by Anna Joung
“She did? I mean...of course, she did.” Holy shit. Summer actually lied for me? I get up and nod to Dean. “Good luck, man.”
He gives me a two-finger salute. “I’ll be out of her in no time.”
Summer is waiting in the lobby and soon as she spots me, her entire demeanor changes. She was just smiling with one of the officers and that smile has vanished. Her eyes narrow to slit and she looks me up and down with either disdain for disappointment. I can’t tell which.
“Guess my job here is done. You’re welcome.” With that, she wheels around and marches to the exit.
“Summer, wait.” I follow her outside but she doesn’t slow down. Catching her arm, I spin her around. “Can you just give me a minute to explain?”
“I don’t want to hear it because I don’t care.”
“Then why did you come?” I step closer and lower my voice. “Why did you lie for me?”
Her eyes are lit with fury. “I didn’t do anything for you. It was all for me. I need your ass out of jail so I can finish the portrait.”
“You really expect me to believe that?”
“Believe what you want.” She tries to tug out of my hold but I don’t let her go.
“I’m sorry about earlier. The way I left, what I said…” Well, what I said is true. I have my reasons. I don’t commit but I could have put it much nicer. “I was angry at the time. Not at you. I behaved like an idiot.”
“Because you are one. You ended up in jail.”
“Okay, I deserve that. Thank you for coming and―”
“For lying about what time you left the studio? Whatever. Just please tell me you didn’t kill anyone.”
“I’m not a complete idiot.”
“The jury’s still out on that one,” she mutters and my lips twitch.
Well, at least she’s still putting energy into insulting me. I’ll take it. Releasing my hold on her arm, I shift from one foot to the other and rub the back of my neck. Summer is going to kill me when she hears what else I did.
She studies me with a wary expression. “What is it?”
“I need a favor.”
“I’m all out of favors for you, buddy.”
“Please, it’s for...my son. Well, it's more for me but it involves him.”
“You have a child?” Wide-eyed and slack-jawed, she gazes up at me.
I nod. “Yes. I spoke to my ex-wife.”
“You were married? Aren’t you just full of surprises.”
Looking skyward, I sigh. “Can you let me finish? This is hard enough to get out as it is.”
She folds her arms. “Go on.”
“My ex-wife got full custody of our son three years ago. I’m ready to fight for joint custody and I’ll have a better chance of that if I have my shit together on the home front. So, I kinda told her I’m a changed man since I have a fiance and that we live together, and we can provide a stable home for my son.”
Summer stares at me blankly for a few seconds until realization dawns. “You didn’t.”
“I did...mention you. Summer Griffin, a sweet artist who’s responsible and loves kids.”
She shakes her head vigorously. “No way. Not a chance! You’re not pulling me into your...scam.”
“I wouldn’t call it a scam, just pretending a little to help out a friend.”
“Oh, we’re friends now?” she scoffs, throws my own word back in my face. I totally deserve that.
“Think about it, Summer. You’ll get to move out of your parents’ house.” That gets her attention. Her eyes lift to meet mine and I continue to sweeten the deal. “I’m only asking you to stay at my place for one month. I’ll take care of all of the expenses so by the time the month is up, you’ll be able to get your place. I’ll even help out with that, if you want.”
“I don’t want your money, Rebel,” she spits. “But moving out of my parents’ house sounds good. They’re killing me,” she groans.
I cross my arms and watch, amused as she continues her rant.
“My stepfather and I don’t see eye to eye and of course, my mother always takes his side.” She lifts a hand to nibble on her fingernails. “Living with them is like tiptoeing around freaking land mines every day.”
“So I take it we have a deal?”
Eyes narrowing, she plants her hand on her hips and huffs. “How many bedrooms do you have?”
“You’ll have your own room, I promise. Please, Summer, help me out.”
She stares at me without a word for so long, I start to worry that she’ll turn me down. Apparently, her internal battle comes to an end when she heaves a resigned sigh.
“Damn it! What the hell, I have to get out of that house, and the sooner the better. We have a deal.”
THE END
The Firehouse is a five book series. Make sure you read the rest of the books in the series:
Rebel 0.5 (The Firehouse Prequel)
Rebel 2 (The Firehouse #2)
Rebel 3 (The Firehouse #3)
Rebel 4 (The Firehouse #4)
Rebel 5 (The Firehouse #5)
Want to know more about Rebel and Summer’s story?
You can read in Rebel #2.
The Firehouse series
Rebel #0.5 (The Firehouse Prequel)
Rebel #1 (The Firehouse #1)
Rebel #2 (The Firehouse #2)
Rebel #3 (The Firehouse #3)
Rebel #4 (The Firehouse #4)
Rebel #5 (The Firehouse #5)
A Perfect Match series (standalones)
Seducing The Guy Next Door (A Perfect Match #1)
Riding The Guy Next Door (A Perfect Match #2)
Teasing The Guy Next Door (A Perfect Match #3)
Tempting The Guy Next Door (A Perfect Match #4)
Loving The Guy Next Door (A Perfect Match #5)
Kissing The Guy Next Door (A Perfect Match #6)
Mountain Man series (all interconnected standalones):
Cillian (Mountain Man # 1)
Cullen (Mountain Man #2)
Brennan (Mountain Man #3)
Lawson (Mountain Man #4)
Kasen (Mountain Man #5)
Kenneth (Mountain Man #6)
Mister Right series (all interconnected standalones):
Dwayne (Mister Right #1)
Zach (Mister Right #2)
James (Mister Right #3)
Rowan (Mister Right #4)
Alpha Hooked series (all interconnected standalones):
Mark My Spot (Alpha Hooked #1)
Luke: Strictly Business (Alpha Hooked #2)
Keith: Claiming The Prize (Alpha Hooked #3)
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