Page 40 of The Summer Ultimatum

Holding me for longer than necessary, Raven whispers, “I love you always.”

I have been a miserable son of a bitch since I walked away from Sloane. I haven’t slept. I can’t eat. I’m supposed to get up in front of thousands of people and sing tonight, and I could seriously care less.

As my dad would say, my give-a-fuck is broken, and I don’t know how to fix it. I can’t count how many times I’ve gone through every encounter I’ve had with Sloane. She’s always been focused on work and extremely driven—that’s never changed.

I knew from the start that I wanted more with Sloane. Hell, I’m the one who made those ridiculous ultimatums to keep finding ways to see her again. Was I just stupid and fell prey in her trap?

There’s a knock on my door, and knowing my parents have already left for work, I grumble to Emily, “Go away. I’m still not ready to talk.” She’s been trying to talk since the contest.

To my surprise, the door opens, and my breath catches in my throat. God, is she a sight for sore eyes. But I still can’t let her come in and get her way.

Jumping up from my bed, I rub the sleep from my eyes, hoping this isn’t a mirage. “Wh… What are you doing here?”

Punching her hands to her waist, she quirks a brow. “I should ask you the same thing, dumbass! Your sister let me in to knock some sense into you.”

Oh, shit. This is most definitely not Sloane. They may look alike, but that’s about where their twin similarities stop. As I take her in, she’s wearing ripped jeans, a cropped hoodie, and her hair is in a messy bun. This is nothing Sloane would wear when she’s due at work at any moment. “What are you doing here, Raven?”

“Oh, so you can tell us apart. Yay you,” she snarks. “Why the hell are you acting like a petulant child and ghosting my sister? You know as well as I do that this is literally the busiest week she’ll have all summer. She doesn’t have time for this shit, and frankly, neither do I.”

“Why do you even care? Or did Sloane not let you in on her act?”

For a moment, Raven’s jaw drops. “Act? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Oh, your sister can be very persuasive. I wonder how many others she’s used?”

“Jax. You are this close to crossing a line that I’m not sure you’ll recover from. Back up and start from the beginning.”

There’s something in her tone that makes me hesitate, and some of the steam I’ve been holding onto releases.

“Why exactly are you here, Raven? Why isn’t Sloane here herself?” I demand.

“For starters, she’s working. You know—that little competition you’re supposed to perform in later this afternoon? Well, my sister’s working her ass off and still has the time to worry about you.”

“But why areyouhere specifically? Does she need you to come and check on her little project?”

Raven blows the hair from her face, frustration evident as she fists her hands at her sides. “Jax, I am here to check on you because my sister is worried. She knows something is wrong, but since you won’t pick up the freaking phone and talk to her like an adult, she asked me to see for myself if you’re okay.”

“Well, as you can clearly see, I’m not. I haven’t talked to Sloane because it hurts too fucking much to even think about her. I fell for her act hook, line, and sinker. She’s all I can think about. When Tara told her to keep using all her persuasive tactics to get more acts, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had to leave. She used me, just like she used the guys in Edgewater. Trent was so proud thatourgirlgot us to the next level in this competition any way she could. What a fool I’d been to think I was the only one for her.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, she narrows her eyes.

“Jax, you’re not making any sense. Sloane didn’t use you—or the guys from Edgewater. I’m not sure why Trent would taunt you like that but trust me—my sister only has eyes for your dumb ass.” Shaking her head, she mumbles, “Though I’m beginning to wonder why.”

“Are you sure about that?” I counter. “You really think I’m the only guy Sloane’s interested in?”

“Dude, I’ve never seen her more in love with anyone in my life. I do have to question her judgement though if you’re gonna act like a complete prick now that you’re getting the success she’s helped you achieve.”

I take a moment to process her words. “Wait… are you saying there isn’t anyone else for Sloane?”

“Jax—” She hesitates as if she’s choosing her words carefully. “You’ve got to be the dumbest man on this planet if you think my sister is involved with anyone else. She doesn’t date musicians, but for some reason, she took a chance on you—please don’t prove her theory about them right.”

Replaying the scene from the contest in my mind, I realize I might have gotten it wrong. “I’m so confused,” I admit, running my fists through my hair.

“So am I. Why don’t you finally back up and tell me what happened?”

Each of us sits on the edge of my bed, and slowly, I go step by step through each thing that happened from the moment my name was called as part of the top five. I explain Trent’s comments, which rubbed me the wrong way, as well as what Tara had said. By the time I’m done, I see that many of the statements could’ve been interpreted in multiple ways.

“Oh my God, I’ve been such a fool,” I admit when I finally see the night for what it was.

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