Summer huffed. “I don’t know why you say that, since you hardly /know/ any parents. Yours are dead, you live with Derek, for fuck’s sake, he’s hardly a parent. More like some kind of … older cousin. The point being, you’re kicking yourself for something that hasn’t even happened, and I can’t even express how much I hate that you do that.”
“Like a big brother, but not quite on Camden’s league,” he murmured lowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he reached out to squeeze her hand. “I’m sorry, Summer — I’m a nightmare sometimes, huh? I’ll make you proud and wow your parents, all while having a good time, okay?”
She traced her fingertips over the back of his hand, looking down at it. “Don’t — push yourself too hard, okay? Just be you. Really. I promise, you’re lovable.” Just to reinforce that, she climbed up into his lap, set her hands either side of his face, and kissed him seriously.