Page 71 of Our Scorching Summer

I’ll only look at the first page and give myself a reminder of the rules we made. Especially if I’m going to try and convince her to stay. She’ll appreciate me making some effort to be more disciplined.

Besides, we wrote these rules together, and I won’t read anything else.

RULES.

The black ink title stares back at me when I open the cover.

I turn to the next page, ignoring the voice in my head screaming,Stop snooping. The page is empty. Disappointment floods over me.

What was I expecting? A to-do list with my name scribbled on the page? Maybe a to-ignore-for-the-rest-of-eternity list with Nico written out in bold letters?

I need to fix this.

“Are you going to help me or not, dude?” I interrupt my brother’s ongoing tirade. He didn’t even notice I was ignoring him.

“Fine,” he sighs. “But not for you. For my wife. She said her best friend seems happier and could use some time off, so I’m only looking out for Lily’s best interests.”

“Only for Lily’s best interests. Got it,” I assure him. “I don’t know how to go about saying I’m sorry.”

“You haven’t said you’re sorry for abandoning her?”

“I said sorry. I don’t know how to apologize any better than that.” I’m so painfully and uncomfortably exposed, having to ask my brother for advice on talking to a woman. My workaholic brother, who, prior to Avery, maybe had three dates total in his life.

“You need to explain to Lily why you’re sorry and how you’ll prevent a situation like this from happening again. And, Nico, it can’t happen again.”

“I know. I know.” I glance over at the closed bathroom door. “I’ll get better at using my phone and keeping her updated. I’ll even set more alarms to remind me of things, and I won’t let anything else take priority while she’s here.”

“A start.” There’s a collection of whispers on the line until my brother’s voice returns. “Ave thinks if you want Lily to stay for the rest of the summer, you’re going to need to put together a plan. No more booking flights a day before you leave and hoping for the best.”

Right. Okay. Maybe I can.

“How do I know what to plan? What if she doesn’t like it?”

“Then you sit her down and ask her what she wants to do. You can make a plan together and execute it.” My brother turns on his CEO tone, but perhaps he’s onto something.

“I can try.”

“Don’t try, Nico.Do. No one enjoys feeling like their friends don’t listen to them or care about what’s important to them.”

“You’ve become such a softie. Has anyone told you?”

Luca doesn’t laugh at my teasing. “Don’t fuck this up and don’t hurt Lily.”

“I’ll try not to. Thanks, bro.”

Fuck. I pull a shot of air through my teeth, stretching my arms over my head.

I’m not screwing this up.

My fingers scoop up one of the pens on Lily’s desk, and I check if the bathroom door is still closed.

All clear.

I click the pen open and scribble out an apology on a clean page in her journal.

I’m sorry for leaving you, princesa, I promise it’ll never happen again.

A puddle of warmth flushes over my body as I sketch a little drawing of my face next to hers.

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