10
Because of him, I felt happy and energized,
and I never went hungry again.
One afternoon, I was happily humming as I
organized my books.
“Is there a Summer Lane here?”
I looked up when I heard my name.
A delivery guy was holding a huge bouquet of
red roses.
“Hello, Ms. Lane, these are from your
boyfriend.”
I stared blankly at the flowers.
Why would Jason send me flowers out of the
blue?
Was he planning something for tonight?
I took the flowers and put them aside, about
to text Jason.
My roommate, who was sitting nearby, leaned
over curiously and read the card.
“Summer, forgive me. I know I messed up.”
I shuddered, putting down my phone.
I pulled the card out of the flowers.
【Summer, forgive me. I know I messed up.
Carter】
My roommate’s eyes lit up.
“Summer, are you and Carter fighting?”
I was usually so passive that my friends were
used to it.
They were surprised to see Carter’s apology
card.
M
A
T
“Good for you! You finally stood up for
yourself!”
6
20
г
4
I tossed the card and the flowers in the trash,
smiling.
“We broke up. My new boyfriend is named
Jason.”
My roommate’s eyes lit up. She pinched my
cheeks, showering me with compliments.
Then she sighed, “You know, love is like
taking care of a flower!”
*
“Just looking at you, I can tell he’s taking
really good care of you.
42
I looked away, shyly, thinking, Jason keeps
me full every day, of course I’m glowing.
That’s how succubi are. I was happy with my
new life.
If only Carter would leave me alone.
Jason texted, saying he had to attend an
event that evening.
The organizers had been bugging him, and he
couldn’t refuse.
I told him I’d go straight home after school so
he wouldn’t worry.
On the way, I thought about the surprise he’d
mentioned that morning, feeling a little
excited.
97
+
F
18
4
14
T
t
But my good mood didn’t last long.
h
–
L
*
T
N
4
Carter was waiting for me, blocking the road
home.
N
6
A
“Summer, I finally got a chance to see you.
I’ve been trying for days.”
“What do I have to do to get you to forgive
me?”
He was a mess.
“I’ll change. I promise,” he said.
“I’ll never tell you what to wear, and you can
have whatever friends you want. Okay?”
“I can do everything Jason can do!”
I didn’t believe a word.
2
4L
5
I could see that his energy was off.
4
He wasn’t the same high-quality meal he’d
been when we first met.
He probably wouldn’t be able to have kids.
Actually, since Carter had such garbage
genes, it was probably a good thing he didn’t
have any kids.
I smirked.
“You? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“If you keep bothering me, I’m calling the
cops.
وو
I was in a hurry to get home to Jason. I didn’t
have time for Carter’s crap.
W
A
H
#
幸
Carter’s face flushed, his eyes dark.
“You’ll regret this. I’ll show you I’m better
دو
than Jason.”
He couldn’t do anything in public.
He was just saying stuff to ruin my day.
I kept walking, thinking to myself, “Better?
He’s all about speed. There’s no way he can
compare to Jason.”
I happily unlocked the door to my house, and
the lights turned on.
Jason had just gotten home. He came out of
the bedroom, changing his clothes.
I ran toward him, tackling him in a hug.
“Careful, Summer,” Jason said.
I smelled something amazing coming from
Jason.
I couldn’t hold back anymore, clinging to him.
S
Jason could barely handle it.
