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When he eventually pulled away, his breathing was as fast as hers. ‘I’ll see you soon, promise me you’ll think about what I’ve said?’

Evelyn nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Chapter Fourteen

‘Mum, can I ask you something?’

‘Of course you can.’ Evelyn tucked Summer’s covers more tightly around her shoulders. ‘You can always ask me anything. You know that.’

‘Why have you stopped having sleepovers with Jake?’

Crap. Evelyn regretted her answer. This was not something she wanted to discuss with her daughter. ‘It’s complicated.’

‘Why? Don’t you like him any more?’

Evelyn thought back to the steamy kiss Jake had planted on her in the kitchen just a couple of days earlier, and felt the blood rush to her cheeks. ‘No, I still like him.’

‘So did he stop liking you?’

‘No.’ That was definitely not the case. He’d made it only too clear how much he still liked her, and she was so grateful for that. To have a man like Jake, who she adored, care about her so much was something she was so, so grateful for. But to put the pressure of long distance on a fledgeling relationship? It was too much to hope – or ask – for. It was probably better for them to just stay friends. And if she kept telling herself that, she might eventually stop missing him.

‘Then what’s the problem?’ Summer demanded, folding her arms over the top of her covers.

‘I already told you, it’s complicated.’

‘It’s because of me, isn’t it?’ Her bottom lip started to quiver. ‘It’s like with Charlie.’

It was time for that conversation then. She took a deep breath, not wanting to ask it, but owing it to her daughter. ‘Why did you stop calling him Daddy?’

‘Because he’s not my daddy!’ Summer growled. ‘He’s a crap stink head!’

Evelyn wrapped her daughter in a hug, ignoring the bad language. ‘Why would you think that?’

‘Because it’s true!’ Summer sobbed. ‘Charlie stopped loving me, and now Jake has too. It’s the cancer isn’t it? Everyone hates cancer, and I have it, so nobody can love me.’

‘Oh, sweetheart.’ Evelyn rocked her gently and tried to find the words to explain. ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’

‘So you did stop liking Jake.’

‘No.’

‘What’s the problem then? If he likes you and you like him, and it’s not me, then why can’t he be here and be your boyfriend and my friend again?’ Her tears gave way to anger.

‘Summer, if you try to calm down, I’ll try to be honest with you.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’m scared.’

‘Scared of what?’ Summer looked at her in amazement, and Evelyn realised she’d never admitted being afraid of anything to her daughter.

‘Scared of being hurt again, I guess. Or of you being let down.’

‘Oh, is that all?’ Summer snuggled back into her bed, seemingly mollified.

‘It feels like a pretty big “all” to me.’

‘You don’t need to worry about any of that.’ Summer yawned.

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. Jake looked all over the world to find a doctor with medicine to help me. And made it so I’m going to be on TV. You don’t do that if you don’t really like someone.’ She gave Evelyn a look far more mature than her years. ‘I think he likes you lots, Mum.’