The Summer Guest

CHAPTER 3

“Sweetie is the guest bedroom ready?” Mom shouted from the kitchen. She was baking cookies for Layla’s arrival today. I wasn’t ready for the month ahead if I was being honest with myself. Her parents always spoiled her too much and I don’t get along with self entitled rich kids.

“Just finished putting the comforter on mom.” I placed the pillows on top and fluffed them up, turning off the light as I left the room. The doorbell rang when I took my first step out down the stairs. I rolled my eyes and climbed down, getting more anxious with each passing second.

“Gerald! Layla! Come in, come in.” Mom wrapped each of them in a tight hug before shutting the door behind them. “Layla, you’ve met Ashley before. Why don’t you let her show you to your room. Dinner is almost ready.”

I heard a low “Yes ma’am,” before I looked up at her. Holy s**t. She had changed a lot from when we were kids. She was at 6’0 now with long tan legs and straight blonde hair that flowed to her waist. She had the most beautiful green eyes that I had ever seen in my life. Her designer clothes let me know she was still the same on the inside though.

“Let me get some of these bags for you.” I said and stepped forward grabbing them.

“Thank you.” Layla muttered, barely above a whisper.

I darted up the staircase stopping at the first room on the left.

“Well, this is all yours. Sorry if it’s not your style, my best friend Emma picked most of it out. This used to be our art room.”

She stepped in looking amazed and turned to me. “Thank you. It’s lovely, but you really didn’t have to go through all that effort for me.”

“Of course we did! You’re the guest here. Anyways, get settled in and then meet us downstairs for dinner. If you need anything just let me know.” I turned on my heels.

“Wait, Ashley?” I looked back at her. “I’m really glad I’m here for the summer. I feel like we’ll get along great and I desperately need a friend if that’s okay with you.”

“That sounds great. My best friend Emma will be staying over a lot as well and we just redid the backyard around the lake to hang out at.” I scratched my head, hoping she was finished with this conversation. My nerves were going crazy and I was rambling.

“Well I hope Emma likes me then. I’m sure it’ll be a fun month. Thank you for agreeing to let me stay. I know we’ve only met like once but you have no idea how much this means to me.” She flashed me a smile and my breath hitched in my throat.

“Uh yeah no problem at all. I’ll meet you downstairs okay?” She nodded and I took my opportunity to get out of there. She doesn’t seem the same as before or even the stories I’ve heard. I was mentally crossing my fingers that she was down to earth now and we would all get along. There’s something about her that makes me so nervous but I don’t know what.

I headed to my room to quickly change clothes. Everyone was waiting for me at the table when I walked downstairs.

“Ashley,” my mom huffed out. “Are you ready to eat? I think we’re all starving!”

I nodded and took the open seat in between my mom and Layla, my vegetables and salad waiting for me.  The conversation was light at first and I wasn’t particularly paying attention until my mom asked Layla if she had a boyfriend. I looked up in anticipation at what she would say.

She chuckled lightly. “No ma’am. I had a girlfriend back home but she wasn’t very supportive or there for me when I needed her so we went our separate ways.”

Holy.

Shit.

I definitely wasn’t expecting that from her. I looked her direction at the same time she looked mine, giving her a small smile and immediately looking down. This summer just got a lot more interesting.

“I’m sorry for that sweetie. That’s what some people are good for unfortunately.” My mom gave her hand a small pat before walking her dishes to the sink. “Who’s ready for dessert?” Everyone’s hands went up and we all laughed. My mom made the best desserts ever. Of course we all wanted some.

After we finished the cobbler Layla asked if I would give her a tour of the house so she could get familiar. We started downstairs in the kitchen and made our way into the living room, laundry room, game room and outdoor patio before heading up.

“This is where you’ll be staying obviously. The rooms in the right hallway are my mom’s office and bedroom. And across from you the door on the left is the bathroom. I hope you don’t mind that we have to share one. And then my bedroom is next to that.”

“Wow that’s a lot to take in. Can I see your room?” She asked with a look in her eyes that I couldn’t identify.

“Uh… yeah sure I guess.” I nervously blabbered out. “It’s nothing fancy. I’m not really good at the whole decor thing.”

“Everybody has their own style. Looking at others gives me an idea of what they’re like.” She followed me across the hall and I stopped when I touched my door handle. The thought of her seeing my bedroom was terrifying for literally no reason. I took a deep breath rotating the handle slowly, letting the door fall open and turning the lights on. She stepped in around me taking it all in. Her eyes fell on my shelves with pictures of my family and me and Emma and me.

“I remember meeting you that night. My dad made me fly back and be here for that. I was not a happy camper!”

“Why were you upset about that?” It seemed weird to me that she wouldn’t want to be there for her father.

“Well my dad and I haven’t always had the best of relationships. We both care about each other but he doesn’t really know how to care for me. That’s why my mom had me most of my life.” She saw the confused look painted on my face and explained further. “He’s a great guy, don’t get me wrong. He just.. has problems. Like anyone else does. The only thing with his problems is he doesn’t know how to handle them that well so he just bottles them up. My mom wanted me to have an emotionally healthy guardian to grow up around.”

“Wow” I managed to say. “I never knew any of that. To be honest I just thought you a spoiled rich kid.”

She walked over to my bed and laid down. “Well I was that too a little.” She gave a weak smile. “Until my mom got sick a couple years ago I was pretty bratty.”

“I’m sorry about that by the way. I can’t even imagine the pain.” I sat on the bed a few feet away from her and she propped herself on her elbows.

“It was the worst thing I’ve been through so far. It gets a little better with time but she was my best friend so I feel like I lost two people in one. Enough of the deep talk though. It’s getting late and I we have to be up early tomorrow to take them to the airport.” She got up and stopped by the door. “Goodnight Ashley. I think we’ll get along very well.” She threw a wink my way and closed the door. I ran a hand through my hair and fell into my bed. I’ve never felt butterflies like this. I didn’t want to get myself hyped up over nothing so I climbed under the covers, forcing myself to forget what happened and get some sleep.