by Marie Carnay
“You mean the bar?”
“Of course. I’ve invested my time. Effort. Ian’s money. And you show up and Blake and Devin forget all about it. First the lifeguard station, now Mandy’s wedding.” She looked Summer up and down with a sneer. “They’re out on the dance floor pawing you like a cheap cut of meat. It’s disgusting.”
Summer’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry?”
“You should be. Have you no tact? Class? You think you can hook two men? That they won’t move on to the next hot piece of ass as soon as you’re gone? Think again, honey.”
Summer crossed her arms so she wouldn’t throw a right hook. “I know they won’t. They love me.”
Ivy’s blue eyes rolled so high her pupils disappeared. “They love how easy you are. This isn’t any more than a little trip down memory lane.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ivy licked her lips. “Is that so? And how much do you know about them? What they’ve been doing the past four years. Who else they’ve fucked? Cause let me tell you sweetheart, you aren’t special.”
God. Ivy was even more obnoxious than she’d given her credit for. The nerve of her. She needed a reality check. Big time. “I already know about you and Devin, Ivy. And I don’t care. He dumped you.”
“What about Blake? Or the pair of them together?”
Summer’s confidence faltered and she frowned. “What of them? So they had a hookup. I don’t care. It’s not like I was a nun.”
Ivy grinned. “You don’t know, do you?” She laughed and the red of her lipstick against her teeth made Summer think of blood. “How long did they wait until after you left to jump into bed with someone new? Do you know?”
“I don’t care.” Summer dug her nails into her arm and forced herself to breathe. She’s just riling you up. Ignore it.
“Well, what if I said it was a matter of days? Hours, even?”
Summer swallowed. Despite forcing her body to stay still, her heart beat faster and faster. Ivy stood there like a cat with a canary, gloating and grinning. “It doesn’t matter.” She wished she’d said it louder. Stronger. Or that her feet walked her right out the door. But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
Ivy stepped closer and the gleam in her eyes was pure hate. “What if I told you it wasn’t a fling? That it wasn’t with some random girl they picked up at a bar?”
“Spit it out, Ivy.”
Ivy picked up her purse and turned toward the entrance. The silk of her dress flounced around her toned thighs as she walked. Teasing. Mocking.
When she reached the door, she turned around. “If you really want to know, you should just ask the bride. From the way Ian tells it, she didn’t leave their bed for two weeks.”
Ivy pulled the door open and Summer’s mouth fell with it.
“It’s funny, with you all being so close, I would have thought you’d know. Guess you weren’t as tight as I thought.” Ivy spun around and swished out the bathroom in a swirl of tan and white.
It can’t be true. It can’t. The door swung shut and open, shut and open, slower every time. She watched it until it stood still. Motionless. Like her heart.
She rolled her lips back and forth and ran through the past in her mind like a video replay. She’d left in a whirlwind all those years ago. Determined never to come back.
Mandy had driven her to the airport. Told her she’d see her again when classes started up. Two weeks. Summer’d hugged her, sobbing, begging her to call every day. And she had. Sometimes twice.
Are you okay? How are you holding up? Getting enough sleep? Good food? I’ll be there soon. Stay strong.
She’d been a quasi-mom through the phone line. Her best friend thousands of miles away. And through it all, she’d been…fucking Blake and Devin?
Summer leaned back on the counter and gripped the edge. All this time she thought she’d been the one. The woman who fit between them. The only one they could…share. Blake fucking her against the rock. Summer on her knees with Devin’s cock in her mouth. Both of them taking her in the kitchen. Their kitchen.
She choked on a breath. Guess I was wrong. About Devin and Blake. Mandy. So many things.
With her clutch gripped in one hand, she pushed herself off the counter. There was only one thing to do.
She wasn’t going to be made a fool of anymore. Not that night. Not the next day. Not ever.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SUMMER
SUMMER BUSTED OUT of the bathroom fighting back a wave of tears and nausea. Just get out of here before anyone sees you. Mandy can go on her honeymoon, Devin and Blake can go to hell. You can go back to New York. She skirted the open doors of the reception hall, keeping to the hallway and run-walking toward the exit.
Cool night air and the smell of the ocean. That’s what she needed. She’d take a walk. Regroup. Book an earlier flight to NYC. Easy.
“Summer! There you are!”
Shit. Mandy’s voice echoed down the hall. Summer kept walking.
“Hey! Wait up! I can’t run in these heels! Summer!”
She slowed.
“Don’t tell me the crab dip made you sick! Summer!”
Five feet from the door, Summer stopped. She wanted so badly to pretend everything was fine. To smile at Mandy on her wedding day and ignore the tumult inside her.
With a deep breath, she turned around.
Mandy stuttered to a standstill. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Summer swallowed. “I’ll be fine. I just need some air.”
“I’ve been looking all over for you. We’re about to cut the cake. I didn’t want you to miss it.”
“I’m sorry Mandy. I have to—I’ve got to go.”
The bride frowned. “Not until you tell me what’s going on. I want my best friend in there. It’s my wedding.” She crossed her arms and crushed the pleated tulle of her bodice.
“I can’t—Mandy—you don’t want me in there.” She scrunched her eyebrows and wrung her hands and tried to come up with something to say. But all the anger and tension and confusion welled up inside. If she didn’t get away from her best friend, she’d burst.
“Is it your mom? Did she say something?”
Summer snorted. “No. For once, my mom had nothing to do with it. In fact, I probably should have been listening to her all along.”
“What’s that supposed to—Oh my God. Did you have a fight with the guys? Did Devin do something? Blake?” Mandy reached out, but Summer shook her off.
“I don’t know, Mandy. I guess I should be asking you. Apparently you know them a whole hell of a lot better than I thought.”
Mandy’s arm fell to her side. “What are you talking about?”
Screw holding back. If Mandy wasn’t going to say it, Summer’d just do it for her. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Were you just not going to tell me? None of you? How many people know? The whole town?”
“Who told you?” Mandy’s voice came out in a tortured whisper.
“Does it matter?”
“It does to me.”
“Oh, and I suppose that should still carry some weight with me? Well, if you must know, it was Ivy. Your brother has a big mouth.”
Mandy closed her eyes. “Summer, I’m sorry. If you’ll just let—”
“You explain? What’s there to explain? I leave town and you jump into bed with them. Did you even wait ’til the bed was cold? Change the sheets?” Summer glanced toward the door. “I can’t believe I came back here.”
“You’re my best friend, Summer.”
“Then why couldn’t you tell me? You called me non-stop when I left. Asking how I was every single day. You counted down until class started, telling me to just hang on for a few more days. Why would you do that?”
“Because you were hurting. I thought I was helping.”
“You showed up at campus like nothing had happened. Like you’d been dying to get back to school. How long had you been fucking them? Before
I even showed up here?”
“No!” Mandy stepped forward and grabbed Summer’s arm, yanking her until she looked up. “It wasn’t like that. They were devastated when you left. I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just did.”
“Sure, Mandy. Whatever you say.”
“Damn it, Summer. It’s the truth.”
Summer inhaled through her nose and reached for Mandy’s fingers. One by one, she pried them off her arm. “Don’t you have a cake to cut? I’d hate for you to keep your new husband waiting. Or the groomsmen. I’m sure they’re eager to see you too.”
“Summer!” Mandy’s eyes shimmered under her scrunched brow, but she didn’t say anything more. At last, she dropped her head. “Fine. Do what you have to do. I need to go.”
Her best friend stepped back and let out a breath. “Don’t throw everything away because you’re mad. It was years ago. They love you.”
Summer barked out a laugh. “That’s what I thought back then, too, and look where it got me. My three best friends screwing each other behind my back.”
Mandy sniffed. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Go back to your wedding, Mandy. Everyone’s waiting.”
“This isn’t over. We need to talk.”
“You know my phone number. You can call and ask me how I’m holding up.”
Mandy took a step back.
“There you are! Come on babe, everyone’s waiting.” Richard strode up and took Mandy by the shoulders. One look at her face, and he frowned. “Everything alright?”
Mandy tried to smile. “It’s fine. Summer’s not feeling well. She’s going back to her room.”
“Oh.” Richard glanced Summer’s way. “Sorry to hear that, Sum. It’s not the food, is it? I can call the cook and have him—”
Summer held up her hand. “It’s not the food. Probably just a weekend bug.”
Richard looked relieved. “Well, that’s good, I guess. Hope you shake it off.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be fine once I’m back home.”
“Good.” He turned to his bride. “Come on, let’s go.”
* * *
BLAKE
Blake stalked down the hall, opening doors to side rooms and closets. He’d even scoped out the kitchen. No Summer. Where is she?
The longer he searched, the more his unease grew. Something happened. He couldn’t imagine her mother’d gotten to her—she’d been too busy ripping him a new one. Had she fought with Devin? Tripped over a rug and twisted her ankle? Drank too much champagne?
She couldn’t have just run out on them. Not again. As he rounded the corner to do another sweep of the ballroom, he almost careened into Devin.
“Shit man, what’s going on?”
Blake ran a hand over his hair. “I can’t find Summer.”
“So? Maybe she had to take a leak.”
“No. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.” Blake paced back and forth, hand rubbing his buzzed hair back and forth as he thought. Where else could she be?
“Oh, well if it isn’t Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Out looking for the white rabbit, are you?”
Blake ground his teeth together and leaned in toward Devin. “She’s your ex. Deal with her.”
Devin side-eyed him but walked her way. “It’s not a good time, Ivy. Go find Ian and enjoy the party, okay?”
“Oh, I’ve already been doing just that. But it doesn’t look like your boyfriend over there is having such a good time.”
“Blake’s not my boyfriend.”
“Oh, right. Silly me.” Ivy fake laughed and put her hand on her chest. “He’s just the guy you screw women with. What a shame your repeat customer’s not around. The three of you made quite a show earlier. Who’s idea was that to walk down the aisle? Yours or the bride’s?”
Blake’s anger flared. “What’s it any business of yours, Ivy?”
“Last time I checked, I’m opening a bar with the two of you.”
“No. Ian’s opening a bar with us. You’re just window dressing.” Devin crossed his arms and scowled.
Ivy snarled. “See? This is exactly what I’m talking about. Before she showed up, everything was fine. On time. But with that woman around, all the two of you do is think with your dicks. You’re going to fuck it all up and it’ll be that chubby little wench’s fault.”
Blake turned on his heel and stormed up to her. He stopped an inch away from her face and clenched his hands at his sides. “I’ve never punched a woman, Ivy, but for you I might make an exception.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “And Ian would throw your ass in jail so fast you couldn’t stand up. You should be thanking me, not chewing me out.”
Shit.
Devin stepped forward. “Lay off, Blake.” He reached out to grab Blake’s arm, but Blake shrugged him off.
“Not until she tells us what she did.”
“Hey! What’s going on? Is there some problem?” Ian hustled up to Ivy’s side. He might be Mandy’s brother, but the similarities ended with the blonde hair. He was one of the few men in Midnight Cove who could give Blake a run for his money. “Blake, what’s the issue?”
Blake stepped back. The last thing he needed was to fight with Ian. His girlfriend might be a bitch, but he liked the guy. He nodded at Ivy. “Ask your girlfriend. Seems she’s been sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Ivy shifted her weight on her stiletto heels.
“Ivy? What’s he talking about?”
She glanced up at her boyfriend and back at Blake.
“What did you do to Summer?”
She reached for a lock of hair and curled the blonde strands around her finger. “I might have run into her in the bathroom.”
Blake’s nostrils flared as he breathed in. “What. Did. You. Say.”
Ivy poured on a too-sweet smile and reached for Ian. “Do we have to do this now? I hear the band. Let’s go dance.” She tugged on his suit jacket, but her boyfriend stood still.
“Answer Blake’s question. Please, Ivy.”
She glanced up at Devin, but he merely scowled. No one was bailing her out this time. At last, she sighed. “I told her the truth.”
“About what?”
“What happened when she left.”
Ian mumbled a curse and ran his hand over his pulled-back hair. “You promised, Ivy.”
She shrugged. “Someone needed to tell her! As soon as she showed back up look what happened! Devin and Blake start messing things up! The permit was denied! Pretty soon the whole bar is going to fall apart. All because of her!”
Blake swallowed. “You told her about us and Mandy?”
“I had to!” Ivy stepped forward. “Don’t you see? She’s bad news!”
Blake opened his mouth, but Devin reached out and held him back. “The only bad news around here is that we ever agreed to go into business with you. I’m sorry, Ian. As far as I’m concerned the partnership is over.”
Ian scrubbed his face with his hand. “You have no idea the damage you’ve caused, Ivy. I thought I could trust you.”
“You can!” She reached out and clawed at his jacket. Her manicured nails sunk into the blue wool and her voice turned tinny. “I did it to help you!”
“No. You did it to hurt Summer.” He pried her fingers off his jacket and stepped back. “She’s my sister’s best friend! How could you?”
Ivy snorted. “They can’t be that close. Mandy screwed those two behind her back! I did everyone a favor.”
“You sure did.” Ian pulled out his phone and turned to the men. “I’m sorry, Blake. Devin. You all do what you need to do. As far as I’m concerned, the bar is a bust.”
Blake nodded. “Thanks, man.”
Ian turned back to Ivy. “And as for us? I never want to see you again. Not in Swallow Tail. Not here in the Inn. Not walking down the street. Nowhere. You understand? You’re dead to me.”
Ivy paled. “You don’t mean it.”
“Try me.” He swiped open his phone and started typing.
Her eyes bugged out and she looked at each man in turn. “What’s so special about Summer? She’s a fat chick who paints the ocean for God’s sakes.”
Ivy’s eyes went wide and Blake turned to see a large man in a suit advancing down the hall.
“Is there a problem Mr. Knowles?” His voice boomed out.
“Yes.” Ian waved him forward. “Will you please escort this woman from the premises? She’s not invited.”
“Certainly.” The man held out his arm as Ivy gawked.
“You’re kicking me out? Ian!”
“Goodbye, Ivy.”
The burly man took her by the arm. “Come with me, please.”
“Get your hands off me!” She batted at his fingers with her purse. “You can’t treat me this way.”
Ian cocked his head. “Would you rather I call the police? I’m sure they’d love to lock you up in the drunk tank for the night.”
Blake swallowed a laugh as Ivy’s mouth fell open in outrage. He watched her stumble down the hall with the security guard until they both disappeared from sight.
“I’m sorry, guys. I never thought—” Ian started to apologize, but Blake cut him off.
“It’s okay. The truth needed to come out. I just wanted to be the one to tell her.”
Devin patted him on the back. “It’ll be okay. We’ll find her and explain.”
Ian chimed in. “Dev’s right. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Blake exhaled. “If it were any other woman, I’d say you were right. But Summer? She has a tendency of running away instead of thinking.”
Ian nodded. “If there’s anything I can do—”
“We’ll let you know. Thanks.”
Mandy’s brother nodded and headed back into the reception.
“So what the hell do we do now?”
Blake looked up at Devin. “We find her.”
* * *
SUMMER