XV

Summer Preston

The day before the premiere has finally arrived, and I can barely contain my excitement.

I arrived in LA last evening with Nolan and Adrianna. As expected, we're all staying on the same floor of the same hotel. Adrianna and I are directly across from one another, while Nolan's room is on my right.

After unpacking our bags yesterday, we headed out to dinner at a restaurant called Palm & Plate. The food was incredible—surprising, considering I rarely like trying new things. My favorite part, though, was their drink menu. I tried a cocktail called the Blushberry Breeze, a strawberry slushie with a vodka twist, and it was heavenly.

Adrianna and I had three of those before Nolan decided we'd had enough. He wasn't thrilled after we knocked over a glass of water on his lap and laughed so hard we nearly cried.

Now, the three of us are sprawled across Nolan's bed, idly chatting.

"Is everyone you invited staying in this hotel?" Adrianna asked.

"I'm not sure," I replied. "I told them they should—it's only ten minutes from the venue, so it's an easy commute."

"I'd definitely stay here. Free breakfast every day? You can't beat that," Nolan said, popping a chocolate-covered strawberry into his mouth.

"All you think about is food," Adrianna teased.

"You say that like it's a problem," he shot back.

"Okay, fatty. Go ahead and finish those strawberries."

"If you want one, just say so."

"I don't eat strawberries," Adrianna said, rolling her eyes.

I couldn't help but giggle. "You drank a strawberry slushie last night!"

"A slushie and an actual strawberry are two different things," she retorted.

"It's still a strawberry," Nolan chimed in.

"Just shut up," Adrianna huffed, turning her attention back to her phone.

I tuned them out as my phone buzzed with a text from Solené.

Hi Summer, how are you?

I smiled and texted back.

I'm good, how about you?

I'm great. This California heat is something else.

Tell me about it. I've got the AC on full blast in my room.

Same here. Every time I step outside, it feels like my skin is melting.

That was me yesterday at dinner with Adrianna and Nolan. When did you get here?

I arrived a few hours ago. I've just been settling in. What hotel are you staying at?

I'm at Casa Lumière. What about you?

Wait, really? I'm staying there too.

If you wanted to stay at the same hotel as me, just say that. No need to follow me.

Don't flatter yourself.

Already flattered.

As soon as I hit send, Nolan snatched my phone out of my hand.

"Why would you do that?" I groaned, reaching for it.

He held it out of reach, smirking as he read the texts. "She's texting her girlfriend," he teased.

"She's not my girlfriend!" I snapped, rolling my eyes.

"Yet..." Adrianna added with a sly grin.

"You two are insufferable."

"Hey, you're the one who said the date was to die for," Nolan said, grinning.

"Exactly—because it was!" I shot back.

"If I remember correctly," Adrianna interjected, clasping her hands together dramatically, "you said it was the most romantic thing ever."

I shoved her off the bed, and she landed on the floor with a loud thud. "That's exactly what you get!" I said, laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.

Nolan tried to hold in his laugh but failed miserably.

Adrianna climbed back onto the bed, flipping me off. "Fine, I'll stop teasing. But seriously, why didn't you kiss her? Or at least make a move?"

"I don't want to rush anything," I said. "We've been flirting, sure, but I don't want to make any dramatic decisions just yet."

"Understandable," Nolan said thoughtfully, his teasing tone fading. "Given how things were left..."

Adrianna's face softened, and for once, she didn't jump in with another sarcastic comment. Instead, she just nodded, letting the weight of his words linger for a moment. The room grew quiet except for the hum of the AC and the faint sounds of the city outside.

I sighed and leaned back against the headboard. "I just... don't want to mess things up again, you know? She's amazing, but I feel like if I go too fast, I'll scare her off. Or worse, I'll mess it up for both of us."

Adrianna slid closer, resting her head on my shoulder. "You're not going to mess it up. Solené clearly likes you—you wouldn't be texting her every five minutes if she didn't."

"Exactly," Nolan chimed in, tossing the last chocolate-covered strawberry into his mouth. "If anything, she's probably waiting for you to make the move. You're overthinking it."

"Since when did you two become relationship experts?" I shot back, rolling my eyes.

"Please," Adrianna said, sitting up and flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I'm a walking relationship expert. Have you seen my track record?"

"Your track record of dating disasters?" Nolan said, smirking.

"Oh, shut up, Nolan. Like you're one to talk. I'm pretty sure your last boyfriend dumped you because you prioritized pizza over your anniversary dinner."

"It was really good pizza!" Nolan said defensively, throwing a pillow at her.

I laughed at their back-and-forth, grateful for the distraction. But as they continued bickering, my mind drifted back to Solené. Our texts felt so easy and natural, but there was always that small voice of doubt in the back of my head. What if she'll leave again? What if it's all for nothing?

My phone buzzed again, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Are you doing anything tonight?

I stared at the message, my heart skipping a beat. Was this just casual?

"What's with that face?" Adrianna asked, peeking at my phone. "Oh my God, is that her? What did she say?"

"It's none of your business," I said, pulling my phone away.

Nolan grinned. "Oh, it's definitely our business. What did your girlfriend say this time?"

"She's not my girlfriend!" I protested, but I couldn't keep the small smile off my face.

"Yet," Adrianna and Nolan said in unison, bursting into laughter.

I rolled my eyes and typed back quickly.

Not yet. Why? What's up?

Her response came almost instantly.

I was thinking about grabbing drinks at the rooftop bar here. Want to join me?

"What now?" Nolan asked, leaning over to try and see my phone.

"She asked me to get drinks with her." I said, feeling both excited and nervous.

Adrianna squealed, grabbing my arm. "You have to go! This is your chance to make a move!"

"Or at least figure out where things stand," Nolan added.

I hesitated, biting my lip. "But what if I say something stupid? Or she doesn't see it that way? What if—"

"Summer," Adrianna interrupted, gripping my shoulders. "You've got this. You know Solené, she's not a stranger."

"And don't order three Blushberry Breezes again," Nolan said, smirking.

I threw a pillow at him. "I'll have whatever I want, thank you very much."

Taking a deep breath, I typed back.

I'd love to. What time?

Her reply came just as quickly.

In about an hour? No pressure if you're busy, though.

"I'm going," I said decisively, standing up from the bed.

Adrianna cheered while Nolan gave me a mock salute. "Good luck out there, soldier."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the grin spreading across my face. I glanced at the clock—an hour to get ready. My heart was pounding, but in the best possible way.

After the shower, I dried off quickly, slipping into my beige strapless maxi dress. It flowed elegantly, brushing against my skin as I adjusted the hem in front of the mirror. I paired it with my pink Diesel purse and Gucci platform sandals, then added my Cartier bracelets and Van Cleef earrings. A spritz of Burberry Her perfume completed the look. I checked my reflection one last time and grabbed my purse, excitement bubbling in my chest.

When I arrived at the rooftop bar, I spotted Solené immediately. She was sitting near the edge, her dark hair loose and catching the soft glow of the string lights. Her gaze lifted as I approached, and a warm smile spread across her face.

"Hi," I said, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Hi," she replied, her eyes sweeping over me. "You look beautiful, Summer."

"Thank you," I said, blushing slightly. "You look amazing too."

We ordered drinks, and the conversation started light. She told me about her day settling into the hotel, and I shared a story about Adrianna's and Nolan's antics from the night before. We laughed easily, but I could feel the weight of what I needed to say settling in my chest.

Our drinks arrived—a martini for her and a mojito for me—and I took a sip, letting the cool sweetness settle my nerves. Finally, I set my glass down and looked at her.

"Can I be honest with you about something?" I asked.

Her expression softened, and she leaned forward slightly, giving me her full attention. "Of course."

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "I've been thinking a lot about... us," I began. "And I guess I just need to know where we stand. I really care about you, but part of me is scared. Things didn't end great last time, and I've been trying not to let that get in the way, but..."

I hesitated, and she reached across the table to touch my hand, her fingers warm and steady against mine.

"Summer, I know," she said gently. "I know I hurt you before, and I can't change that. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere." Her voice was calm, firm, but full of emotion. "Leaving before was a mistake. I thought I needed space to figure things out, but I realized what I really needed was you. I came back because I want to be with you—not halfway, not with doubts. Completely."

Her words settled over me like a blanket, soft and comforting. "I've been overthinking everything," I admitted, my voice quieter. "But hearing you say that... it helps. It makes me feel like I can stop holding my breath."

"You can," she said, squeezing my hand. "You don't have to be afraid anymore, Summer. I want this as much as you do."

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Okay."

"Okay," she repeated, her own smile matching mine.

After finishing our drinks, we decided to take a walk on the beach. The sand was cool beneath my feet, and the ocean breeze carried the faint scent of saltwater. The stars were scattered across the sky, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the comfortable silence between us.

"So," she said, breaking the quiet. "You never told me—what did you think of our date?"

I laughed softly, looking down at the sand as we walked. "I enjoyed it, a lot. But, I don't want to boost that ego of yours." I admitted.

"My ego was already boosted," she said, nudging me gently with her shoulder. "For the record, I'm really glad you enjoyed it."

"Me too," I said, glancing over at her. "Though I didn't expect to feel this... at ease. It's nice."

We continued walking, talking about everything and nothing—her favorite spots in Paris, the most embarrassing thing I'd done at a school event, her first attempt at cooking (which she described as a disaster).

At one point, I stopped, looking out at the ocean. "It's funny," I said. "I spent so much time worrying about how this would go, but now it feels like it's just... us. Like it always should have been."

She stepped closer, her hand brushing against mine. "That's because it is just us," she said. "No pressure, no expectations. Just... this."

I smiled, letting the moment sink in. The sound of the waves, the cool breeze, the way her presence felt grounding.

Eventually, we made our way back to the hotel, the easy flow of conversation carrying us all the way to my door. We stood there for a moment, the quiet between us comfortable but charged with something more.

"I had a really great time tonight," I said softly, my hand resting on the door handle.

"So did I," she said, her eyes warm and steady on mine.

Before I could say anything else, she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek. "Goodnight, Summer."

I felt my cheeks flush, a warmth spreading through me as I smiled. "Goodnight, Solené."

As she walked away, I slipped into my room and leaned against the door, my hand brushing over the spot where her lips had been. I couldn't help but smile, the weight of the night lifting into something lighter, something hopeful. This feels right, I thought. Maybe this time, we'll get it right.