Free Loving Summer (Loving Summer Series) by Kailin Gow Page B

to move further on in our relationship, and I’m not even thinking about her. I can’t do this, Summer, and I don’t think you can either.”
                I nod, moving back from him and going to the bathroom I share with Rachel to check on my makeup. There’s a smear around my eye where tears have started to fall. I wipe it away and reapply makeup.
                “You’re right,” I say. “I can’t do that. I’m not about to break things up with you and Chrissy, that’s up to you if you want to do it, and I’m not even going to consider dating you if you’re still with her. Now, that’s Astor at the door, so you’ll have to excuse me.”
                Nat reaches out for my arm again, and this time I step past him. “You’ve just said that we aren’t together, Nat, and even if we were, I wouldn’t let you just go around grabbing me.”
                “But you’re still going out?” Nat asks. “After all this, you’re still going with him, even though you know it will hurt me?”
                I shrug. “You’ve hurt me for years, Nat, and at least I gave you a chance to be happy with me. It’s you who hooked up with Chrissy. If you can’t act on what you feel for me, then why should I be unhappy? Astor is amazing. He’s a wonderful, sweet, gentle guy who also happens to be incredibly hot.”
                “Now you’re pushing him in my face,” Nat says.
                I shake my head. “No. I’m telling you that my happiness isn’t up to you, Nat. If you’d wanted to be with me, that would have been great. If you can’t give up Chrissy… well, she’s a lucky girl, and maybe you should try thinking about her instead of me. If you can’t, I’m still not going to drop everything while you figure out what you want. I’m going to go after what I want.”
                “And that’s Astor?” Nat asks.
                I shrug. “He makes me happy, and that’s more than what you’re doing right now, Nat. Now, I’m going downstairs, because he’s been waiting at the door far too long. And I’m doing it in this dress. If you can’t cope with that, then that’s your problem, not mine.”
                I walk away from him then, heading downstairs to the door. Astor’s waiting there, looking amazing in a casual shirt and jeans. Maybe I’ve overdressed for the occasion. Or maybe not, given the way he looks when he sees me.
                “You look amazing,” he says, almost as soon as he sees me.
                “Sorry it took me so long to answer the door,” I say.
                “It’s a woman’s prerogative to take her time about getting ready for a date,” Astor replies, with another glance at me. “Especially when she ends up looking like that.”
                He kisses me then. I think about Nat, and wonder if he’s watching. Then I smile to myself, decide that I don’t care, and kiss Astor back.

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
    A stor drives me up into the canyons, around the twists and turns of the climbing roads that give me a great view of the scenery around us. There are small streams down below, along with trees everywhere the rocky hillsides aren’t rising up above road level.
                “This is a beautiful place to live,” I say.
                “I guess,” he replies. “Your aunt’s place is pretty cool too, though, and this can feel a little out of the way sometimes.”
                Maybe, but I can also see how Astor might need somewhere out of the way, occasionally. His house sits off a small side road, with great views out over one of the canyons. It’s a big, modern place that looks like it must have cost a fortune. But then, Astor can afford it. That’s kind of strange, the idea of a guy my age having a place like this.
                “This is all yours?” I