Every Summer After Novels & Stories

Anna and I stood only inches from the edge of the rooftop. From where John stood, it must have looked like I was holding a knife to her throat. Anna suddenly leaned closer and let out a malicious chuckle. “Relax, I’ve got one more gift for you.” As soon as she said that, a swarm of reporters flooded the area below. They raised their cameras and microphones, shouting questions. “Ms. Summer, before you married Mr. Shaw, did you hide the fact that you had been assaulted?” “Ms. Summer, you’ve had no children for all these years. Is that because the assault left you with lasting complications?”

“You have beautiful eyes.” Meeting his concerned gaze, I came back to my senses, snatched up my shattered glasses, and fled in panic. However, that day, the sound of cicadas buzzing in the trees beside the school field lingered in my ears for a very, very long time.

Feeling infinitely better, I drag myself back upstairs, eager to hit the shower before dinner. As we eat, the chatter around the table is electric with excitement. The day after tomorrow, we head to the royal pack for the Alpha King’s summer training camp, and the guys can’t stop buzzing about it. I have to admit, I’m a bit excited too. For the first time since Zach turned 14, I won’t be the one left behind. No lonely summer for me this year.

I said it without even thinking. “I'll see you later then,” and she hang up even before I could get a word in... So I'm guessing I am going to that dinner. God help me. I hope Casey won't be there. Casey Summer holidays, why do they have to be so boring? Correction, allow me to rephrase that. Summer holidays, why does Connie always have to go to that dumb cheer camp every single year. I seriously don't get the concept of it. The competition is always so predictable.

"Wow, you're really cool. Wait a minute. Isn't it the shirt Louis and I advertised?" Summer giggled proudly. "That's right! I did like this shirt. That's why Mama ordered one. You looked so cool in the poster, Uncle Cay. I put it in my room." "Summer likes to imitate your poses," Sky added. "That's been her bedtime ritual for the last few nights." "Mama is right. I do it like this!" Summer started posing. She imitated Cayden's style. Emily burst out laughing at the sight. Cayden could only shake his head in amusement.

The heat wave continues, and so do we—stolen afternoons, midnight swims, bodies tangled under the stars. Endless summer, endless us.

I still didn't get why they liked him. He was handsome, but well… I couldn’t quite get it. Maybe because he was my brother. Summer break was getting close in California, and there was something about the way the sun made everything smell that I loved. I had decided to spend June at my elder brother’s apartment before I resumed college. My brother, Davis, had moved out when he was nineteen and had been living alone ever since he started college. He was pissed off when I told him I was coming over, but what could he do to me?

The third of July bonfire has been a tradition since childhood. Summer glanced up from the wicker chair she was curled in, looking past me instead of at me. The mention of Jenny's name should have pulled some reaction from her, but no. Nothing. Summer liked Jenny, always had. Well, maybe more like tolerated her. Jenny was a local woman I hooked up with once a year while we were on vacation. Nothing serious, friendly even. Of course, I didn't plan on sleeping with her this trip, not after everything with Summer, but Jenny had hung around our circle since we were teens and to leave her out felt unnecessary.