Summer Nights

by Christin Lovell

“Did you enjoy your stay, Miss Carrigan?” the clerk asked.

  I looked at my ring, smiling. “Very much, thanks.”

  “Wonderful.” She took our key cards. “You’re all set. Have a safe return home.”

  “Do you mind printing out a list of the charges to my card?”

  “There weren’t any.”

  I shook my head. “You must be mistaken. They pre-authorized my card at check-in.”

  “The funds have been released. It appears your room was paid in full with a new card on Saturday evening with any additional surcharges being sent to this new account as well.”

  “Saturday?” I tried to think back. “You and Ramon went to dinner that night, and Cruz… Cruz!”

  “Ooh, girl. I like him a little more already. I was dreading having to pay you back my half of the bill.”

  I stared back at the clerk. “Was the new card provided by someone named Ernesto Cruz?”

  She winked, giving a quick nod. “I’m sorry miss, but I’m not at liberty to provide that information.”

  I chuckled. “Thanks.”

  When we arrived outside, the guys were waiting by Cruz’s Lexus.

  I walked right up to him. “You sneaky bastard.”

  He laughed. “I can’t believe they told you. Can’t a man get a little anonymity these days?”

  I wrapped my arms around him, kissing his lips. “Thank you. You didn’t have to, but I appreciate it.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. I want you to use the money you saved and buy another ticket out here.”

  “That sounds good. It won’t be right away though. I have to get the days approved from my job before I can book them.”

  “We’ll work it out,” he clipped.

  CRUZ

  The drive to the airport went by too quick. I wanted more time with her. I was already getting agitated at the thought to letting her go; although I knew I had to. At the very least I had to take care of Hector before it was safe for her to come back.

  I parked the car and escorted her through the check in line. My chest kept tightening the closer we go to the desk. I couldn’t get enough of her. What seemed like too soon, she and Stella checked in and handed over their suitcases. The woman handed them their boarding passes and we were headed to security, which would be our goodbye point.

  We stopped just before the ropes that formed the line to the security check point. She faced me, tears gathering in her eyes already. She bit her bottom lip as she tried to stop the floodgates.

  “Don’t cry, mi amor. We’ll see each other again soon.” She nodded quick, short nods. I lifted her hand, kissing the ring on her finger. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” She sniffled, wiping the tears with her free hand.

  “Come here.” I hugged her to me; she eagerly wrapped her arms around me. She felt good pressing against me. It was as if God made her to fit in my arms. The curves of her body slid perfectly into the plains of my body.

  Holding her face in my hands, our lips crashed together in a fit of bliss. I would miss her caress; the softness of her lips as they molded to mine. I would miss the tiny whimpers in the back of her throat as her body heated beneath my touch. I was going to miss her scent wafting through the air each day and her full figure cuddled up to me at night. I would miss watching as she adjusted her glasses or folded items that had just been used, when they should have been tossed in a hamper. The fact was, I was going to miss everything about her.

  SUMMER

  His kiss was passionate and rough yet soft and sensual, just like him. I pressed deeper into his embrace, wanting to savor every last second I had with him, but regardless of the length of time, it wouldn’t be enough. I swept my tongue across his, tasting him one last time before pulling back.

  His eyes were glossy, but his jaw was set fiercely. He wasn’t going to cry. Gently he wiped away my tears.

  “Summer, we’ve got to go, sweetie.” Stella’s voice was soft. She knew how hard this was for me.

  I choked up, a new set of tears gathering quickly. I hugged him once more, giving him an extra squeeze. He captured my lips once more before pulling back. He shoved his hands in his pockets, swallowing hard. “Call me when you’re boarding and when you land.”

  “Oh!” My eyes shot open. “I don’t even have your phone number!”

  He laughed. “I already programmed it into your phone. I bumped Stella to speed dial number two.”

  “Huh!” she harrumphed. “I’ve got your number, Cruz.”

  “Keep her safe, Stel.”

  She nodded, meeting his gaze. “I will.”

  He gave her a quick hug as I gave Ramon a hug and said goodbye. My feet felt like they were navigating through wet concrete as Stella and I made our way to the security line. Cruz and Ramon waited, watching until were went beyond the glass walls where the screening actually took place. Cruz blew me a kiss as I looked back at him. I waved, trying to stave off a new wave of tears. And with that, he was gone. He walked away and took my heart with him.

  “Damn, this is hard, Stel. It feels like my chest is being split open, like I can’t breathe because he’s not right beside me anymore.” Tears chased each other down my cheeks.

  She hugged me as she led us through the line. She pried my purse from my grip and set it in the bin, giving me time to pull myself together. I wasn’t thinking straight. I could only think of him. We were silent all the way to our gate until they started boarding the plane.

  “I don’t think I can call him without crying all over again,” I stated.

  She patted my thigh. “Then send him a text.”

  I grabbed Big Bertha, having switched purses while packing. Looking at my clothes though, I realized I hadn’t changed since last night. “Why didn’t you tell me I was wearing the same clothes from last night?”

  “Because I am too.”

  We looked at each other and laughed. “This was some vacation,” I said.

  “Yeah. It really was a Stella Summer.” She smiled.

  CRUZ

  I was on pins and needles waiting for her to call. I checked the clock again. It was nearly 9 PM. I flipped through a few channels on the TV, not really watching. I couldn’t focus on anything but her. I wouldn’t be able to calm down until I knew she’d made it home safe.

  I picked up the phone and dialed Ramon.

  “I haven’t heard anything yet,” he stated the moment he answered. “I told you ten minutes ago I’d call you if I did.”

  “I don’t know how I’m gonna do this.”

  “The same way I will.”

  “I thought you and Stella agreed it was just a weekend fling?”

  “Just because I agreed doesn’t mean I wanted it to end. I know you and Summer are going to work things out, but Stella wasn’t open to trying.”

  “You never know, amigo. You’ll see her again. By then, maybe she will have changed her mind. Women are always fickle.”

  “I hope so.”

  My line beeped. “Gotta go.” I clicked over, anxiety rushed over me again. “Hello?”

  “Hey.” Her voice sounded angelic over the phone. “We just landed. We’re about to go to baggage claim.”

  “Did you have a good flight?”

  “Yeah. I’m just tired, and I miss you.”

  “Won’t be the same tonight without me in bed, huh?” I teased. I was already aching to have her back next to me.

  “Yeah, it won’t,” she conceded. I heard the smile in her voice.

  “Call me when you get home.”

  “I will.”

  “Love you.” Damn this long distance stuff was hard. It’d only been a few hours and I was going stir crazy.

  “Love you too.”

  I waited for her to hang up so I could half listen to the TV as I anxiously waited for her to call again.

  Chapter 17

  The first couple days were difficult to get through. It was amazing how quickly your life could turn around. A week ago today, I met Cruz for the first time.
It seemed like a lifetime ago. Everything had happened so fast, but I never questioned the validity of it. Somehow we both just knew.

  “You up for a girls’ night, Summer?” Stella asked, standing over my desk.

  I looked at my ring. The longing for him never dwindled, but I found it was easier to deal with when I stayed busy. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

  “Greasy pizza, cheap champagne and a cheesy romantic-comedy at my place.”

  “That works for me. Want me to grab the Verdi on my way home?”

  “Sounds good. I’ll order the pizza when you get there.”

  “Okay.”

  I quickly finished up my satisfaction survey reports for my team before leaving.

  ***

  I arrived at Stella’s apartment a little after seven. She was already in her pajamas cozied up on her oversized, recliner sofa. Her place wasn’t messy, but it wasn’t clean either. It straddled the fine line between having too much clutter in some corners and being stylishly put together in others.

  I dropped my keys and cell phone on her coffee table, immediately heading to the kitchen to put one bottle in the fridge and then pour two glasses from the other.

  “How was the rest of work?” she called.

  “Grueling. Customers aren’t as satisfied with certain reps as they were a month ago.”

  “All of us are hearing the same thing. It’s because they changed the wording of a few questions on the survey.”

  “Yeah, but they won’t acknowledge that it could be something on their end. It’s always on ours.” I passed her a glass of champagne as I curled up on the other end of her sofa. “Have you talked to Ramon lately?”

  “Every day.”

  “Are you ready to admit that I’m right, yet?”

  “No.” She stuck her nose up in the air as she raised the glass to take a sip. “How are things going with you and Mr. Cruz?” I felt my cheeks heat up. She raised a brow. “That good, huh?”

  “Better. God, Stel. I don’t know how I even lived without him. He’s a part of my routine every day. I talk to him before work, we usually Skype around this time for a while, and we talk on the phone again before bed. I miss him like crazy, but otherwise, I’m so happy with him.”

  “I don’t think I’ve seen you smile this much in all the years I’ve known you. You deserve happiness. I’m happy for you.” She set her glass down on the coffee table and picked up her laptop. “Want anything in particular on your pizza?”

  “Nah. Surprise me.”

  “Alright. No complaining then.”

  “Okay, no ham and pineapple. I don’t know how anyone could eat that on pizza of all things.” I scrunched my nose.

  She rolled her eyes. “Different strokes for different folks.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  “Have you talked to them at all?”

  I took a sip of my drink. “No.” My voice was barely above a whisper.

  “You still think it’s for the best, right?” Her concern touched me.

  “Definitely. Honestly, this whole experience with Cruz has taught me a lot about love and protecting the ones you hold dear. I would move heaven and earth to hunt down anyone who hurt him; and, from what I’ve heard, the bond between a mother and child is supposed to out-do that. Sadly, it’s just not there for me and my mom. Some women just aren’t cut out to be mothers; and unfortunately, I got stuck with one of them.”

  “So, you’re putting most of the blame on her.”

  “Yeah. Because I was relying on her to protect me from my father. It was her job to get us out of there. And at the very least, it was her job to clean up after him and take his drunken punches when he didn’t want to listen. It wasn’t supposed to be my job!”

  “You’ve come a long way.”

  I smiled. “I know.”

  She refocused her attention to the computer screen. “How about we keep things simple tonight and just get an extra cheese pizza?”

  “Sure.” I shrugged.

  A minute later our order was complete. She closed her laptop and set it aside. We were just about to flip through Netflix to find a movie when my phone rang.

  I stared at the phone, shock reverberating through me at the caller ID. I debated whether to answer it or not, but my mother never called me. I’d always been the one to reach out to them. I knew immediately that something was wrong, but I didn’t know if I wanted to face it right now.

  I looked at Stella, but she washed her hands of trying to decide for me. Slowly, I lifted the phone to my ear, deciding to take the call. “Hello?”

  “I just thought you should know that your father had a heart attack. All the stress you’ve put him under with the police was too much for him.”

  I sat silently, stunned by the news. I was surprised, but felt no urge to rush to his side. In fact, I felt nothing towards him or my mother at this point. Cruz had helped me realize my value; he’d shown me what true love was like. Finally I said, “I hope he recovers well.”

  “Do you know how much your little stunt is costing us in legal fees alone?” Her voice rose. I could almost picture her face pinching as she stuck her nose up in the air, which she tended to do when she was talking down to me. “Between that and the new hospital bill your father has racked up, we’ll probably lose the house, and it’s entirely your fault. Why couldn’t you just leave well enough alone?” Her words were a slap in the face and they stung.

  “What is wrong with you?” I snapped. “I know you didn’t want any children, but you had a choice. You chose to keep me, yet you act as though I’ve been nothing but a burden that ruined your life. I’m done, Mom. I’m done letting you blame me for everything. Truth is, you’re too afraid to face the fact that your husband’s a worthless drunk, you’re a crap mother, and your life has gone to hell because you didn’t do anything about it sooner. At one point, I felt sorry for you. But you brought this on yourself. You also brought it on me, which wasn’t fair, but I’m seriously done. Dad is your problem, not mine. And you’re never to contact me again.” My hands were shaking as I hung up my phone. Tears threatened my eyes. I’d done it. I’d finally done it.

  “Feel better?” Stella asked.

  I chuckled. “Oddly, yes.” It was like toxic gas had just been cleared from the room. It was one thing to say you were walking away, but it was completely different to actually do it. Luckily, I was walking towards something a hundred times better.

  CRUZ

  “We just got the delivery,” Ramon announced, dropping the envelope on my desk.

  The moment I saw no return address, I knew it was from Rondo. He’d come through for me.

  “Make a copy of all of these and put them in a new unmarked envelope.”

  “You aren’t really going through with this, are you?”

  “Do you have a better idea?” I knew it was a risk to walk in without back up; I knew it was a risk to threaten the big boss of a huge criminal operation, but she was worth it.

  “Jaffe, Tony and me will be sitting ducks a couple blocks away in case something goes down.” It was the closest to a compromise I’d get from my best friend.

  “Suit up then, but get my copies first.” I grabbed my keys and tucked my cell phone into my wallet. “Eli and Zach, you’re taking the Estavez jump alone. Don’t fuck it up. I’ll give you each a bonus if you do it by the book without denting the company vehicle. Sean, you and Alex take the Guzman jump. The same rules and reward applies.”

  “Here. I used the color copier. We have the originals, the copies are in here,” Ramon said, passing me the envelope.

  I looked at him. “Anything happens to me, make sure you take care of her for me, okay?”

  “Nothing’s going to happen. You better know what you’re doing.”

  I couldn’t say for sure I did, but people do crazy things for love.

  ***

  I pulled up to the warehouse. Every man with a vantage point drew a gun. I walked past them to the bay doors.

  “Where do
you think you’re going, cabron?” The guy stuck out his arm and blocked my way. Build-wise, we were nearly evenly matched.

  “I have an unscheduled meeting with your boss.”

  “He doesn’t take meeting requests.”

  “Trust me. He’ll want to take mine.” I crossed my arms, waiting for him to send one of the goons off to alert the Rodriguez.

  “Let’s go.” Two men flanked my sides as they escorted me into the warehouse and immediately up a set of stairs. He knocked twice, before entering with the entourage.

  Victor chuckled at the sight of me. “You have a death wish?”

  I didn’t respond. I waited for him to send the guys away. Finally, he flicked his wrist, dismissing most of the men. Those remaining I knew were his closest confidants, if such people could exist in crime rings where money ruled loyalty.

  “What do you want?” He sat behind his desk. He had a large window overlooking the warehouse below. He could see everything that happened from this seat.

  I withdrew the envelope from my cargo pocket and slapped it down on the table in front of him.

  “What’s this?” He seemed annoyed more than anything.

  “I have the originals and more copies. I’m not here to bust up your drug ring. Hell, I don’t even care. I probably should, but I don’t. Your brother got caught because he was stupid.”

  “Don’t talk about mi hermano,” he snapped. His men pointed their guns my way.

  “I’m speaking the truth, and you know it. I came here to make you a deal though. You leave me, my crew, family, girl, anyone connected to me alone, and I’ll make sure these pictures never see a police desk. Hell, I’ll do you one better. I’ll even bail your brother out again if he’s eligible; as long as you make sure he keeps his court dates straight next time.”

  “Pat him down for wires,” he ordered.

  “That’s a cheap shot.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m all about covering my own ass, regardless of how I have to do it.” Hector adjusted his suit as one of his men frisked me and then proceeded to lift my shirt up anyways. I didn’t bother fighting him.

  “He’s clean,” the guy announced.

  “Guts I can admire, but follow-through is more important,” Hector stated. He laced his hands together on the desk in front of him.