The Last Summer, page 1
THE LAST SUMMER BY BRANDY BRUCE
Published by Bling! Romance
an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
2333 Barton Oaks Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614
ISBN: 978-1-946016-19-5
Copyright © 2017 by Brandy Bruce
Cover design by Elaina Lee
Interior design by AtriTeX Technologies P Ltd
Available in print from your local bookstore, online, or from the publisher at: lpcbooks.com
For more information on this book and the author visit: http://www.brandybruce.blogspot.com
All rights reserved. Noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, provided the text does not exceed 500 words. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: “The Last Summer by Brandy Bruce published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Used by permission.”
Commercial interests: No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination or are used for fictional purposes. Any mentioned brand names, places, and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, bear no association with the author or the publisher, and are used for fictional purposes only.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM
Brought to you by the creative team at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas:
Marisa Deshaies, Managing Editor
Meghan M. Gorecki, Publishing Assistant to the Managing Editor
Brian Cross, Christy Distler, and Lucie Winborne, Proofreaders
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bruce, Brandy
The Last Summer / Brandy Bruce 1st ed.
Printed in the United States of America
PRAISE FOR THE LAST SUMMER
Brandy Bruce captures the heart of every woman with this charming tale of well-meaning friends caught in a love quint-angle!
~Marianne Hering
Author of the Imagination Station series
Like the beauty of a sunset, The Last Summer will bathe your heart with a colorful display of grace. From the opening lines to the last poignant moments, I was enraptured by this story of broken hearts, healing tears, and above all abundant hope in the power of friendships and the unending love of God. The Last Summer has found a place on my keeper shelf to be read again and again.
~Candee Fick
Author of Dance Over Me and Catch of a Lifetime
Brandy Bruce has imagined an ensemble cast of unforgettable characters into a wonderful story reminiscent of my own twenty-something days. I loved this story and hope to see more from this author in days to come.
~Pamela Meyers
Author of Second Chance Love and Thyme for Love
I loved this book! Filled to the brim with superbly spun ingredients that make for a tender-hearted, truly unforgettable tale, The Last Summer is a must read for everyone who enjoys drama, romance, and relatable characters in the thick of it all.
~Sara Hanson
Author of Chosen
Reading The Last Summer immediately stirred up memories of tearing through Robin Jones Gunn’s Christy Miller series with a vengeance. A compelling and fast-paced tale of friendship, faith, and the sort of guys who’d be any girl’s undoing, The Last Summer is perfect for your book club or simply enjoyed with a cup of your favorite brew.
~Christa Banister
Author of Around the World in 80 Dates
For Jeff
I would choose this journey with you all over again
because you, and these three babies
we’ve made, are everything.
If you ever doubt it, my love,
know that grace covers us all.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Acknowledgments
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Chapter One
I never meant for any of it to happen.
But sometimes, when you drop things, they break. My mother taught me that.
It all started three summers ago. It all started when I met Luke.
Luke Anderson.
We were thrown together in this group that turned out to be something like a perfect circle. Addison was the leader. She was unquestionably the leader. Still is. Maybe it’s the fact that she’s the oldest of the group by six months. Maybe it’s because she’s the most mature. Maybe it’s just her personality to take charge. Whatever it was, I knew from day one that Addison was the glue that held this group together.
That day, more than one hundred Sundays ago, I walked into the singles class at Christ Community Church, dreading, dreading, dreading being there. Twenty-four years old and I felt like it was my first day of high school. I worried my outfit was too dressy, or not dressy enough. I worried the highlights in my shoulder-length light brown hair were too faint, or maybe too dark. I worried that I might sweat through my light gray blouse. I worried there was cat hair on the back of my black pants. I’m not really that much of an animal person, but people always seem to think I am because I have a cat. A cat that sheds like a pine tree in October. Long story.
Back to my point. I was nervous. I’d left a life full of friends in Austin, Texas when I’d moved back home to Houston. Framed in the doorway of the classroom at that moment, I’d never felt so alone.
The simple fact was that I’d moved back home. Now I needed people.
Addison Parker, tall with wavy auburn hair, stood at a table by an open box of doughnuts. She’d smiled at me and waved me over, and without a word, I knew I liked her. Who knows why? Maybe it was the pink-iced, sprinkled doughnut in her hand. Maybe it was how she hugged me before I could finish saying my name and then told me how glad she was to meet me.
Sam Spencer and Lily Morrison had walked in together, holding hands and arguing. They’re still holding hands and arguing, come to think of it—Sam with his effortless nonchalance and messy brown hair, and petite Lily with her blonde pixie cut that fits her perfectly. Sam had nudged Addison over so he could grab a Styrofoam cup and fill it with coffee, while Lily, her eyes bright and exuberant, told her about the big sale happening at a nearby home décor store.
I could tell the three of them had been friends for a while. I was the newbie. Addison introduced me and I got another tight hug. Then from the back of the room came Jason Garcia, Hispanic, handsome, dark-haired, an immediate welcoming smile on his face. He beelined to me, introducing himself and asking me to sit with him and drawing me into conversation.
I could have loved him just for that, just for intentionally including me when I was feeling like a fish flopping on sand. The dark hair and dark eyes and olive skin were an added bonus to the stimulating conversation of Is this your first time visiting Christ Community? Are you new to the area? Where do you work? and so on. I sat sandwiched between Jason and Lily, who complimented my shoes and told me emphatically that I was joining her and Addison for lunch at Isabella’s Deli after the class ended so they could learn everything about me. She couldn’t have known how willing I was to say yes.
We sat in a circle, and Addison was just about to pray when the door opened, and my heart nearly stopped. Because the tall, blond, green-eyed guy who walked in elicited that response in me, just by walking through the door.
Very unfortunately, he still does.
A round of hellos greeted him, and I realized he was a regular. He took an open seat that just happened to be across from me. A golden tan and slight pink on his cheeks gave away the fact that he’d bee
It was nearly impossible for me not to stare at him.
I should mention that I’d never, ever had that response to someone before. That sort of stolen-breath, heart-bursting reaction that feels so overwhelming your hands sweat and you try to swallow but can’t.
He looked in my direction, and I was, of course, gazing at him (not drooling, thank heavens). And the smile on his face made everything oh-so-much worse.
Because it was undoubtedly the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.
Addison started talking and I forced my attention back on her. About ten minutes later, the door opened and a girl with curly brown hair fluttered into the room.
I say fluttered because I learned that Debra Hart never just walks anywhere. The girl flutters and flies and invades and takes over and fills a room when she enters it. Her brown curls bounce when she moves. To me, that day, Luke walked in and sucked all the oxygen out of the room. Debra barreled in and infused the space with life. Everyone just seemed to smile at the sight of her. With apologies for being late, she came crashing in, carrying a coffee cup and a huge red purse and sat down next to Luke.
Close to Luke, I should add.
She settled back and his arm went around her. Well, his arm rested on the back of her chair, not exactly around her. But it was enough to make my heart sink. To make me instantly jealous. Then Debra was saying something funny—I can’t even remember what—and we were all laughing, myself included. Because she’s funny, and cute, and full of life—and that’s just Debra.
Addison dived into the Bible study at that point, and I tried to concentrate, all while stealing glances at Luke … and Debra (which really heightened that feeling of being back in high school, by the way). For some reason, the parable of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead just wasn’t enough to hold my attention, not with Luke sitting across from me.
The moment the class ended a few people left the room, but Addison, Lily, and Debra descended on me. Sam, Jason, and Luke took over the doughnut station, scrounging for leftovers. I didn’t want to stay too long and seem desperate to be included; on the other hand, I obviously was desperate, so I ignored the panicky voice in my head telling me to hurry up and leave. The girls were talking—not necessarily to me, but I felt like I was at least part of the conversation, so I continued to stand there, hoping I looked interested while I was really trying to think of a way to get introduced to Luke. He glanced at me from the table, but Jason was saying something to him at that very moment, so he looked over at him.
“We’re going to Isabella’s,” Lily had told Debra, who immediately swung that massive purse over her shoulder, curls bouncing in her excitement.
“I’m in.”
“Where are we going?” Sam asked, before stuffing half a doughnut in his mouth.
“It’s a girls’ lunch, Samuel,” Addison said. “No boys allowed.”
“I heard someone say Isabella’s,” Jason said, putting an arm around Addison and an arm around Lily.
“Not invited to this conversation, Jase,” Lily said bluntly.
“Isabella’s has good chili. How about a guys’ lunch at Isabella’s?” Sam asked Luke and Jason, his voice all innocent. Both guys nodded. I remember looking at Luke (I couldn’t help it) and the cool, collected, easy look on his face drew me in a little more—he was a mixture of everything that attracted me. A little James Dean. A little Brad Pitt. Self-assured. Confident. Comfortable. Strong. Reserved. Intense. We still hadn’t been properly introduced.
Addison sighed. “Fine. But this lunch is about getting to know Sara. So no sports talk, fishing talk, work talk, annoying talk—got it?”
“Got it. Sara,” Jason said smoothly, moving away from Addison and Lily and steering me toward the door. “So tell me, do you like chili?”
I laughed.
“Sara?” I nearly tripped turning around at the voice. Luke was standing behind us.
“We haven’t really met yet. I’m Luke Anderson.” He held out his hand, and I slid mine into his.
“Sara Witherspoon. I’m glad to meet you.”
Please be my future husband.
It occurred to me I’d ridden to church with my parents, so I’d need a ride to Isabella’s. The pleasant thought of riding with Luke gave me the boldness at that moment to say, “Hey, could I get a ride with someone to the restaurant? I didn’t drive my car to church this morning.”
I swear I remember Luke opening his mouth to speak, but next to me, Jason put his arm around my shoulders and directed me back toward the door.
“I’ll give you a ride, Sara.” I pushed aside the slight wave of disappointment I felt as I left with Jason.
Fifteen minutes later I was sitting between Addison and Jason at the table, trying to answer the onslaught of questions that were coming my way. Luke was seated across from me again, but diagonally this time and much closer. Close enough for me to notice he was more reserved than the other two guys, but that all three of them interacted like brothers—close, teasing each other, but loyal in an instant. He held himself well; I liked the maturity that came across in how he spoke and how he listened. I liked the fact that he smiled easily but didn’t joke too much. I liked how he paid attention to each person at the table.
Honestly, this might sound strange—but looking back, I think I connected from the start to Luke’s personality.
Because it was the same as mine. Quiet, a little introverted, but still willing to put himself out there and be friendly. His deep-green eyes and that make-me-melt smile were a bonus.
“Okay!” Addison had said loudly. “You guys! There’s no way she can keep up with all these questions. Sara, you have the floor. Tell us your story.”
And just like that, twelve eyes were glued to me. I took a deep breath.
“It’s not a thrilling story, let me warn you. But here it is. You all know by this point that I’m Sara Witherspoon. I’m twenty-four and I graduated from A&M…” Sam groaned at that and Lily poked him hard. “… two years ago with a degree in design. I’ve been working at an art gallery in Austin since graduation, but the place closed down a couple of months ago, which, unfortunately, means that I just moved back in with my parents. They asked me to come to church with them, and I said yes because I hoped to meet some new people. So that’s my life—living back in my old bedroom at my parents’ house, currently job hunting, and it’s really not that cool of an experience.”
Sympathetic looks all around made me feel just a little better.
Addison reached over and squeezed my arm. “Do you get along with your parents?”
I shrugged. “Fairly well. Though I’m an only child, so I’ve always been my mother’s favorite project. And from the looks of it, that hasn’t changed despite the fact that I’ve been on my own for years. My dad is a family doctor and works at a practice near our home in Willow Heights.”
Jason whistled at that and I flushed. I hated telling people where my family lived, but it was usually better to get it over with rather than face the questions later of Why didn’t you mention that you live in the affluent, illustrious Willow Heights area?
“My mom volunteers with a lot of charities in the area, and she’s really involved with her garden club and that sort of thing. She was a professional event planner for years. Living together would be easier if she and I weren’t so alike in the fact that we love design yet have opposite style preferences. We learned this when I was ten years old and asked to be allowed to redecorate my room. It was war.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
“I haven’t lived in Houston on a permanent basis since before college. Now I’m back. In some ways … I love it. I’ve always thought of Houston as home. I think I’d be a lot happier if this were happening on my own terms. But here I am. I’m hoping to find a job soon and get an apartment. Before my mother and I start driving each other past the point of crazy.”
“Well, we’re very glad you came to Christ Community today, Sara,” Debra said, and everyone nodded their agreement. “I know it can be hard to feel like you’re starting over. I moved out here because of a job, after growing up and going to college in Minnesota. Talk about a life change! I was desperate to know people too.”
