40. Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Devon

I stick the last letter sign into the lawn by the driveway, then move further back to get a look at it. Happy 3rd Birthday, Astrid is stuck across the lawn for everyone who drives by to see. The letters are large, up to my hip when I stand next to them.

Looking at it from here, I see the first couple of letters need to be spaced apart a little better, so I go back to fix them, then take another look. They’re perfect, and absolutely adorable.

Summer got them custom made by a shop in town. They’re sturdy and designed in pink, green, and blue, with Blue from Blue’s Clues popping out of the side of the A in Astrid’s name. There are a few other characters from the show on the other letters, like Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper, Paprika, Magenta, and Slippery Soap.

Summer talked to her parents and agreed to have the party here because she felt it would be a better experience for Astrid. I also think it’s her way of giving an olive branch to her parents and hoping they’ll do better at being in Astrid’s life. They told her they realized they made a mistake, but words and actions are two different things. Something I know all too well from dealing with Tatum lately.

I don’t think he’s hurting me on purpose, but he knows he is… and he isn’t doing anything about it.

Now that the letters are up, I head to the back of the house to see what Summer needs help with next. I got here early to help her set everything up. The party starts in a couple of hours.

“What do you need me to do?”

Summer lines up the last few bottles of water in the fridge that her parents have set up outside on the patio. It’s packed full of drinks—juice boxes, water bottles, and cans of soda.

“Catering won’t be here until one, but maybe start lining the tables with the cloths and get the chafing stands set up?”

“I can do that. Are they inside?”

“Yeah, right in the sunroom.” She points to the sliding glass door off the patio.

Her parents have a beautiful house on a sizeable piece of land. Rolling hills are in the backyard, with lush trees and a colorful garden. The house looks small on the land, but it isn’t. Not at all.

I head inside to get the things I need and carry as much as I can back to the tables that are underneath a large tent for shade. I lay the tablecloths along the tables and line up the trays.

I’m not sure what her parents ordered for food, so I don’t want to lay out any serving utensils yet because I don’t know what I’ll need. I think Summer went inside for something, so instead of finding her to figure out what to do, I go to the tables set out for people to sit and eat and start setting them up. She already laid out the cloths and decorations for each, so I get to work taping everything down so it doesn’t blow away if it gets windy.

“Astrid is still sleeping.” I glance over my shoulder to find Summer walking my way.

“She’ll be full of energy for later then.”

“Looks like it. Thanks for setting this all up.”

“It’s no problem.” I move on to the next table and Summer helps me. “How many people are you expecting?”

“From the looks of it, my parents invited our entirely family.”

“Any of your other friends?”

“Yeah, a few girls from work are bringing their kids, but they’re all older than Astrid. She has a few friends from daycare who are coming. At least they said they would. Are Dane and Tate coming?”

“Dane said he’d be here. I told Tate to figure out how to make it plausible.”

“You guys still fighting?” she asks, hands on her hips.

“It wasn’t really a fight…”

“You were upset.”

“Yeah, but it’s my own fault.”

We go to the next table and together we lay out the tablecloth and tape it beneath, then open up the decorations to lay out.

“It’s not your fault for wanting things to be serious with him.”

“But I don’t want that, Summer.”

“No, I think you do want that and you’re telling yourself you don’t because you’re stuck on leaving.”

“I am leaving. I’m waiting for the paperwork to finalize. ”

She purses her lips, nodding once before turning and heading back to the house.

I sigh, watching her disappear inside.

She’s upset that I’m leaving. I don’t want to leave her, but I need to do this. I’ve told her she can come with me multiple times, but she knows in order to do that she’d have to rely on me for things for a while and she doesn’t want to. She’d have to find a new job, find an acceptable daycare for Astrid… she wants to be independent. That’s exactly why I’m leaving, so I get it. I just wish she wouldn’t be so cold toward me about it.

We hardly see each other over the next couple of hours while we work to get things finished up. The catering arrives promptly and her mother handles that while her father makes sure the bar is stocked. A couple of their friends are the first to arrive and instead of saying a word to Summer or Astrid—who has since woken up from her nap—they go right to the bar.

Dane shows up a short time later, Tate on his heels. They’re both dressed well in slacks and button up short-sleeved shirts. My brother is a handsome guy, and Tate? Well, he’s hot as sin.

I’m relieved to see Tate, even if things have been strained over the last week, ever since I got upset over how he reacted when my father showed up. I get why he did it, but I won’t deny it hurt. I hate being his dirty little secret. But I can’t be anything more because it wouldn’t be fair to him. I hate that I can’t throw myself around him right now, but the secret smile he offers me is enough to keep me satisfied until I can sneak away later and get some kisses.

I hug Dane. “Thank you for coming. I know it’s weird, but she wanted people she knows here. ”

“Anything for you, little sis,” Dane says. “I wasn’t doing anything today and I haven’t seen Summer or her kid—”

“Astrid,” I correct.

“Yeah, that. I haven’t seen her since she was born.”

I hook my arm with my brother’s and walk to the backyard, feeling Tate’s gaze on me the whole way.

“Bar is inside, if you want a drink.” I gesture toward the patio, where the sliding glass doors are.

He hands me the pink bag he has in his hand before heading inside.

Tate hands me an envelope that I reach for. He doesn’t let it go, and instead leans in to whisper, “I hope you know all the places to hide in this house because I plan to fuck you really soon.”

A soft gasp escapes me as he lets go and steps away, following Dane into the house.

“You good?” Summer says, stopping at my side.

I clear my throat, my heart still pounding. “Yeah, great.”

She narrows her eyes, looking at me then to where Tate disappeared.

“Right… Is Dane with him?”

“Yep,” I say, holding out the bag and envelope to her. “I’m going to get my gift for Astrid before I forget. I’ll be right back.”

She drops the bag and envelope at the table where all the gifts are and I head inside to my purse, where I put the envelope for Astrid. I set up a trust for her to help with college because I’m not sure that’s something Summer will be able to help her with later. Since I have the money now, I want to make sure it’s there.

I’m on my way back when I’m scooped around the waist and pulled into a dark room.