Page 18 of Summer’s Echo

I didn’t need to follow their gaze to know who they were looking at—I’d already seen who I wanted to see.

Summer wasn’t originally with the crowd of girls lounging like they were on a beach vacation instead of working with campers, but now there she was.

I’d peeped her walking across the quad earlier, effortlessly pretty, as usual.

Lately, she had a way of making everything seem… easy.

I was stuck in my own thoughts, mindlessly tossing the ball, when Bryant’s voice cut through my haze. “What’s the plan for Summer’s birthday?”

My head snapped around so fast I felt the water ripple around me. Her birthday? I must’ve misheard him. “Her birthday is today?” I asked, keeping my tone as neutral as possible while heat rose in my cheeks. Why the hell didn’t I know it was her birthday?

Bryant nodded. “Yeah, man. You know Summer, though. She hates making a big deal, but we drag her out anyway.”

“Ain’t that your girl, E?” Kyle chimed in, his voice laced with that annoying tease he always used. “And you don’t even know it’s her birthday?”

“Whatever, man,” I said, brushing off his comment while anger simmered just beneath the surface. How the hell did I not know? I thought. After all the time we’d spent together, this wasn’t something I should’ve missed. Without another word, I waded out of the water.

“Watch them,” I ordered, pointing to the group of kids playing. The annoyance was clear in my voice.

When I glanced back, I saw Maxell and Bryant trailing me.

We walked toward the group of giggling girls, and it was obvious they were whispering about us—or more likely just me.

Fingers pointed in my direction, and their cackles grew louder with every step I took.

Madison rose from the blanket, tossing her hair over her shoulder, like she was getting ready to greet me, but she wasn’t the one I was coming for.

The moment I directed my greeting at Summer, Madison’s face collapsed into a scowl.

It was obvious she didn’t appreciate being overlooked, but I didn’t care. I needed to talk to Summer.

“What’s up, Sunshine?” I said, standing directly in front of her.

She squinted up at me, lifting a hand to block the sun, but her gaze didn’t stay on mine for long. It danced back and forth from my face to somewhere else, like she couldn’t quite decide where to focus.

“Hey,” she replied, her tone casual, but the slight flush creeping across her cheeks and the way she avoided me told a different story.

I was affecting her, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it.

“Can you, um, sit down, please?” she blurted, the words coming out awkward and rushed, like she was fighting to soundmore composed than she felt.

I dropped to a squat, joining her on the blanket. “It’s your birthday, Sun,” I blurted, my words coming out more forceful than I’d intended.

She nodded, completely unbothered. “Yep. First day of summer, hence my name,” she said, as if I was supposed to have magically known that bit of info. “I know. My parents are corny.”

I stared at her, caught between wanting to kiss her cute face and feeling frustrated that she thought this was no big deal. “Why didn’t I know it was your birthday, Summer?” I asked, my tone laced with the frustration bubbling inside me.

“I don’t know when your birthday is, Echo,” she replied, dragging out my name like she was making a point.

Once again, this girl had me stumped. Out of all the questions we’d volleyed, birthdays had somehow never come up. And damn, she was right.

“You’re right,” I admitted reluctantly. “I guess I just thought you would’ve said something.”

She shook her head, brushing it off like it didn’t matter.

“It’s not that big of a deal. I celebrated with my family before I left, so I’m good,” she said.

I stared at her for a moment, hearing the words but seeing something different in her eyes—something she wasn’t saying.

I pushed myself up from the blanket, and without hesitation, snatched the bag of chips from her hand, popping a few in my mouth.

“Echo!” she yelped, springing to her feet and reaching for the bag. I held it over my head because she was short compared to me. She tried her best to stay mad but couldn’t stop her cheeks from reddening.

Leaning down, I pinched the tip of her nose gently and said, “Be ready at ten tonight, Sunshine.”

“For what?” she shouted at my back as I walked away, refusing to answer. Let her wonder.

Summer

That One Summer in 2004

Ten o’clock couldn’t get here fast enough. I had no clue what Echo had planned, but the anticipation buzzed in my belly. Apparently, it wasn’t something for just me and him because Trinity and Brooke were already in the living room when I walked out, dressed and waiting.

“You look cute, birthday girl,” Trinity said, approvingly.

I’d chosen a denim skirt, my favorite Tupac t-shirt, and sneakers, casual but hopefully just right for whatever Echo had planned.

Half my hair was pulled into a ponytail; the rest falling straight to brush against my shoulders.

Gold hoop earrings, a swipe of eyeliner, and a little lip gloss finished the look.

Simple, but that’s what worked for me. A rapid knock at the door startled me, sending a rush of energy surging through me.

. Brooke jumped up to answer it, and there they were, the guys—Echo, Bryant, and Maxell—looking good.

Bryant and Maxell were cool, but my attention immediately zeroed in on Echo.

“You ladies ready?” Echo asked, his deep voice commanding but easy as he surveyed the room before landing on me, traveling slowly from my head to my toes, a teasing curve threatening to form on his lips.

“We are. Let the birthday festivities begin,” Brooke said dramatically, already making her way toward Bryant.

Trinity and Brooke darted out of the suite, leaving Echo and me alone in the doorway.

He didn’t rush me. Instead, he offered his hand, making my pulse skip with that same delicate thrill.

“Are you ready, birthday girl?” he asked.

I nodded, my words caught somewhere between my throat and my heart.

Taking his hand, I let him lead the way for a change, a thrill running through me, anticipating how the night would unfold.

We snuck through the quad, sticking to the shadows to avoid any other counselors.

The path Echo led us down felt familiar, heading straight towardourspot.

A flicker of unease rippled through me at the thought.

I silently questioned if he was really about to reveal our hideaway.

If he was, disappointment would’ve swallowed me where I stood.

That place wasours, a secret corner of the world meant only for us.

Echo must have felt my hesitation because he shook his head with an unspoken promise.

Without releasing my hand, he gave it a gentle squeeze, reassuring me that our sanctuary would stay just that:ours.

The path curved, leading us to an open space carved into the hillside.

My breath caught.Shit, this place was stunning, almost better than our hideaway, if that was even possible.

The moonlight spilled through cracks in the rocky ceiling, casting soft beams across the ground, providing just enough light to see the jagged walls.

The air was cooler here, a needed escape from the suffocating summer heat.

A handful of counselors were already there, swaying to the music blaring.

The vibe was relaxed but charged, a private escape just outside the campgrounds.

“What is this place?” I asked, turning to Echo, excitement lighting up my face.

“Lincoln told me about it,” he replied casually.

“Lincoln?DirectorLincoln?” My tone shifted to concern. “He knows we’re here?”

Echo nodded, unconcerned. “He’s cool. We’re good. Come on.”

Without waiting for my reaction, he tugged me into the crowd.

Almost instantly, the group started chanting the opening lines of 50 Cent’s “In da Club.”A rush of joy slipped out before I could stop it, my face heating as their voices grew louder.

The attention made my skin prickle, but something about this—about my friends—made it impossible to feel special.

“Come on, Summer,” Trinity called out, encouraging me to join in.

Before I could react, a deep, bass-filled voice murmured against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Go shawty, it’s your birthday.” I spun around to find Echo, his movements slow and measured, a smooth two-step making his shoulders bounce to the beat.

He was magnetic, and for a moment, I felt like his.

I moved on instinct, swaying to the beat as if the music had taken control.

Echo’s hands slid delicately to my hips, pulling me closer until my body was flush against his.

The soft graze of my booty against the front of his pants sent a wave of warmth through me, causing anyone outside this dance to disappear in my mind.

This was the closest we’d ever been, and it felt…

almost too good, too right. We stayed like that, moving together to the rhythm, for what felt like forever but was probably just an hour.

Later, I found myself in the middle of the open space chatting with Brooke and Trinity when the music abruptly cut off. I froze, glancing around, bracing myself for whatever was next. Then hands began to clap, and the crowd burst into their best rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.”

Amusement erupted from me uncontrollably as I brought a hand to my mouth, trying to hide my embarrassment.

My cheeks burned, and my eyes glistened when I saw Echo break through the crowd.

He was holding a single cupcake, a lone candle flickering on top.

The way he looked at me…his gaze never wavering, even as he sang the words. It sent my heart into overdrive.