Page 35 of Forged Forever

“I couldn’t see what my actions were doing to you and Seb. He and I've talked a lot about this, and he forgives me, but I understand you and I are in a different place, in a unique relationship. I want you to know how truly sorry I am for both hurting and disappointing you. Despite having no interest in any of those girls, I allowed myself to be manipulated, and that hurt you. I’m ashamed I let another girl into my personal space, although I assure you we did not hug, kiss or do anything else.

“The further you both got from me, the deeper my fear grew and the less I was functioning. I couldn’t form enough thoughts to figure out how to stop all the bad things from happening, and it felt like I was drowning. It felt like a maze with no exit. That may sound strange to you, but I genuinely couldn’t think. Simply confronting my grandparents was beyond my capabilities at the time. I knew what you were telling me on some level, but I wasn’t processing the words. Everything was a jumble.

“I’m not trying to excuse my behaviour, just explain it.” E reaches over, grasping my hand, genuine remorse flickering through his eyes.

“I never considered you were having a trauma response.” The idea makes sense now that he’s explained it, but at the time, it didn’t register. Trauma is such a complicated thing. It can make people react in all kinds of different ways, usually unpredictable. I have sympathy for him enduring that, but I also wouldn’t change our breakup. It does, however, allow me to see things in a new light. E wasn’t ignoring us or choosing money over us. He simply couldn’t function. “So, the choice was never your inheritance over us?” I ask, needing the reassurance.

“No never. I swear,” E emphatically answers. “You and Seb were always my endgame. I walked away and chose you. My mind just took too long to process. The engagement triggered something inside me, and my mind fired again, thank god. Is there any chance left for us, Summer?”

I take my time sorting through my thoughts and feelings, playing with E’s fingers and sipping my lemonade. When I look up at E, the sun chooses that moment to break out from behind a floating, fluffy white cloud, creating a halo effect around him from behind. A golden god. My golden god. “I need to talk to Jake about you, Seb, and Nick first, but I would like to try again.”

A smile as bright as the sun sweeps across E’s face. He pulls me into a hug, resting his face against my neck. Listening to him talk today cracked the stone walls my feelings for him were hiding behind. After all, who understands trauma better than me?

After a kiss on my forehead, E and I continue our exploration of the many gardens. We spend several hours ambling through the trails; me stopping for pictures whenever I see a pretty bloom. We’re both lighter, both smiling as we make our way back to his truck. “Let’s come back in the summer and explore more E.”

“It’s a date, Summer.” E lifts my hand, placing the gentlest of kisses on the back, then drives us to a greasy little hole in the wall for lunch.

I’m happy and settled when E drops me off back home.

As I’m visiting with Jake in the afternoon, I update him on all the college news. He’s decided to use the tutor Alex found and will begin 11th grade at the end of June. Both Will and his physiotherapist expect him to be mobile and independent by then. He still plans on finishing the entire year this summer and then move on to 12th grade in the fall, and all of us have offered to help with labs and homework. Jake has never lacked determination; it was just always focused on sports instead of school. Now, though, with his second chance at life, he doesn’t want to fall too far behind the rest of us. Architecture is still an option, but he said he might change his mind. Whatever he chooses, I’ll be right by his side.

A text from Alex reminds me of the meeting scheduled for tomorrow with Markus. He and Alex have done most of the work for this year’s MMA tournament because I was busy with Jake. It’s important for me to continue with the tournament though, especially with Nick gone. It feels like we’re honoring him. They decided to keep it outdoors, renting a park with facilities for the two days, and have arranged almost everything. We’re just checking to make sure we haven’t missed anything in planning the event.

I help Jake walk onto the patio so he can get some sun. He’s watching a movie on his tablet while I complete homework. Just two best friends hanging out. Oh, how I cherish it after going so long without our serene silence.

Seb calls that night, over the moon about me and E. I remind him I need to talk to Jake, but he’s too happy to worry about 'that little talk' as he puts it. He’s been so amazing, carrying on two separate relationships, but he wants us together again.

Chapter 22

The next week includes classes, two term papers, the MMA meeting, and a meeting with my financial advisor. I’m finally making time to see Alex’s money man. I’ll be transferring everything to South Carolina, which has better tax rates, and taking over my house in Virginia from Ray. I’m not ready to see the house, but I will handle any issues with the property through the management company.

I ask Dad and Alex to join me after school on Tuesday for the financial meeting. Alex offers to drive, so we pick Dad up from Finn after school. The office is in a 4 story building in the core of downtown Charleston. It looks fancy, and I’m wondering about fees as we follow Alex inside. “How expensive will this be, Alex?” I whisper as we get into the elevator. He’s never steered me wrong before, but...

“He is very reasonable, and it is not a set rate. There is a sliding scale. He takes a percentage of the profits from the investments. For wealthier families, that number is larger, while you will pay him very little. He is not out to gouge anyone, coming from a wealthy family himself. He is fair.”

Nodding as the elevator stops on the top floor, Alex checks in with the receptionist, who greets us as we step off. We take seats in the waiting area but have barely settled in when a jolly older gentleman comes down the hall greeting Alex. He could be Santa Claus without the beard. Shaking Alex’s hand with a smile, Alex steps aside to introduce us.

Once the introductions are out of the way, Mr. Stanfield leads us to a bright, spacious office. Tinted floor to ceiling windows with an expansive view of the Battery provide a distracting scene. Dad taps my shoulder with a smile, bringing me back into focus. I take a seat beside him in front of the modern desk.

The meeting ends up being straightforward. Mr. Stanfield reviewed all my statements before the meeting and makes some smart suggestions about how to invest my money. I’m not a big risk taker, which he takes into consideration. He’s barely charging me anything for his services, giving me a year free because of how I came into my money. What a pleasant surprise!

I bump Alex’s shoulder on the way back down the elevator. “He’s great. Thanks.”

“Told you.” Alex winks as Dad chuckles at my skepticism. Another rich, but very nice person. Despite the several unpleasant experiences with rich folks down here, there are quality ones too.

Friday is the first diving meet of the season for Alex and Bay. Jake pushed himself too hard today attempting to walk further, so he won’t be joining us. It’s taking Will and his physiotherapist to rein him in now that he’s had a taste of true mobility again.

The meet is at our school today, so E brought power salads for Alex and Bay. Seb, E, Gabby, and I sit in the stands to do homework and eat the muffins I baked, waiting for the meet to start. I casually watch the single divers as I finish up my statistics questions.

Steven, David, and Olivia join us a few minutes before the doubles diving begins. Alex will be so pleased to see his dad here. Olivia, as usual, wiggles her butt to sit between Gabby and me. She wants a French braid for her sleepover tonight, so Gabby works her magic. Olivia screams Bay’s name as they enter from the locker room. That girl has a set of lungs on her. He and Alex wave, and Alex’s smile increases when he sees Steven sitting with us.

Those damn speedos. Phew! Is it just me, or did the guys get more ripped? Knowing there’s a flush to my cheeks, I try to look around casually but, of course, Seb catches it, giving me an eyebrow wiggle. Geez. I’m only human; I can appreciate the male form. The spectacular, too perfect to be high school boys’ forms. I’ll get used to seeing them in speedos again soon.

Once Gabby finishes with Olivia’s hair, she tells us all about her slumber party tonight. It’s at her house, and Ellie's going. He’ll be the only boy there, and she promised him she wouldn’t let anybody tease him about it. We know every activity, game, movie, and food they’ll be eating by the time she’s done. She stops talking only when Alex and Bay are on the platform. She goes from talking fast with hand gestures to silence and stillness from one heartbeat to the next.

Chuckling to myself, I focus on our guys’ last dive. They’re performing the dive they had trouble with last season. A forward 2 ½ somersault 1 twist pike. Seconds later, they hit the water with barely a splash. To my untrained eye, they were perfectly in sync, and we jump up and cheer for them as they surface. I can see smiles on their faces as they exit the water. That dive clinches the win tonight.

Olivia and David leave as the rest of us wait for the guys. I was wondering where Penny was tonight, but I see her near the bottom of the stands with her friends. I’m glad she made it.