by Kailin Gow
“I want Drew back to the way he was, believe me,” Summer said. “And we’re trying every way to get him back to his old self, but this coma medicine…its side effects. We don’t know if Drew’s condition would be permanent. We’re trying to explore every option, including…” she looked over at me as though she wanted to watch what she would say.
“Trying to locate the maker of that drug,” I said. “Summer’s coming with me on this mission. So’s Luis. We leave early morning tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Rachel said. “I thought you two were…”
I looked over at Summer and then at Rachel and Luis, “That’s what we want everyone to think, especially Drew.”
Rachel nodded. “To jog Drew’s memory of Summer through his emotions.”
“Jealousy is a strong emotion…one of the strongest emotions we have as humans,” Summer said.
“It drives people to do irrational things…it defies logic and rules,” Summer continued. “Make them act out in ways that is pure, basic, primal, and animalistic.”
“If Drew had any feelings toward Summer of love and affection; any feelings of threat or competition toward me,” I said, “hopefully triggering them through seeing us together and most importantly, believing Summer and I are physically together, will kick his memory back into place.”
“Got it,” Rachel said. “So all this is to jog Drew’s memory back? It makes sense.”
“We need you to play along, too, Rachel. And everyone Drew comes into contact with would have to believe Summer and I are a couple,” I said.
“I’ll play along,” Rachel said. “It’ll be easy because in a way, you two have always seem so close.”
More close than you think.
“Don’t worry,” Rachel said, “I’ll pretend the last 10 years didn’t happen. Wiped away like Drew’s memory. It’ll be easy to believe you two are having wild abandon sex like you used to as teens. Nat’s weekend flights on the Donovan Dynamic jet to visit Summer were legendary. How could I forget that? Nat was like a passionate Romeo…he would do anything for Summer; he would do anything to be with Summer.”
The love of my life. Still was and always would be.
There was an awkward silence as everyone, except Luis, were lost in their thoughts about those days when we were teens.
“Good memories!” Rachel said. “Now let’s just hope Drew remembers them too. Speaking of Drew…what do you plan on doing tonight? We’re having dinner with Drew, but what do we plan on doing when we’re at dinner?”
“Um, couple things,” I said. This making Drew jealous by going full pda with Summer, was new to me.
Luis cracked a smile seeing how awkward and uncomfortable talking about it made me.
“Great, so while you’re doing couple things, what am I doing?” Rachel asked.
“Talking about family stuff, what’s happening with Donovan Dynamics, your films…” I was clearly awkward about this conversation. I was really planning on just focusing on being touchy feely and kissing Summer throughout dinner.
“I could come along,” Luis suddenly said, surprising all of us, especially Rachel. “I could be Rachel’s date.”
“Good,” I said, giving Luis a thankful eye but also concerned about what he wanted with Rachel, my protective older brother nature kicking in.
“So we’ll do couple things,” Rachel said, eyeing Luis wryly. “Lots of touching and kissing, and making Drew want to be part of a couple, making him feel as though he was missing being part of a couple…I get it.”
Summer’s eyes were crinkling with laughter at my sister’s suddenly strange predicament.
Luis looked proud of himself. I guess he should since my sister was a tough one to land.
“Then it’s settled. Luis would come with you, Rachel, as your date, and Summer and I would be there as a couple. Meanwhile, all of this would be a secret between us. No one is to know we are all pretending to be a couple, for Drew’s sake.”
“Right,” everyone said.
“And since we’re all here in my quarters, including you, Rachel, let’s talk about this secret mission Luis, Summer, and I are going on tomorrow morning. No one else except Hector and Dr. Turk knows about it, especially at the compound.”
“Why?” Summer asked. “I thought you have a team preparing for it.”
“That team is Luis, Hector, Dr. Turk, and I,” I said. “Because when the cat is gone, the mice will play. There is a spy amongst us at the compound we need to weed out. Someone had planted a bomb to try to kill me and my guys at the warehouse. Luckily, it was just me who got injured. So no one should know I am going out of the country for a few days. I don’t want another incident to happen here, especially while I’m away.”
“How could you mask your trip?” Rachel asked.
“Easy, I’m holed up in my quarters for the next few days with Summer, wanting complete privacy. The guys could imagine what we would be doing that entire time. They all know my history with Summer, and if they were in my shoes, they would want the same.”
Luis grinned and nodded. It was something us men understood.
“And of course, Drew would be hearing all about that as well,” I said. “In the meantime, Hector and Luis would be out on a small mission to check out one of our servers location abroad. Routine checkup for one of our most high-security clients’ servers.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Rachel said. “In the meantime, while you’re away, supposedly shacked up in your love nest with Summer, I think I can get an hour or two away from my production schedule to visit the compound. In my own ways, I will be checking up on your guys too.”
“It could be dangerous, especially with a spy around,” I said. “I trust most of my guys especially around my sister, but since the explosion, I have to be careful.”
“I’ll be careful,” Rachel said. “I got you out of that hospital that one time, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” I said, grateful I have such a bold and spunky sister who could hold her own against anyone.
“Great, then count me in on this mission, too,” Rachel said. “I’m officially one of the team, now.”
Chapter 8
Summer
I thought meeting up with Drew for dinner as half a couple with Nat would be awkward, but this was even worse.
Rachel and Luis met up with Nat and I as we entered the posh and expensive Empress Golden Lotus Restaurant on the top floor of the Century Building in Century City. Rachel wore a sapphire blue traditional Chinese qipao dress, with gold and purple embroidery. Fitting tight among her curves, Rachel was stunning. The blue of her dress brought out her sparkling blue eyes, and the purple of the embroidered flowers on her dress brought out her hair.
Luis couldn’t keep his eyes off of her…and his hands, which I noticed Nat noticing as well. Luis himself had cleaned up nicely. His black hair matched Rachel’s, which he had slicked back off his face. He was dressed in black slacks which hugged his muscular legs and tight butt, and he wore a blue silk shirt buttoned up to his neck, which was also tight around his arms and shoulders.
Coloring-wise, they matched like prom dates, but only more sophisticated.
“You guys looked like you coordinated your outfits,” I said to Rachel.
“Well, we’re supposed to be a couple, aren’t we?” Rachel said nervously. Being a couple and looking like one wasn’t her thing.
“You dressed Luis?” I asked surprised.
Rachel hesitated and said, “I went over to his place after Nat’s, and Luis had me worried he wouldn’t be able to pull off looking like the kind of guy I would normally be seen with at film premieres and parties…you know, get photographed with because I’m in the public eye all the time. So I went over to see what he was going to wear.”
“Take charge, Rachel,” I said. “I know how that feels to have to watch what you wear and how you look in the public eyes…been there done that with Astor, and I’m glad I’ve done that and left that.”
“Well, Luis,” Rachel
said, “surprised me. You’d think a guy who looks as hot as he does with all muscles and a body that won’t quit is all brawny, but his place is nicely decorated. Even cleaner than my place in Beverly Hills. His quarters were modern with New York sophistication. I think he lived in New York once.”
“So his wardrobe?”
“I had nothing to worry about. He had a closet full of designer men’s suits like Armani, Brionis, and even some sleek Pradas. He had every designer men’s shoes too. Burberry, John Lobb…some Nikes.”
“Didn’t expect that of him,” I said.
“I was dressed in plain black,” Rachel said. “A black mini dress with just this gold necklace, and Luis said it was all wrong. Boring. He called up someone and said he needed a blue silk Chinese qipao and to have it delivered to a room at the Blue Meridien Hotel. He grabbed his Tumi duffle bag, filled it with things including his clothes and drove me to the hotel.”
“Then what?” I couldn’t help feeling like giggling. Rachel had never been swept off her feet like some lady before. She usually was the one in charge.
“We go up to the room, and he opened the door. There were candles and flowers. I mean like romantic,” Rachel looked awkward.
“The dress was hanging on a hanger, and I said I’ll just change, but he said he would help me. Well, he did,” Rachel said. “He helped get me out of my dress alright, with his hands and lips and more…”
“Rachel…you and Luis?” I asked.
“Alright, I’ll confess to you, Summer, but you can’t tell Nat or he’ll flip since I don’t want him knowing his men and I…” she looked away, “I’ve had sex with Luis, and a few other men at Nat’s compound. I can’t help it, Summer. When I see a man built like Luis…I’m addicted to sex. Been so for years.”
I almost dropped my mouth. “You’re okay with that?”
“I don’t get attached to any of them. I just have sex with them. I don’t feel anything else for them,” Rachel said.
“But Luis doesn’t know?” I asked.
“He knows I just want sex,” Rachel said. “I think that’s fine with him, but now I’m beginning to think otherwise. The last thing I want is for a guy to start fawning over me when all I want is for him to fuck me.”
“I never knew,” I said. “So this pretending to be a couple thing between you and Luis tonight?”
“The last thing I wanted,” Rachel said.
“Great,” I said.
“I’ll play along…it’s what I’m great at…acting, but I won’t like it.”
“Well, start acting then, Rach,” I said eyeing Luis walking towards us along with Drew, whom Luis went down to the lobby to get.
Oh God, Drew looked like Adonis. His dark hair was swept back and his blue eyes were glistening with that playboy billionaire confidence. He was dressed in a black Brioni suit with a grey shirt and blue tie, which matched his eyes. And he walked into the restaurant with that Drew swagger and style, which had every woman admiring him, while men looked on with envy.
Nat and Luis joined him walking down the center of the room to our table in the back corner. The three of them were a sight of male beauty to behold.
“Who are they?” I heard a woman whispered to her friend.
“Drew Donovan, the billionaire who owned Donovan Dynamics. The one on his left is Andrew Hocking Knight, another billionaire who owned Knight Industries, and the one on the right of Drew, I think he’s a football player. Don’t know, and don’t care. I’d take any one of them any day,” her friend gushed.
Rachel rolled her eyes.
“I’m part owner of Donovan Dynamics, you don’t see people fawning over me for it.”
“It’s that billionaire bad boy thing,” I said. “Very popular now since Fifty Shades of Grey came out. You know that whole Christian Grey bad boy BDSM thing. If he wasn’t so handsome and so filthy rich, I wonder if women would find a guy like him attractive?”
“I would just go for the BDSM thing,” Rachel said mischievously. “Done it, and well, it’s not for everyone, but it is something I would try again.”
I looked over at Luis, who was almost at our table.
Rachel smiled and said, “The guy’s more surprising than you think.”
“Look who’s here?” Nat said, arriving to our table and coming over to me. “Drew.”
I had a hard time facing him. Looking into his eyes as though nothing’s different.
“Hi Summer,” Drew said coming over to me. He was the Drew I knew who was friendly and cordial to everyone. Not the Drew who would say my name with a hint of affection and sometimes awe. “You look nice in that dress.”
“Thank you,” I said smiling, as I would to anyone who just complimented me.
“Isn’t it nice to see Nat back in town again?” Drew asked. “He travels a lot for work. You must miss him.”
I nodded. “I do.”
The old Drew would’ve leaned in and whispered, “I can make you feel less lonely, Summer. I could make you forget everything when you’re with me.”
Instead, this Drew said, “Better spend as much time as you can with him. That guy…he can’t stop talking about you. Summer this. Summer that. You have him wrapped all around your fingers, don’t you, Summer? It’s what you wanted since childhood, and your crush on him.”
I thought this would be the time Drew started remembering about his childhood crush on me, but he said, “I’ll be seeing you again, Summer. I have to go sit down now. They’re serving the first course. Swallow tail nest soup. Delicious.” He walked away and sat down in the chair next to Luis and Nat.
Rachel, who sat next to Luis, and next to me, nudged me. “What did Drew say?”
“He said I should spend as much time with Nat as possible, and that Nat couldn’t stop talking about me to him.”
“Oh,” Rachel said. “Still no memory of you with him.” She sounded disappointed.
“Might need something more drastic than just seeing me here,” I said.
“Right,” Rachel said, reaching down with her hand, underneath the table.
Luis suddenly looked over at Rachel, and turned to her. He leaned in and whispered something in her ears. Rachel laughed and said, “Luis! That tickles.”
“So, Luis,” Nat said looking pointedly at Rachel. “How long have you and Rachel been together? It came as a surprise you two were dating.”
Rachel was taking a sip of water, but started choking.
Luis took his linen napkin and reached over to gently wipe Rachel’s lips. “Are you alright, Baby?” he asked her.
“Um hmmm,” Rachel nodded.
“Good Baby,” Luis took Rachel’s hand and started playing with it with his before kissing her on the knuckles. “I don’t want anything to happen to you on my watch, especially choking.” He laughed, and so did Rachel.
“I’m glad you’re taking good care of her and protecting her on your watch,” Nat said. “Perhaps too good of a care?”
“Oh Nat,” Rachel said. “Luis and I hit it off right away. We found we shared a lot in common, and well, now we’re together.”
Rachel turned to Luis and kissed him on his lips. Luis grabbed Rachel, and kissed her back.
Drew and Nat looked at Luis skeptically as any older brother would when meeting their baby sister’s boyfriend for the first time.
“We hope to be together for a long time like you and Summer,” Luis said to Nat.
Nat looked at me and smiled before reaching over to take my hand and kissing my knuckles. It felt rehearsed. I smiled prettily going along with the ruse.
Nat moved closer and then wrapped his arms around me before kissing me fully on my mouth. “Keeping a relationship strong this long, well, it takes a lot of loving and pleasing,” he said, kissing me slowly and softly again. “It takes getting know what pleases her, and what makes her happy.” He kissed my cheeks then, and leaned in to whisper in my ear, “I love you, Summer.”
I couldn’t help the warm blush that swept over my face then.
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Nat leaned in to whisper in my ear, “I always have.”
I looked over at Drew, and he was watching me closely. The blue of his eyes had grown darker. Or was it just the lighting of the room?
“I remember Summer always having this crush on you, Nat,” Drew said suddenly.
“I didn’t realize she did until we were teens,” Nat said. “By then, I realized I also loved Summer. How could I not?” He kissed me again in front of Drew. “This woman is amazing.” He reached over and held me in his arms before kissing me fully on the lips. “My Summer,” he said, “my perfect sweet Summer, is everything a man could wish for and more.”
If the old Drew was at all there in Drew, he would be all over Nat now, trying to get his hands off me, and acting like a possessive caveman.
Instead, Drew smiled. He raised his glass and said, “Here’s a toast to the most loving couple I’ve known for most of my life – Nat and Summer!”
That’s when my heart fell, and I knew Drew truly did not remember ever being with me and the love we had for each other.
Chapter 9
Summer
“Summer,” I turned around as Nat, Drew, Rachel, Luis, and I walked out of the restaurant. We had an excruciating eight course meal and was too full to even crawl out of our chairs.
I stopped walking, and Nat stopped along with me. Rachel looked over where she was walking ahead with Luis.
“Summer,” Drew walked over to me. He looked at Nat and then at me again. “I found some things.”
Was this it? Was this the moment Drew would confess this had all been a joke and that he wanted us to be together? I held my breath.
Nat didn’t look too happy all of a sudden. In fact, he looked almost angry. He took a possessive step forward between Drew and I. “What did you find?” he asked Drew.
“I don’t know how it got there,” Drew said, “but Summer’s clothes and even her things…they’re at my place. I could only think she stayed there when I’m away.”
“It’s a lot closer to the hospital than my place in Malibu,” I said. It was true. I had started staying over at Drew’s place near USC which used to be Nat’s at Donovan Dynamics’ Los Angeles building when the commute to the hospital became too long. Drew said he wanted me to when I started getting calls at 2 in the morning or 3 or whatever ungodly hour to rush to the hospital for emergencies. “You said it was okay,” I said to Drew.