I knew Caden wouldn’t want Colton to deal with this. And he’d be pissed if he found out I knew and didn’t tell him. I sighed. “I have to call him, Colton.”
He looked at me, ready to protest.
I stood, clutching my phone, and backed away. “I’m sorry. I have to. If you want to escape, my friend and I will take you.”
Avery came up at that moment, overhearing the last of what I said. She looked at Colton, her eyebrows pinched together. “What’s going on?”
“It’s your choice,” I said to Colton. “We can be your getaway car.” I gave him two thumbs up. “Two hot chicks. How about it?”
“Thanks, Summer, but I’ll stick around. If there’s going to be fireworks, I should be here for them.”
“Okay.” I waved my phone in the air. “I’ll be back.”
“But…” Avery watched me slip farther away, confusion evident on her face. “What’s going on?” She looked back at Colton, stepping closer as I moved out of earshot and eyesight, wading around a large group waiting to be seated.
Cue the nerves.
My hand shook as I dialed Caden’s number. He’d called that one night, but since then we hadn’t talked. My heart was trying to leap out of my chest.
“Summer?”
My shoulders sagged in relief. I clutched the phone even tighter. “Hey.”
“Hey. Are you okay?”
I cleared my throat. “Avery and I are at Carabera’s and Colton’s here. I thought you should know.”
“Colton?” His voice was suddenly alert. “What’s going on?”
“Your parents are here. He said they’re getting a divorce.”
“And they’re hashing it out at a restaurant?” He cursed. “I’m on my way. Thank you for calling.”
“You should know that I offered to be Colton’s getaway if he wanted to leave,” I said quickly before he hung up.
Caden was silent a moment. “Did he take you up on that?”
“No. He wants to be here to watch the fireworks.”
He grunted. “Damn straight there’s going to be fireworks. Thank you, Summer. Are you going to stick around? I mean, can you?” His voice dropped low. “I think I’m done waiting. I don’t think I can hold off any longer.”
I almost squeaked. My hand was so sweaty now. The phone almost slipped. “Uh…” My heart was pounding. “Yeah. I’ll be here.”
“Thank you.” His voice softened.
God. To hear that tenderness from him… I remembered the last time we were together. How he’d held me, touched me, gently kissed me. I gulped. I wanted that again, so much.
“I care about him too,” I whispered.
“I know.” Then he hung up, and I couldn’t move for a moment.
Caden was coming.
Here.
Where I was.
Where his family was.
And he’d asked me to stay too. He was done waiting.
“That’s Marcus’ brother?” Avery appeared next to me, pointing back toward Colton.
I nodded. I couldn’t talk at that moment.
“Holy crap. Marcus told me he was a twin, but I’ve never met him. You have?” I could hear the envy in her voice. “He looks just like Marcus, only thinner.”
I nodded. But he wasn’t just like Marcus. There were differences, ones she couldn’t see on the outside. I’d forgotten about that problem.
Avery didn’t know about Colton’s brain injury.
I had to do damage control. “Uh, maybe you should go.”
“What? Why?”
“Um…because Caden is coming, and I think this is a family thing now.”
“Caden’s coming?” Her eyebrows arched. She grasped my arm. “Do you want to leave before he gets here?”
“He asked me to stay.”
“Oh.” She let go and moved back a step. “So you’re just trying to get rid of me?”
Why hadn’t I thought of a great lie? I would suck being a spy.
“No, no. It’s not that. I’m not going to be a part of the family thing either. I’m just staying here because Caden asked me to.”
“I can stay with you then.” She looked me up and down. “You look like you’re going to pass out.”
I wavered on my feet, but no. I shook my head. “I’ll be fine.”
“You really don’t look good.”
I wanted to growl. How dare she point out the truth? “I’ll be fine. Caden asked me to stay.”
She had to understand how important that was, how I’d been waiting so long to hear words like that from him. He was done waiting.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I told her.
I’d take root on one of those benches if need be.
She sighed. “Okay. Are you sure I should leave?”
I nodded. “Caden will give me a ride home.”
She grinned. “You thought that through, huh?”
“I’m not a complete nincompoop.”
“Score one for using the word nincompoop in a conversation.”
“Thanks. It’s the largest word I’ve used in a while.”
She laughed, raking a hand through her hair. “Okay. I’ll leave you to it, but promise me you’ll tell Caden you’re not feeling the best. And maybe try to eat something. That’s why we came here, remember?”