Page 97 of Rebel Bride
Rosie looked at her sister indulgently. “All those hurdles definitely make it worth the effort, I’d say.”
I considered that. I hoped that one day I would look fondly at the hurdles I overcame to get Summer.
Because I was prepared to knock every single one of them flat to win this woman as my own.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Summer
* * *
In the kitchen, I was contemplating the bombsite Rosie had left in the wake of her meal prep. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the results, but I was a big fan of cleaning-as-you-go. This was not it.
Hatch walked in, closing the door behind him. He looked so handsome that I turned away, tired of being blinded by his beauty. I had never thought it would be so hard to sit across from someone. All I wanted was to eat my tacos in peace.
“You okay?”
“Of course I am.” My body’s reaction to him put me on the defensive, and my next words sounded prim. “Can I help you?”
“Volunteering for clean-up.” He gave me a cheeky salute.
“I’ll rinse and you load the dishwasher,” I commanded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
A few moments passed in silence while I sought neutral ground. “Franky’s quite the character, isn’t she?”
He grinned. “She is. She was a steady fixture in my life when I was a kid because I hung out with Rosie a lot. She used to babysit me and Addy and show us snails in our backyard.”
“That’s cool.” At his casual mention of Rosie, I thought back to their interactions tonight. They had been chatting together in the kitchen during food prep, and their dynamic was easy throughout dinner. No sign of a crush on either side, but was that definitive? I could bring it up with Hatch, but what if Adeline was right and he was truly clueless? I wouldn’t want to embarrass Rosie.
All the more reason why I should stay out of his gravity-sucking orbit.
He moved closer. “I’m sorry that people keep bringing up Carter. You probably want to just forget about it.”
“It’s not so bad. Everyone has an interesting take, most of which paint him in a poor light, which I’m strangely enjoying now that he’s shown his true colors. I don’t think I understood how much people disliked him, and how isolated my life was as a result.” I paused a moment to gather my thoughts. “When I needed bridesmaids, I realized I barely knew anyone, even after four years working for the Rebels. But I’d always liked Rosie, and she was happy to help. Picking at least one person in my wedding party felt like a small thing I could control. I know that sounds pathetic.”
“No, not at all. Rosie and Addy are great people to have in your corner. And other people want to be your friend. You’re not alone, Summer.”
I peered up at him, feeling an earth shock of emotion with those words. He had a knack for getting to the heart of the matter, and right now I felt vulnerable to anyone who showed me a drop of kindness.
“Thank you.”
“For?” He raised a cheeky eyebrow.
“Not for that.” Would I ever stop thinking of orgasms in his presence? “Okay, yes, for that. But mostly, for being there for me.”
He stroked my cheek, and I felt myself melting into him. Again.
“I will always be here for you.”
On the door opening, we jerked apart. In walked Franky. She pushed back her glasses, as if needing to get a better look, but made no comment as she opened the fridge and refilled her glass from the Brita filter.
Threading his arms over his chest, Hatch leaned against the counter. “What’s going on with you and Jason?”
Franky paused mid-sip, lowered her glass, and instead of answering, cleared her throat noisily.
Hatch cocked his head. “And that means?”
