Seducing Mr. Grumpy

20. Venomous and deadly. [Part 1]

Summer Cooper’s message vault to Dominic Pauls:

Do you remember when we were kids and you cut off my butterfly wings, telling me I had to stop dreaming unrealistically? You were cruel. You never apologized, but I forgave you. You’re a jerk. And I don’t know why, but I miss you—even if you cut off my butterfly wings.

With love, your forever friend,

Summer.

---

20. Venomous and deadly.

Summer.

My mind was so scattered last night that I didn’t sleep at all. Before the first rays of sunlight peeked through, I was already in the kitchen, making desserts with my one good hand. I did it to practice, to test myself—to see if I’d be able to handle class today—but also, I did it to distract myself.

And that’s how Nic finds me, surrounded by flour, sugar, and a bit of a mess.

“Good morning,” he says, his eyes watching me with a certain caution.

I wipe my hands on my apron.

“Good morning, Nic.”

“What’s all this?”

“I was practicing. I needed to know if I’d be useful in class today or not.”

He nods, walking over to the coffee machine to make himself a cup.

“Looks like it went well.”

“Mmm,” I nod, distracted while I clean up everything.

I can feel him behind me, silently sipping his coffee. I can almost picture him leaning against the quartz counter, his long, elegant fingers wrapped around the mug as he drinks with that serious, distant expression. On another day, I would’ve stayed there, watching him just for the pleasure of it. But not today… I just can’t.

The silence between us is uncomfortable, and I push away the little voice telling me this is my fault—that it was my unwanted feelings that created this rift between us.

I can’t handle any more guilt than I already carry. I wouldn’t survive it.

After a while, as I continue cleaning and he keeps drinking his coffee, Nic finally says, “Should I wait for you in the car?”

I clutch the kitchen towel in my hand just as all the air shakily leaves my lungs. Watching how easily he acts like everything is normal—it’s hard to process. I know I was the one who suggested we forget our conversation… but it still hurts, the carelessness with which he seems to dismiss my feelings.

I cling to the normalcy we silently agreed to maintain, so I say, “I’ll be right down.”

I turn just in time to see him grab a muffin from the batch of desserts I’ve made. He takes it with him without saying a word, like it’s any ordinary day. I nod, accepting this new reality, then grab my backpack, slip on my cardigan, and follow him to the parking garage, where Dallas is waiting. I notice it’s a different car today, so I guess the other one is being cleaned to get yesterday’s blood out.

I shiver at the memory, but I force the thought away.

As I’m about to climb into the back seat like I usually do, Dominic stops me. I look up at him, surprised that he’s holding the door like that.

“What’s wrong?”

“I…” he doesn’t look at me as he speaks, “we’re picking up Paige on the way. Can you sit up front with Dallas?”

Oh.

“Sure,” I agree faster than I should, and just as quickly, I climb into the passenger seat.

I buckle my seatbelt and start humming a tune in my head to avoid unwelcome thoughts, but they’re too intrusive, pounding into me like waves.

We’re picking up Paige?

Does that mean he caught up with her last night?

Are they officially seeing each other again?

Everything feels so rushed. Dominic must really want to see her. A destructive part of me can’t help but remember the distaste with which he first welcomed me—and it’s a pretty telling contrast compared to how quickly he wants to see her.

I never stood a chance, did I?

Though I’m not paying much attention to the road, I notice Dallas takes a different route than usual, until we arrive at an elegant apartment building. I catch a glimpse of Paige, but when Dominic gets out to greet her, I pull out my phone and start scrolling. It’s not too hard to move my fingers, and the pain is less than yesterday. Changing out of my pajamas and into a simple cotton dress spared me the awkward task of needing Nic’s help again.

Dominic and Paige take a while to get in, and I picture them having an emotional reunion—but I’m not masochistic enough to look and confirm it. Still, once she’s inside, it becomes impossible to ignore the elephant in the room.

“Summer,” she says, smiling brightly, “how long has it been?”

I turn in my seat to look at her, and it’s hard not to notice how attractive and put-together she looks compared to me. I don’t know why my mind keeps making comparisons, but I can’t seem to stop. Also, she looks strikingly good beside Nic. They share that same polished beauty.

“It’s been years,” I tell her, “but you’re still just as beautiful.”

She laughs with ease, like someone used to hearing those compliments—and I guess she is.

“You’re even more beautiful than I remembered, Sum. I’ve seen your videos—I love everything you do.”

A genuine smile forms on my lips.

“Thank you.”

Nic clears his throat and Paige turns to look at him, frowning, but lights up when she sees the dulce de leche muffin he’s holding, resting on the little shelf of his seat. It doesn’t look like Nic is offering it to her—or maybe he is. Maybe my mind is just trying to protect me. Either way, Paige gets excited at the sight and reaches out to take it from his hands.

“Oh, Dominic, thank you.”

I turn away, looking out the window to avoid watching the exchange.

I grip my phone tightly and focus on my breathing, trying so hard not to cry.

I’m fine, I repeat over and over in my head.

I get so lost in my thoughts—avoiding my present, my reality, doing everything I can to escape what’s happening—that I manage to block out Dominic and Paige’s conversation. I hear laughter, I hear voices, but I don’t register the words. I refuse to.

Thankfully, Dallas pulls up in front of the school soon, and I get out, needing a lifeline, saying goodbye with a simple smile I’m not even sure they see. I grab my backpack strap with my good hand and start walking away—but then I hear him call me.

“Summer!”

When I don’t stop, a hand turns me around, and there he is—Nic, frowning.

“Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

“Sorry, I must’ve been distracted.”

He nods, but his expression tells me he doesn’t believe me.

I look away, waiting for him to say something—wishing he’d say something to end this farce.

“I…” he clears his throat, “I remembered we agreed I’d help you film your video today, but I have new plans.”

“It’s okay. I figured as much. You didn’t need to say it.”

More awkwardness between us—and this time, I don’t try to ease the tension. I just want to escape it.

“Have a good day, Nic,” I offer a brief smile and walk away from him.

[...]

After class, Maggie invites me to keep practicing at her place, so that’s where I go.

“You’ve been so quiet all day, sweetheart,” she says as we work.

I separate a few egg yolks from the whites—it’s harder with just one hand, but not impossible.

“It’s nothing, Mags.”

“Are you sure? Does your hand hurt a lot?”

“Nothing the meds can’t ease.”

“Then? Is something wrong?”

I chew my lip, thinking about what to say.

“The truth is… I’ve been apartment hunting all day, but most places want a huge deposit or a one-year lease…”

“Oh,” Maggie puts down what she’s doing and gives me her full attention.

“I don’t even know if I’ll stay a month. A year’s too much…” I take out my phone from my pocket, go to the chats I’ve had today, and hand it to Maggie so she can read. “The places that do work are way outside the city, and I’m not sure I want to stay in a hotel. I don’t know what to do.”

I watch Maggie scroll through my conversations, her frown deepening the more she reads about the ridiculous prices and long-term clauses.

“Stay here, with me,” she says, handing the phone back.

I laugh, thinking she’s joking… but her expression says otherwise.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Do you see this house?” She gestures to what’s more a mansion than a house. “Don’t you think I could use the company? I’ve been so alone since my Josh passed.”

Josh was her late husband, and she mentions him often. You can tell she misses him deeply—and seeing that connection she still shares with him, even after death came between them, is deeply moving.

“I don’t know, Maggie… what would George say?”

“Sweetheart, he’s my grandson, not my father. Why would his opinion matter here?”

I laugh.

“Still…”

“He won’t say anything. You know he likes you.”

“If I accept, it’d only be for a couple of weeks. After that…”

“After…?”

I deflate like a balloon.

“I don’t know,” I admit honestly.

“Oh, Sum… what’s wrong?”

The softness in her voice nearly makes me fall apart… nearly.

“I don’t know what to do,” I say with a broken, painful little laugh. “Suddenly, it feels like I’m messing everything up, making all the wrong decisions and just ruining things. I’m… a complete mess, Maggie.”

“Then come stay with me. Take your time to think about yourself and what you really want… No one here will pressure you or hurt you.”

It’s amazing how her eyes seem to see more than I show—and how she seems to understand more than I even understand myself.

Going back to my parents’ house is always an option, but I’m afraid that once I settle into the comfort of their warmth, I won’t want to leave. And then I’ll get stuck, forgetting about myself because I’m wrapped in their shelter.

Living with Nic is too painful, way too uncomfortable, and it clouds my judgment.

Living alone still scares me, but at some point, I have to do it again.

Still, Maggie’s company wouldn’t bother me. I think it might even help, so her offer is tempting. At least, it’s the option that would hurt me the least.

I open my mouth to accept, but then I hear George’s voice—

“Grandma, we’re here.”

“Oh no,” Maggie groans. “Don’t tell me he came again with that girl.”

I look at her, confused. What girl?

Before I can ask, I hear an unmistakable laugh, and then I find myself face-to-face with Dakota, who looks just as surprised to see me.

“What are you doing here?” we ask at the same time.

Then her eyes land on the meringue Maggie and I made, and she heads straight for the bowl, dips her finger in, and starts eating.

“I hope you get diarrhea,” Maggie growls.

“If I die, who’s gonna give you great-grandkids?”

George blushes. “Isn’t it a bit soon to talk about kids?”

“We’ve been on three dates. By the fifth, I’ll open my legs. What if I get pregnant?”

“Jesus, Dakota…” I mutter.

George laughs loudly, his eyes lighting up as he looks at her with the most genuinely smitten expression I’ve ever seen.

“She’s right.”

“This girl,” Maggie says, snatching the bowl away, “God help us if she gives birth. You could only spawn little demons.”

“You two are together?” I ask, walking over to Dakota, who’s now eating strawberries. I take one from her and we start sharing the bowl.

“Three dates,” she answers. “And it’s your fault.”

“My fault?”

“Yes, you.” She points at me with a strawberry. “Dominic offered me ten thousand pounds to flirt with George so he’d stay away from you. It all started with his jealousy.”

I feel like I’m choking on the strawberry.

“Ten thousand pounds?”

“And he didn’t even pay her,” George adds, sounding offended.

“Yeah…” Dakota says sadly.

Maggie rolls her eyes and keeps prepping the brownies.

Ten thousand pounds?

I don’t think Dominic did it out of jealousy. That must’ve been an act of overprotection.

What surprises me is that Dakota and George’s relationship grew out of something like that.

“What happened to your hand, Sum?” George asks, casually pulling Dakota into a hug, like it’s the most natural thing in the world between them.

I smile. It makes me happy to see them like this.

“Just a silly accident. I’m okay.”

“Wanna join us?” He steals the strawberry Dakota was about to eat, and she pouts at him. “We were going to play Uno with Grandma. What do you say?”

“The cards are already on the table. I’m winning this time,” Maggie announces.

“Yeah, sure,” I agree easily. After all, I don’t have anything better to do.

“You’re really staying?” Dakota seems surprised.

“Yes.”

“But I thought you were going out with Dominic. He left work early, we all figured he’d meet up with you.”

I look down at the strawberry in my hand, and the pain in my chest returns, sharp and suffocating.

“No,” is all I say.

She seems to get it. In fact, they all do. So that’s the last time Dominic’s name is mentioned that night.

[1/2]