works. I could even talk to my business manager about including in your contract for you to be able to hang up pieces in your boutique that aren’t chosen to be a part of the exhibit. It only seems fitting that Bare Sophistication be included in Miami Unleashed.”
It was true that the pieces of lingerie he’d seen would be perfect for the idea that was brewing in his mind. But that wasn’t the only reason he wanted to include Bare Sophistication in his idea. There was a time in life when he’d thought he’d always be a friend of Summer’s. That there would never be a time when they were apart. He understood that things had happened in their past that couldn’t be erased. However, spending eight years feeling like somewhat distant acquaintances rather than the best friends they used to be was more than disappointing. It made him feel empty inside. Alone.
He couldn’t quite read the look on Summer’s face, but judging from what he could see in her eyes, she was intrigued.
“Would you really be willing to include Bare Sophistication in your exhibit?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation. He still needed approval, but he was sure the folks at Palmer Lane would love his idea.
He was watching her so closely, he was able to pinpoint the exact moment she truly believed in his plan. “Okay, then I think it’s a great idea and Bare Sophistication would be honored to be a part of it.”
“Great! Let’s shake on it until I’m able to have the contract drawn up.” He held her eyes as he extended his hand. The minute their hands touched, he felt the same emotions flow through his body that he’d felt when they’d hugged earlier.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you that I’m sorry the documentary that was being done on you fell through,” she said removing her hand from his. “It would have been awesome.”
“You told me that via email last year.”
“I know, but I wanted to make sure I told you in person.”
“Thank you.” His eyes dropped to her lips and lingered there for a few seconds.
“Well, then,” she said suddenly, as she clasped her hands together. “Now that we’ve settled the initial awkwardness of catching up, are you ready to help me move some boxes?”
He laughed when she didn’t wait for him to respond, but instead, got to work. As they fell into a comfortable silence, Aiden couldn’t help but think about how well they worked together on projects in the past. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t recall ever working with anyone as well as he’d worked with Summer. They had a lot to talk about and he was sure she’d rather ignore discussing certain topics. However, too much time had passed and too many memories were left unaddressed. He needed her back in his life. Not as an acquaintance. Not as close friend. He wanted her in every capacity.
Twenty years ago...
Summer ignored the large raindrops falling from the dark sky as she raced across her backyard as fast as she could in her unlaced gym shoes. It was way too late for a nine-year-old to be out, but whenever things got bad at home her best friend was the only one who could calm her down. She felt bad for leaving her sisters at home, but escaping the verbal wrath of their mother was something Summer had gotten really good at the past year.
Her mother, Sonia Dupree, was a piece of work. When Sonia wasn’t telling Summer’s sister Winter that she wasn’t beautiful enough or her sister Autumn that she wasn’t smart enough, she was making sure Summer realized that she would never share the close bond that her older sisters shared with each other. She wasn’t special, and the sooner she realized it, the better. Winter and Autumn were born eleven months apart, so they were extremely close. Summer only trailed behind Winter by three years and Autumn by two, but sometimes it felt like there were even more years between them.
When she reached her best friend’s house, she went behind the shed that was connected to the main house to climb the small rope ladder hanging from the side. When she reached the top, she climbed the short distance to her friend’s window and lightly tapped the glass. It wasn’t the first time Summer had shown up in the middle of the night in tears after a fight with her mother.
“What happened?” Aiden asked as he helped her inside and wrapped a blanket around her.
“My mom is arguing with my sisters again and my dad won’t be home from his work trip until tomorrow. They are only fighting with her because of me. It’s all my fault.”
In between her sobs, Summer explained that her mother had arrived home looking to pick a fight with her daughters. Tonight, Summer was the object of her wrath because she had told her mother that she was only watching television because she had finished her homework early. Summer knew better. She wished she had cut off the television as soon as she heard the key turn in the front door indicating Sonia was home.
The yelling had quickly escalated when Summer couldn’t find the remote fast enough to cut off the program. Despite the fact that her mother initially began arguing with her, Winter and Autumn deflected the argument so that Sonia wouldn’t continue to yell at Summer. Of course, that only made Sonia angrier, and as soon as she caught on to the deflection, her wrath turned back to Summer.
“Your sisters can handle it,” Aiden said as he cut on a lamp and sat with Summer on the floor. “You know how your mom gets. All the yelling will wear her out soon.”
“I just don’t understand why she’s like this. Why can’t she be like the other moms and give us hugs and tell us that she loves us? All she does is yell and tell us how much she hates that we were ever born.”
“Everyone isn’t meant to be a parent. Don’t give her that power and let her upset you. She isn’t worth it.”
Summer glanced at Aiden with tear-streaked cheeks and instantly began to feel better. “You know, if we weren’t in the same grade I’d swear you were a grown-up.” Aiden wasn’t only mature for his age, he towered over most of the boys in their grade.
Aiden laughed and began imitating their fourth grade teacher who was constantly telling him he needed to act his age. But that was Aiden. Nine going on twenty-nine. Her dad, Vail Dupree, always said that Aiden was an old soul trapped in a young body.
“Thanks for making me laugh,” Summer said when her laughter began to die down. “You always make me feel better.”
“That’s my job as your best friend.” Aiden stood and walked over to his dresser. “I’ve been saving my allowance all year to get you this gift. I was going to wait until Christmas in a few months, but maybe you should have it now.”
She opened the small white box he handed her and gasped when she noticed a gold locket that had Best Friends engraved on it. When she opened the locket, she found a picture of the two of them at summer camp a couple of months ago on one side and her sisters on the other.
“How did you have enough money to buy this?” Her eyes grew wide. “Unless you didn’t buy it.”
“Relax, Dupree. I didn’t steal it,” Aiden said with a smile. “My dad gave me a couple months’ allowance early so that I could get it before the store sold out. Do you like it?”
“I more than like it. I love it. How could I not love it when you included pictures of my three favorite people?” She didn’t feel a need to say that of the three, Aiden was her most favorite.
“Every time you feel like you’re alone and need to escape, look at this locket and know that I’m right there with you.”
She studied the locket a little more before she glanced at Aiden. “It’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten.”
His mouth curled to the side in a crooked smile that she was starting to like more and more each day. Even though he’d always be Aiden, her friend who happened to be a boy, she was starting to see why so many girls had