Sunbeams and Thunderstorms (now published so sample only)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Two Years Later

Fourth Meeting

Late at night were the times she thought of him. She would stare at the slip of paper where he had written his number and then she stared at the portrait she painted of him. After that, she would allow herself a few moments to recall that soft, glorious kiss.

Any other time, when she was busy working, or spending time with her friends, he remained unspoken. Not a single person dared to mention his name, except for Arabella and Jed. The town all knew how a sunshine's anger could lead to destruction.

Nobody, not even Jed knew what transpired between them and Summer planned to keep it that way. As curious as her friends were, they never brought up the topic either.

Declan had driven her back from her jaunt in the desert. He left her standing outside the pub while he drove away. Jed had come out of the pub cursing at Declan, but it didn't stop him.

Later that day, Arabella had showed her the small apartment he'd organised for her. Once she was alone, she realised that Declan had left his duffle bag next to her suitcase in the room.

The first night she glared at it. The second night she kicked it and the third night she undid the zipper. His familiar aroma wafted from the bag and left her deliriously happy. She never thought a smell could comfort her until then.

By the end of the first week without him, she had emptied all of his things from the bag. She even began to wear his shirt to bed. Something about having clothing he wore surrounding her reassured her that he would return.

"Summer, hello dreamy," someone laughed and Summer turned her head to see Josie grinning at her. 'You're such a dreamer."

"Hey!" Summer pulled herself from her thoughts and focused on her friend Josie. "I'm not that bad."

"Me and Will are going out tonight. There's a party over at the Severson's, did you want to come?" Josie's bright blue eyes gleamed with excitement.

"To watch you and Will make out for hours on end. Ewww, no thank you." Summer pointed her thumb down.

"That Sacher guy is going to be there. We all know about the huge crush he has on you." Josie grinned and Summer squirmed.

"Josie, stop interrupting Summer from working." Arabella scolded from behind the bakery counter.

Summer sent her a grateful look. She hated it when her friends tried to set up potential dates for her. They always badgered her that she should be out there living it up. None of them understood the sheer devotion a sunshine put into their partner in life.

Having grown up around a sunshine, Arabella knew the importance of the claiming between Summer and Declan. Summer still didn't know everything about it. What she did know was that no other man would live up to Declan, no matter what they tried. He was her heart and soul.

"She's serving me coffee, so I'm not stopping her from working." Josie pointed out.

"I'll talk to you later." Summer muttered.

"Think about coming to the party." Josie said as she sipped at her drink.

"Yeah, maybe," Summer shrugged well aware that she wouldn't attend. She walked back behind the counter and faced Arabella's questioning gaze. "Thanks."

"No problem. Have you thought about ringing him?" Arabella didn't dare look at Summer as she asked.

"To say what? He chose to run away again, not me."