Chapter 169
Summer's POV
By Wednesday night, the uniforms were finally ready.
I spread all four of them across my bed, examining each one with the critical eye I'd inherited from Mom's years in fashion. The navy pleated skirts were perfect—not too short, but short enough to move in. The white fitted tops had the St. Jude's crest embroidered on the left side, and I'd added my own touches: delicate lace trim at the collar and sleeve cuffs, a small decorative bow at the chest, and—my favorite detail—each girl's customization on the back.
Mia's had her initials in small, understated script. Ashley's had a tiny music note. Zoe's had a star.
And mine...
I picked up my uniform, turning it around to look at the back. In gold heat-transfer lettering, slightly larger than I'd originally planned, it read: CROSS 47.
"You really went all out on these," Mia said from where she sat cross-legged on my floor, flipping through a magazine. She gestured at Ashley's and Zoe's uniforms with a slight frown. "Even for them. The lace, the embroidery—Summer, they've been nothing but nasty to us. Why give them the same quality as ours?"
I smoothed down the fabric of Ashley's uniform, considering. "Because we're a team. Whether they like it or not, we're representing St. Jude's together. I'm not going to let their attitude make us look unprofessional."
"But—"
"I don't care what they say about me, Mia. I really don't." I met her eyes, feeling that familiar steel settle in my chest—the same determination that had carried me through Drake's attack, through Mom's ultimatum, through every moment I'd chosen to stand beside Kieran despite the cost. "They can whisper all they want. But when we're out there performing, we're going to look united, even if we're not."
Mia studied me for a long moment, then a slow smile spread across her face. "You know what? Fair enough. Team unity and all that."
"Exactly." I folded Ashley's uniform carefully, then added with a small, dangerous smile, "But if they cross the line—if they try to bully us or sabotage anything—I'll rip these uniforms to shreds right in front of them. Custom lace and all."
Mia's eyes lit up. "That's my girl!" She pumped her fist in the air. "God, I would pay to see their faces if you actually did that."
"Who says I won't?" I picked up my own uniform again, running my fingers over the gold letters. The weight of everything—Drake's threats still echoing in my nightmares, Mom's three iron rules, the constant fear that loving Kieran meant putting him in danger—pressed down on my shoulders. But looking at his name on this uniform, I felt something else too. Something stronger than fear.
"You're really going to wear that?" Mia asked, her tone shifting to something gentler. "In front of the entire school?"
I ran my fingers over the letters, feeling the slight texture of the vinyl. "Yes."
"Blake's going to have a field day."
"Let him." I folded the uniform carefully and set it aside. "I'm done hiding."
Mia's expression shifted to somewhere between impressed and worried. "Summer... you know this is going to change things, right? Once everyone sees you wearing his name—"
"Good," I said firmly, but even as the word left my mouth, I felt the phantom grip of Drake's hand on my throat, heard Mom's voice: No more putting him in danger. My fingers trembled slightly against the fabric. "I want them to see. I want him to see."
Mia must have noticed something in my face because her voice softened. "And if people talk?"
"Then they talk." I sat down beside her, hugging my knees to my chest. The truth was, I was terrified—of Drake, of breaking Mom's rules, of the whispers. But I was more terrified of letting Kieran face everything alone. "Mia, before... I spent so much time worrying about being perfect. And you know what it got me?"
"What?"
"Nothing. Just a lot of nights feeling empty." I looked at his name printed across the uniform and felt my resolve harden. Maybe Mom was right that I couldn't protect him from everything. But after all we'd been through—Drake's attack, watching him nearly destroy himself to save his family—I couldn't pretend he didn't matter. "When I'm with Kieran, I don't feel empty. I feel real." I swallowed hard, thinking of Drake's cold eyes. "I'm not letting him stand alone anymore."
Mia was quiet for a moment, then reached over and squeezed my hand. "Then you should absolutely wear it. And screw anyone who has a problem with it."
I squeezed back, grateful beyond words.
"Although," she added, her eyes twinkling, "you might want to prepare yourself for the possibility that he's going to completely lose his mind when he sees it."
Heat flooded my cheeks. "You think?"
"Summer. The boy looks at you like you're the only person in the world who matters. You could show up in a garbage bag and he'd think you were beautiful. But wearing his name? His number?" She grinned. "Yeah. He's going to lose it."
I buried my face in my hands, equal parts excited and terrified.
My phone buzzed. I grabbed it immediately, hoping—
Kieran: How's the uniform coming?
My heart did that stupid fluttery thing again.
Me: Finished! Want to see?
Kieran: Always.
I bit my lip, suddenly nervous. Should I send him a picture? Would that be too much? Not enough?
Mia peered over my shoulder and rolled her eyes. "Oh my god, just send him a photo. The suspense is killing both of you."
"But what if—"
She grabbed my phone, snapped a quick picture of the uniform laid out on the bed, and hit send before I could stop her.
"Mia!"
"You're welcome," she said smugly, handing it back.
I watched the screen, my pulse racing, as the three little dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Kieran: That's...
Kieran: Summer.
Kieran: You put my name on it.
Me: Do you... is that okay?
The dots again. I could practically feel him trying to find the right words through the screen.
Kieran: It's more than okay.
Kieran: It's everything.
I pressed the phone to my chest, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, feeling the fear and uncertainty fade just a little. Maybe I couldn't protect him from everything. Maybe wearing his name would invite more trouble, more whispers, more danger. But in this moment, with his words warming me from the inside out, I knew I'd made the right choice.
"See?" Mia said. "Told you he'd lose his mind."