Page 177 of Our Scorching Summer

“I don’t believe you.”

“No, really, it was fake because he shot himself in the foot before, so hisdadtook it away and gave him a taser.”

It should’ve been the first red flag, but I entertained another date. He did things with that prop I don’t want to recall.

“You’re a bestselling author because you have the best stories.”

A collection of giggles spreads between us. We work our way back to the heels we abandoned by the stone path leading up to the resort.

“Look,” I begin while reaching for my shoes, “all this stuff with Nico—”

“Even if nothing works out, though I knowyouknow something’s there, you don’t owe me an explanation. You’re my family.” Her hands give my shoulders a squeeze. “But now so is Nico. Maybe you can tell him about Chuck and where your heart is right now.”

“Yeah, there’s just a lot going on.”

“That’s true, but there’s always going to be a lot going on. This time, you don’t have to deal with it alone. We’re all here for you.”

As usual, she’s right.

Chapter37

Nico

The four ofus stand outside the resort, a car waiting to take Lily and me to the airport for our final destination this summer. The last place I’ll get to call her mine before our agreement expires.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving.” Avery wipes away the slew of tears brimming in her eyes despite the smile on her face.

“You have all that fucking to get back to,” I joke.

My brother backhands my head. Alright, well-deserved for being highly inappropriate, but the stories I heard while hiding under Lily’s bed when we arrived were enough to traumatize me for years to come.

I pull my sister-in-law into a hug. “I’ll get Lily back in one piece.”

“I know you will. Nico…” Avery hesitates. “Don’t give up on her. She needs some time.”

The kick of encouragement is not exactly unexpected, but still, I appreciate the gesture. If there’s anyone who knows Lily better than I do, it’s her best friend. Maybe there’s a chance she shared more than the truth about Zoe Mona with Avery, and that’s enough hope for me to cling to for the next few weeks. We unravel our hold and exchange a quick nod.

I won’t give up on her. Ever.

Luca pulls himself out of a half hug with Lily.

“Tianna, the intellectual property attorney, will send over some documents next week to start the litigation process. I’ll walk you through all the legal speak until you’re comfortable moving forward.” My brother gives her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “We’ll get this guy.”

“Thank you for all this.” Lily sighs, looking between my brother and Avery. “I know it’s—”

“Don’t even say it.” Avery yanks her best friend into one final hug. “You’re never a lot or too much.”

“Bro, I’ll see you back in New York.” I reach out my fist, expecting him to bump it. He stares at it as though I’ve presented him with a wad of trash.

“Come here.” Luca wraps his arms around me, clapping his palm between my shoulder blades. “Me equivoqué,” he whispers.

“What did you say?” I try to mask my excitement. Luca admitting he’s wrong is a once-in-a-millennium occurrence.

“You heard me.” His grip on me reaches a point of strangulation. “I’ve never seen you happier than you are with her.”

“What if she isn’t ready?”

Our driver honks. I glance down at my phone. Okay, we really should get going, or we’ll miss our flight.

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