“Sum, open up, I know you're in there. Loretta said she saw you.”

Damn Loretta and her Spanish spidey-sense. Summer's eyes went wide as the banging continued.

“We will have to tell them something,” I urged, squeezing her hand in reassurance. 

We'd made it home before school ended, but Kyle knew Summer was missing. He'd texted me at least six times. Which meant, Maverick and Macey probably knew.

“We can't tell them, Maverick would...”

“Ssh.” I smoothed the stray hairs from her face. “I'll think of something, okay? Just go along with me.” I went to move but Summer clutched my hand. “They can't know,” her voice cracked.

I nodded, but it was more of a grimace. Neither of the Stone-Prince boys would be easy to convince, but I had to try. And if I had to choose one to battle with, it would be Kyle every time.

“Sum—” Kyle's eyes narrowed with suspicion as the door swung open. “Where is she?” He glared at me.

I pushed the door open further but didn't move. “She's here, and she's fine. See.” I flicked my head to the bed where Summer was curled up. 

“Summer?” his voice softened as he craned his head over my shoulder. “What happened?”

“Girls stuff,” I said.

“Girls stuff? You both ditch afternoon classes and all I'm getting is ‘girls stuff’? Not good enough, Cous. You need to starting talking, now.”

I folded my arms over my chest and stepped forward, forcing him back into the hallway. “Well it's all you're getting, Cous.” I smiled wryly, arching my eyebrow for good measure. 

“Lo.” He dragged a hand over his face and part of me felt bad for him. Kyle cared, I didn't doubt that, but the last thing Summer needed was an interrogation from him. He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Did something happen with Nick because if it did—”

“Kyle.” I pressed a firm hand against his chest. “You need to back off. She's here, and she's fine. She doesn't need this right now.”

He cupped his jaw again. “You'd tell me, right, if something bad happened?”

I nodded. “Everything is fine. I promise.”

“Can I talk to her?”

“I don't think that's a good idea, not yet. Give her time.”

I saw the pain in his eyes. His unwillingness to walk away, and couldn't blame him. Elliot would never have left me if he knew I was hurting. He was my big brother. My protector. But Summer didn't want him to know, not yet. And I vowed to keep my promise. 

Kyle released a strained breath and finally relented. “Fine. I'm out of here. But I will find out one way or another.” He stalked away without his usual bounce, and I closed the door and returned to Summer. 

“Should I get Macey? Maybe she would—”

“No, I don't want her to know. Not yet,” Summer rushed out. “I'll tell her, I will. Just let me deal with this first, okay?”

I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her hair. “Of course. Whatever you need.”

“Thank you, Lo, for everything. I thought Nick would be there for me, you know? But when I told him I should go the family planning clinic, he stared at me like I was talking another language.”

“He probably panicked.” I hesitated. I'd wanted to ask earlier but didn't want to upset Summer any more than she already was. “Can I ask you something?”

She nodded.

“He didn't force—”

“What? No! We've been friends forever. I don't have many girlfriends, being a Stone-Prince is intense, you know? If it's not Maverick, it's Kyle. Even Macey is always warning me to watch my back. It's made life at school hard. Nick didn't care who I was. Over the summer, we got closer. One night we were hanging out, and he kissed me. It felt right, I guess. We’ve been dating for a month. But I wasn't ready. It changed things. As soon as it was over, we both felt it.”

“You're only fifteen, Summer. There's plenty of time for all that.”

“I know. I want to put this whole thing behind me.”

My phone vibrated, and I dug it out of my pocket.

 

Kyle: Tell Summer I'm sorry. If she needs anything, I'm here

 

I showed her the screen, and she smiled. “He's a big, soft, teddy bear really.” 

“Nothing like Maverick,” the words slipped out before I could stop them. But Summer didn't notice the slight inflection in my words.

“He’s just overprotective. He doesn’t let people in easily. It’s like he has this wall around him. He wasn’t always like this,” she paused, letting out a soft sigh. “Actually, he was, but it wasn’t always this bad. Something changed last year. Obviously, no one has asked him about it and if they had, they wouldn’t get an answer. Maverick is a closed book.”

And didn’t I know it.

“You don’t have to stay.” Summer sat upright. “I’m okay, I promise. The nurse said the chances of … anything happening is virtually nothing. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re sure? I can stay a while longer.”

“Um, I think I’m going to call Nick. I don’t want him to worry.”

I hadn’t noticed it before—I’d been only concerned for her wellbeing—but I saw it now. The youngest Stone-Prince didn’t just have a crush, she was in love.

“Okay, but if you need anything, you know where I am.”

I left Summer dialling her friend. If Maverick and Kyle found out I didn’t want to think about what would happen to him. But it was her decision to make.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

My heart lurched at the sight of Macey at the end of the hallway, arms folded firmly over her chest.

“Nothing.”

“Seriously? You’re going to shut me out? I’m her sister.”

I held her stare. “That’s between the two of you. Summer needed me, I was there.” It was a low blow, but Macey had made no effort to make me feel welcome. Her usual scowl deepened, and I readied myself for her reply, but it never came. Her glare burned into my back as I made my way downstairs.

There was no sign of Maverick or Kyle. I helped myself to a drink and some cookies and headed for the pool house unable to shut off my thoughts. Here was Summer, the youngest Stone-Prince, surrounded by elder siblings, but still lonely. Alienated. And I got it. Maverick and Macey were intense. And Kyle, even though he was different, was overbearing.

I knew all about over-protective brothers. Elliot had been the same, but he hadn’t pushed me away. He’d been my best friend, and before he went off to uni, we’d done everything together. Being only one year apart, we shared a lot of the same friends, and he was always around.

Until one day he wasn’t.

I hadn’t only lost my brother in the accident, I’d lost my best friend. And sometimes, when I let myself stop and remember, the pain was too much to bear.

Inside the sanctuary of the pool house, I kicked off my Converse and yanked my hair out of the ponytail, letting the waves cascade down my back. I hadn’t even been here two weeks yet, and it felt like I was caught up in a whirlwind. My phone vibrated again and I let out a groan. Kyle was incessant. But when my eyes fell on the screen a whole other feeling took hold.

 

Maverick: Thank you

 

Thank you? What did he mean? I couldn’t imagine Summer had told Maverick what happened in the time it took me to get to the pool house. Or had he found out some other way? Or was I misreading the situation entirely? Maverick was angry—a loaded gun waiting for an excuse to fire. But somewhere underneath all the brooding and hostility was the boy I’d met last summer.

~

The ride to school the next day was uncomfortable. Kyle muttered the odd word while Summer sat silent in the back, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. But by the weekend, the tension slowly evaporated. I'd checked in with her a couple of times and she reassured me everything was okay. She and Nick were working through things, but after their scare both of them had decided to take it slow. Macey watched me like a hawk, and Maverick didn't look twice at me.

After his text message, it stung.

“So, you'll come after, right?” Laurie said. After apologising all week, I finally relented and agreed to go to the opening game pep rally with her, after dinner with Dad.

“Yes, I'll come. Dinner should be done by nine, at the latest.”

She shrieked down the line and I held the phone away from my ear. “Sorry, I'm just excited. I love football.”

“I bet you do.” I laughed accusatorially. 

“Hey, I do. It has absolutely nothing to do with Kyle.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” I swung my legs over the bed and stood. “I need to go get ready. Dad will be here soon.”

“Okay, have fun. I'll see you later. Text me when you're done.”

We hung up, and I searched through the small closet for something to wear. It was just dinner with Dad, but I didn't know what to expect after. Laurie had told me how big of a deal football was at Wicked Bay High. And these people didn't do things by half. 

A knock at the pool house door startled me. I called out, “Come in.”

“Lo? It's me,” Uncle Gentry's voice floated through the house. “Are you decent?”

I went into the living area. He stood poised in the doorway with a strained smile on his face. “How was school today?”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Good. I feel like we haven't spent enough time together but things at work are...” he paused something clouding his eyes. “Busy.”

“It's fine, I'm a big girl.” I hadn't meant for it to sound so bitter.

“Everything is okay, though? The kids are making you feel welcome? I know Kyle is happy you're here.” He ran a hand through his hair and it occurred to me he was nervous. Uncle Gentry was nervous. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“Is everything okay?”

“You're different, Lo.” His voice was sad. “What you went through. I can't ever imagine. But know you're loved and your Dad just wants the best for you, sweetheart.”

“Okay.” I frowned, caught off guard by his little speech.

“Just go easy on him, okay? It hasn't been easy for him, none of this has.”

I wanted to ask what he meant, but my phone blared and he was already out of the door. 

~

“Looks fancy.” I eyed the restaurant. It was on the main street, downtown. And it looked worlds apart from the places I was used to eating at. With its deep red curtains and gold furnishings, I suddenly felt very out of place. 

“It'll be fine.” Dad squeezed my hand reassuringly, and I smiled. The ride over had been nice. We’d chatted about our first couple of weeks in Wicked Bay. Dad told me about Stone and Associates, and his new role there. It was pleasant. It almost felt like old times. Which made the fancy restaurant seem over the top.

“Seriously, we couldn't have just gone to The Cali Grill?” It had been my favourite place to eat last summer.

He laughed softly as he held the door open and I slipped inside. If the outside looked upmarket, the inside was something else, and I sucked in a sharp breath. But Dad didn't seem fazed as he guided me to the hostess, talking in hushed voices. The maître d smiled and picked up two leather bound menus, leading us to the back of the room. 

My eyes scanned the tables, a sinking feeling washing over me as I realised there were no empty ones.

“Dad?” My voice cracked as he slowed in front of a table occupied by a beautiful woman. Feet rooted to the spot, my body lurched forward to catch up to the jarred movement. 

“Tell me this isn't what I think it is?” My voice was low, cracked with betrayal. 

“Eloise, I'd like you to meet Stella.”

Stella.

Was it possible to hate a name? To take offence to the word that gave someone their verbal identity? 

Because all I felt was hatred.

Blood curdling, heart wrenching hatred.

“I can't...” the words started to form, and I saw the maître d's confusion at my reluctance to sit down. 

Dad moved in front of me, shielding me from her view. Or maybe it was the other way around. Maybe she was the one he was protecting... from me.

“You ambushed me.” I stared up at him, blinking away the tears. 

“I knew if I told you, you wouldn't come. Please, Eloise,” his voice was quiet. “I'd really like you to meet her. She's important to me.”

More important than me? 

The words were right there, on the tip of my tongue. But I couldn't speak. I couldn't do anything but let him guide me into a chair as he moved around to the blonde-haired woman watching our exchange with caution in her eyes.

“You look lovely, darling.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek and it was like a knife to my heart.

“Lo, I'd like you to meet Stella Drake. Stella, my daughter, Lo.”

“Hello, Lo, it’s lovely to finally meet you.”

Finally.

There was that word again. The word my grandparents had used. 

Dad sat down across from me and next to Stella. I didn't miss the way his hand patted hers, or the longing in his eyes as he gazed at her.

Fuck.

He loved her.

My father wasn't just seeing a new woman, he'd fallen in love with one.

“Lo?” The hard edge to his voice had my eyes widening.

“Sorry, what?”

“I said this is Stella.” He gave me a pointed look.

“Hello,” I croaked. 

“I love your shirt, Lo. It really complements your hair and skin. Robert didn't tell me how beautiful you were.”

What was I supposed to say? That I had my mum's eyes and complexion? Did she want to hear that? To hear all about my dead mother?

Thankfully, I didn't have to answer. The waitress arrived to take our drink order and Dad made light conversation. It was like a dream—an out of body experience. They talked like two old friends and I realised Stella Drake was someone who knew my father before he moved to England. Before he met Mum and got married and had a family. This woman sitting in front of me with her perfect hair and warm smile was privy to a man I'd never met. 

The knife twisted.

“How are you finding school?” She attempted to pull me back into the conversation. “It can't have been easy?”

I shrugged, picking the hem of the black tablecloth. “It's been okay, I guess. My cousins have been very welcoming.” I swallowed down the lump. 

Something flashed over her face and she smiled again. “Good, that's good. At least you have... people.” 

What the hell did that mean?

Once again, we were interrupted by the waitress. She delivered our drinks and took our order. I didn't miss the way Dad ordered for Stella, and I couldn't help but wonder who this man before me was. He certainly wasn't the man I knew. 

My dad.

Our food arrived, providing a buffer between Stella's questions and Dad's attempt at building bridges. As far as I was concerned he was trying to salvage something that was ruined before it ever got started.

He’d set me up.

Instead of asking me to meet her, he’d forced her on me. I wasn't ready. It was too much, too soon. 

I pushed the chicken parmigiana around my plate, unable to stomach it.

“Stella is an editor for the local paper,” Dad said.

“That's nice.” 

“It pays the bills and means I can work from home sometimes so I'm around for Beth.”

“Who's Beth?”

The colour drained from Dad's face and he placed down his cutlery and Stella let out a garbled sound. “Oh, I'm sorry, I thought Robert had told you. Beth is my daughter, she's six.”

The knife hit an artery, and I felt myself plummet. The blood drained from my face.

“She's great, Lo. You'll love her.” 

I stared at my father as I calmly placed down my own cutlery and met Stella's uncertain gaze. “Actually, he didn't tell me. Until last weekend, I didn't even know anything about you. Now, if you'll both excuse me I have somewhere to be.”

Stella let out a shaky breath as I rose from the table and walked away. Dad didn't follow. I didn't expect him to. After all, he had Stella to comfort.