I assume they called him. And I just…” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Took care of her.”
Sadie’s brows lifted with suspicion, then she squinted. “Echo Honor Abara…” she started slowly. I already knew where this was going. “Y’all didn’t have pity sex, did you?”
I coughed, nearly choking on the popcorn. “No, girl! But damn, I wanted to.” I shook my head, exhaling as the taste of Summer’s kiss, soft and warm, and sweet as sin simmered on my lips. “But I told her.”
“Told her what? The condensed version or—”
“I told her everything,” I cut in before she could finish. “That I love her. That seeing her a few months ago sealed it for me. That she’s it for me. The only one.” I dropped my head, forehead resting on my arms, the quiet tension of it all pressing down. “I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore, Didi.”
“Yes, you do,” she said without hesitation. I lifted my head just enough to see her determined expression. “You’ve spent so many years convincing yourself that the two of you were just an unfinished chapter that would never be complete.” She leaned forward. “But now you have a chance to finish the book.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “That was corny as hell.”
Sadie smirked, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth. “Yeah, but you felt that, though.”
I laughed, but my thoughts were a tangled web of hope and the ache of impending heartbreak. “What if we mess up again? What if we’re just not meant to be…holding on to a past we can’t change?”
Sadie didn’t rush to answer. She let me sit in the mess of my own doubt. Then, she said, “Then at least you finally tried.” I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my jaw as my thoughts raced. “Look, you’ve loved that girl since you were kids. And yeah, maybe timing was never on your side. Maybe people got in the way. But now? The only thing standing between you and Summer…isyouandSummer.”
I let her words sink in, the truth of them settling somewhere deep. Shaking my head, I kissed her temple. “When did you grow up on me?”
She smirked. “According to Mum? I’ve always been grown.” We both chuckled, but her eyes turned serious again. “But, for real, Echo…love isn’t easy. It takes work, it takes risk. But deciding if she’s worth it? That part shouldn’t be hard.”
I sighed, the pressure in my chest shifting, lighter now. “I love you, Didi. And thank you.” I lifted a fist. She bumped it, then licked her tongue out at me.
