Falling for Summer (7 page)

I pick up right when Patterson hangs up, and call him back. “Thanks, Rick, good work.”

“We’ll drill down to exact location, too,” he says. “And once we have the identity, we’ll see who she’s working for or if she has anything or any connection to that school.”

“What happens after that?” I ask. “Do you think this woman is the one writing Summer those letters and posting those nasty rumors about her?”

“We’ll find out,” Rick said. “It can also be a ring, which is possible, so we’ll see.”

“Good, because I’ve never seen Summer act so off. This is really bothering her, and it’s not like her at all to let things get to her. Anything you can do will help. Thank you, Rick.”

“It’s what we do,” Rick says. “We’ll bring in Timothy’s team, too. I’ll let you know when we have more information.”

“Good. I’ll see you in the office in about a week or two. I’m off for Winter Break, and I’m going to be at Summer’s so I can make sure she’s alright.”

Rick chuckles, “That’s one way to win the heart of a girl. She’s special, isn’t she?”

“It’s not what she does, it’s not anything that stands out, but everything all together that makes Summer special. Yes, she’s special,” I say. “She must be to mean so much to all of us Donovans.”

Chapter
7

Summer

I
am getting ready in my room to go out with Drew for my birthday dinner. I know Nate said to wait for him, but it is already 8 pm and Drew is starving. I put on a slinky off-the-shoulder gold lace dress that shows off my shoulders, which are tanned from hours playing volleyball at the beach. The dress flows well, highlighting my height and curves, while ending a little mid-thigh so it elongates my legs. I left my hair down in cascading waves that softly frames my face. I’m an athlete, but I also like dressing as feminine as the next girl. I know I have curves because I have muscle tone, so I want to emphasize them. Aunt Sookie was starting to live a healthier lifestyle before she died, but years of stress and not eating right, lack of sleep and her condition combined into a deadly condition. It scared me into exercising more to gain more muscles over fat. I know that I have a chance of getting what Aunt Sookie had because of genetics, so I’m making an effort to keep fit, which has its curve-making benefits.

There’s a gentle knock on the door as I’m putting on a pair of delicate gold chandelier earrings. The tiny emeralds in them makes my eyes look brighter. I guess that’ll help since I haven’t slept much in the last past weeks, and I probably have dark shadows under my eyes. Maybe no one will notice, with everything else going on.

“What is it?” I ask, knowing that it’s Drew on the other side of the door.

“I just heard from Nat,” Drew says walking in. He stops for a moment and just stares at me, his eyes going from my face to my legs, my breasts, and then to my face again. “You look…amazing,” he says.

“And so do you!” I smile, taking him all in. He does, too wearing black jeans that hugs his muscular legs to the black silk button down shirt that shows off his muscular biceps, defined chest and narrow waist. His jet black hair is combed, but it’s slightly messy enough to show he hasn’t put much thought into his looks. I look at his face, and his blue eyes meet mine. It’s friendly at first but quickly grows darker with an expression that makes my face heat up. Goodness, he is hot.

I’ve known Drew for practically all my life, and we’ve been close friends, that finding him as hot as he is, again, throws me off.

The air around me shoot up a good ten degrees, and I can feel my face flush. I reach up and pull the hair on my right side behind my shoulders and start fanning myself with my hands. “I didn’t think it’d get this warm in Winter,” I say.

“Me either,” Drew tells me, taking a step forward, his eyes never leaving mine.

“It’s probably cooler now that it’s so late,” I say. “Do you know when Nat will be here? I mean, it’s almost too far-fetch to think that he can make it here at all, but he did say he will.”

“He called when you were in the showers and said he’ll be late,” Drew says. “Probably around 10 or so. He’s at the office, getting some stuff done before he takes off for here. He’s really sorry, but he’ll make up the birthday dinner to you some other time.”

“Oh,” I manage to say. Not that I really expected Nat to be able to get here that quickly. He was here just this morning, then he flew back for his exams, and now he’s flying back here for the weekend. That’s a lot of flying, but then again, Nat is capable of that. He’s capable of many things, and he’s good at many things. I’ve always believed that about him. That’s probably why when he has something like this happen, I can’t help being disappointed a bit.

But it’s Astor whom I’m most disappointed about not showing for my birthday. “I’m so sorry,” Astor said this morning when he called me. “They’re reshooting this scene, and because the schedule is so tight with the reshoots, I can’t get away from it. I’ll try to get away if I can, but Summer,” he says after inhaling. “I love you. Please don’t forget that whenever you hear or see a rumor in TMZ about me or us. Just know, it’s a way to build buzz for this film, and they’re going to say some things that are controversial, but not true. Controversy builds buzz so they’re use it.”

“You know me, Astor,” I say. “I don’t believe in rumors. I know a little about that when Aunt Sookie encountered some after her first film.”

“So you’ll understand if I can’t make it tonight to be with you on your birthday?” His voice is soft, urgent, and even a little pleading.

He wants me to say “yes”, and I do, but deep down, I’m feeling abandoned, as though he could’ve at least try to make it here. I know I’m not being rational, but I can’t help it. It’s the one day since Aunt Sookie’s death that I feel completely alone, the awful feeling of missing someone who won’t be back, won’t be walking through that door that you’ve seen them walk through countless times throughout the years, and won’t be there to sing you “happy birthday” imitating different characters’ voices like Daffy Duck or Kermit the Frog. I wouldn’t be so disappointed in Astor not being able to make it to see me on my birthday, if it wasn’t because I’m missing Aunt Sookie so much right now. Growing up, she always made a big deal about our birthdays. “Birthdays are like Christmas, only you get to blow out candles on top of a cake,” Aunt Sookie once told Drew, Rachel, and I.

Now that I’m turning eighteen, this birthday meant more to me than the ones before it. I probably looked as disappointed and sad as I feel because Drew catches my look, and starts towards me.

“Hey, cheer up,” Drew says, coming over to me and touching my shoulder with his hand. “Nat’ll be here. He always follow through, but in the meantime, it’s your birthday, and I’m here. You’re here. Let’s go out and celebrate.”

“Okay, sure,” I say. “I’m getting pretty hungry. How about you?”

Drew gives me this dark look that isn’t so friendly anymore, and he answers gruffly. “Very.”

“I wish we can wait for Nat. I mean maybe we can, but…”

Drew puts both hands on my shoulders then and his face comes up close to mine. “Don’t deny a starving man what he wants,” he says seriously, but with a smile at the edge. “If you deny him long enough, when the time comes, and he’s really hungry, he’ll pounce like a lion and he won’t let go.” His lips are so close to mine, if I move, my lips would be brushing against his.

Drew remains like this as his eyelids close halfway, masking his eyes in mystery. He’s very sexy this way, and I can feel how close he is to me. Every inch of my nerve endings is screaming out for him to touch me.

I swallow and take a nervous breath.

“Do you want to skip dinner?” Drew whispers, his hot breath sending thrills down the pores of my skin.

“What do you want to eat instead?” I ask.

Drew’s lips curl into a small smile. “Dessert.”

“Drew…” I begin, trying to stop what seems inevitable from happening.

His hands reach up and cups my face. “You’re not with Astor anymore, are you?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “We’ve cooled it off a bit, though. Aunt Sookie was right…it’s more complicated when you’re dating someone like Astor.”

“Aunt Sookie said that?” Drew’s face is incredulous.

“Not in those words, but she gave me some advice through a letter to me about stuff like that shortly after she passed.”

“What did she say about me?” Drew teases.

“I smile coyly. “That you are like a son to her, and she thinks you have so much potential.”

Drew is silent after I say that. When he speaks a few seconds later, he takes a deep breath and then blows out some air. “I miss her…Aunt Sookie. I’m this cocky confident guy today because of her.” He stops and taps his eyes. “Wow, I really miss her. I just…” Tears form in his eyes, and I realize he hasn’t talked to anyone about this before, that he hasn’t really grieved.

“Drew,” I said gently, moving in to hug him. “It’s alright to cry. I miss her too.”

“I know, Summer,” Drew says. “I did cry right after she passed. I cried for days, but only when no one was looking.” He wipes his eyes with his sleeves. “It’s not the thing football players do…cry.”

“Forget that stereotype,” I say. “Just forget what role you’re playing and be yourself. That’s the Drew I love.”

Drew’s face lights up then, and he pulls me to him. “Hear you say that just made everything better. And it seems you and Astor aren’t really together anymore so you’re now a free agent…which means I can do this,” he pulls my face in and soon his lips are over mine, soft and gentle at first, then more hungrily.

I’m kissing him back, grabbing his back with my hands, trying to get closer to him. It’s like I’ve been waiting to do this for what seems like forever, but now when it’s happening, it’s even better than I imagined.

Drew tilts my head back, and he’s kissing down my neck to the top of my breast, and I hear a deep moan escape my throat. “Drew…I can’t.”

“Why not?” Drew asks. “You know you want me to be the bad boy.” His fingers are slowly trailing my arms and reaching behind my neck to unclasp the button holding the top of my dress in place. “How about I give you a little taste of what other girls see in me. Not the Drew you grew up with, whom you push aside for Nat, but the one you first met this summer?” He pushes down the top of my dress, and kiss my bare breast.

“Like how this feels?” he asks.

“Yeeesss,” I nearly snarl.

“Then hold on while I get more comfortable,” he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it down on the ground, revealing smooth hard muscles so deliciously gleaming with a sheen of sweat and musk. I want to touch him so badly that I clench my hands to keep from doing it.

“What are you afraid of?” Drew asks, “Go ahead and touch me. I’m yours to explore.” He smiles wickedly, “I’m sure not going to hold back from exploring you.” His right hand dips down to the top of my panties, and he reaches under the band, to trail his finger down.

I want him to touch me there so badly, I let him linger for a few seconds, before stopping him. “Drew, I can’t.”

“Can’t explore me as you wish or can’t let me explore you just this once,” Drew is smiling, but there is this slight frustration in his voice.

“Drew…I want to, but I still need to figure out some things.”

“Like what?” Drew asks, frustration now in his voice.

“Like the fact that I may be still dating Astor…”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Drew says. “If you’re my girl, and it’s your birthday; I’d do everything to make it special. I’ll drop everything to be with you…”

His timing could not have been much better As if on cue, my cell phone starts ringing that tune Astor has programmed to play when he calls.

It’s him on the phone, and I don’t want to have this conversation now, but if I’m going to get this resolved between my feelings for Drew, Nat, and Astor; I have to talk to Astor.

Chapter
8

Summer

“
H
i Beautiful,” Astor says in that soft velvety voice that makes me melt every time I hear it, “Happy Birthday. How’s your day been?”

Hearing his voice like that makes me forget we have decided to step back a bit from where we were heading, which is a committed relationship. I care for Astor a lot, and I love how every time he’s around me, he makes me feel like the only girl in the world, but I can’t help think about the celebrity life he leads, and how now is the wrong time for me to be dealing with everything I’m dealing with in addition to the crazy film schedule, jealous fans who mob him, lack of privacy, and drama that goes with being a famous actor.

“Hi,” I say, my voice taking on a special sweetness that seems to come out when I talk to him. Gosh, I do miss him. “Oh, been busy going to school today, then working a little bit at the Academy. Still only a handful of students have enrolled this fall. It’s a large drop from last year where the classes were so full, we had to hire another teacher.”

“Don’t worry,” Astor says. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with you. People may think the school’s close now that Sookie’s not there.” His voice catches a little, and I can tell he’s still moved when he talks about Sookie. He’s never said anything to me before, but I think he really looked up to Aunt Sookie as a mentor, when she was his acting coach. When he started seeing me regularly, he even started calling her Aunt Sookie like I did, and treated her as though she really was his aunt. It was very sweet, and unexpected of someone as famous and established as Astor. “You’ll have to advertise, Sum,” he says. “Let people know the school’s still open.”

“I have,” I say. “In the local schools, at festivals, ads everywhere, especially online ads; and still only a handful of students.”

“Summer…” Astor says. “After this film wraps in a few days before the holiday break, I’m coming back to town for a few weeks. I’m going to spend those weeks with you, helping you with the school, and getting more students to come in.” His voice cracks. “We can’t let Aunt Sookie’s legacy die. The school has to carry on her legacy.”

“I know,” I smile into the phone. Astor seems too good to be true sometimes, and in the beginning I thought it was all an act, but after dating him for a while, I’ve come to realize, he’s just a sweet, all around good guy, who happens to be a hot and charming actor. “Astor,” I said softly. “I miss you.”