Page 76 of Summer People
Sutton crosses her arms and grunts.
What the hell is that about?
“What’s the problem now?” Fisher asks in that no-nonsense tone of his. It’s kind of hot.
Okay, who am I kidding? It’s very hot.
“The squirrel is in my gutter again.”
He presses his tongue into his cheek, then sighs, his body deflating. “Okay, I’ll be over in a few.”
“Oh, thank you,” the caller gushes. “I’ve got lunch laid out. Why don’t you stay and eat? Let me show you my appreciation.”
Oh my god. This woman is shameless. The voice is a dead giveaway. I know exactly who’s hitting on my man.
“Thanks, but I’ve got the girls with me today, so I’ll just take care of the squirrel.”
“Oh, I’d love to spend time with little Sutton and Lindsey. I’ve got enough food for all of us.”
Without bothering to explain who the girls he mentioned are, he snatches the phone from my hand and hits End.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the woman on the other end doesn’t flinch at Fisher’s abruptness. From what I can tell, the people on the island have come to expect this type of behavior from him.
Besides, she’s probably still talking in that nasally tone, believing he’s there.
“What did she mean that the squirrel was in the gutteragain?” I ask.
Fisher shakes his head. “Damn squirrel keeps getting stuck in her gutter. It’s ridiculous.”
I nod. Can’t say it really surprises me, though. There’s a lot of ridiculousness going on here. A male goat named Betty, an old man who paints in the buff, a man who goes by the nickname Cank but whose name is really Bob. “Do you think she stuffs the poor thing in there?”
Sutton giggles from the back seat.
“And how would she do that?” Fisher doesn’t look at me, but there’s a smile there, I swear.
I curl my hand into a C shape and give my fake squirrel a shake. “Come here, little squirrelly,” I say, mimicking Flora’s nasally tone. “Don’t worry. You just gotta stay here”—I shove my hand forward like I’m stuffing the squirrel into the gutter—“for a little while so I can spend some time withFisher.” I drag out his name and really dig into that New England accent.
Behind me, Sutton’s giggles turn into full-on belly laughs.
Fisher comes to a stop in the road and squints at me. “And why would anyone do that?”
“For your attention.” I bat my eyes, hands clasped in my lap.
Scoffing, he rolls his eyes. “Would you do that for my attention?”
A smile plays at my lips as I lean closer. “I don’t need to. I’ve already got it, don’t I?”
He reaches across the console and slides his hand into mine. “Every bit of it, Princess. Every damn bit of it.”
I bite my lip and lean back against the seat, unable to look away from him.
“So are we still going with that spider story, or are you ready to admit you’re dating now?” Sutton says from the back.
Lips pressed into a line, I fight a smile while I wait for Fisher to take this question.
He points into the distance. “Oh look, a Puffin. And a reindeer. Oh and there’s Santa too.”
Sutton giggles again, the sound as light as ever.
