Chapter 53: Chapter 53

"Yesterday was insane. Rapture, Dandy, Haru!! My life is just becoming weird little by little," Edward muttered as he sat at the dining table, poking at his breakfast with mild frustration.

He raised his eyes and pointed across the table. "And also, why the hell are you guys here?"

Rebecca and Nina sat casually, stuffing their faces with pancakes like they belonged there.

"Hey dude, stop shouting! We’re trying to eat breakfast," Rebecca snapped, her voice muffled by a mouthful of syrup-drenched pancakes.

"Yeah, Eddie, Nina’s trying to eat. Shush! Shush!" Nina added, placing a finger to her lips with a dramatic hush.

"Mom!" Edward called out in exasperation.

"Who wants more pancakes?" Jennifer chimed in cheerfully as she brought out another hot plate from the kitchen.

"Mom, why are they here?" Edward asked, his tone a mix of confusion and betrayal.

Jennifer gave him a look, then sighed. "Okay, okay, let me tell you, so you’ll stop bitching—excuse my language, ma," Rebecca cut in quickly.

"You’re excused," Jennifer replied with a kind smile before continuing. "Basically, my sister and your dad went on a vacation. And since they didn’t trust me with the house, they told me to come stay here for the weekend."

She paused to scoop some pancakes onto her plate.

"And when Nina heard about it, she just had to come, ’cause it’s been a long time since Nina saw Edward," she added casually, mouth half-full.

Edward blinked. "Damn, can’t I get informed first?"

"Shut up. You’re not the owner of the house," Rebecca said, pointing her fork at him.

"I live here, damn it! Plus there’s no man in the house, so I’m basically the man of the house!" Edward shouted, slamming his hand against the table.

"Which man? Nina doesn’t see a man."

"Wait, Nina, I think he’s talking about himself," Rebecca teased, and both girls burst into laughter.

"Nina, come on. You too?" Edward groaned, then stood and left the table, muttering under his breath as he went upstairs.

"What’s his deal?" Rebecca asked with a shrug as she dug back into her plate.

Nina, however, looked after Edward, her eyes softening a little.

Jennifer stepped out again with another steaming plate. "Where’s Edward?"

Upstairs, Edward collapsed into his bed, burying his face in a pillow. "They can’t just come unannounced. Shouldn’t I be informed first?"

He laughed to himself. "Why am I even angry? I’m kind of happy they’re here... Can’t let them know that, though."

Suddenly, the door burst open.

"Stand ready for my arrival, worm!" Nina declared dramatically.

"You gotta stop doing that!" Edward barked, jolting upright.

"Did what happened downstairs really get you that angry? Nina and Rebecca were joking, dude," she said, laughing.

"I’m pretty sure Rebecca wasn’t joking. I just couldn’t tolerate the teasing," Edward replied, sitting back on the bed.

Nina burst into another fit of giggles.

"What’s so funny?" Edward asked, puzzled.

"Nothing. It’s just shocking that you can get west—hurt by a little tease," she said through laughter.

"Wanna know what’s more shocking?" Edward asked, narrowing his eyes.

Before Nina could finish, Edward pounced, tackling her to the bed and launching a full-blown tickle assault.

"That you cry when being tickled. That’s shocking!!" he yelled gleefully.

"Stop it, Eddie! Stop it!" Nina shrieked between giggles, tears forming in her eyes from laughing too hard.

"Will you two shut up?!" Rebecca yelled from the living room.

"They must be having a lot of fun, Rebecca. Sure you don’t wanna join them?" Jennifer asked, lounging with her on the couch.

"Nahh, I’m more of an outside girl. But seeing as there’s no option for that, I guess I can sit with you and watch reality TV," Rebecca said with a rare smile.

"Well, at least now I have a partner to watch it with," Jennifer said warmly.

Meanwhile, in a busy studio downtown...

"Summer, excellent photo shoot as always," the photographer said, lowering his camera with satisfaction.

"Yeah, we’re done, right Ricardo? ’Cause I have a beach outing with the girls," Summer replied, already unzipping her boots.

"No," Summer cut in before he could finish.

"You didn’t even let me finish my sentence!!" Ricardo whined playfully.

Summer smiled, waved him off, and headed to her car. "Drive, please," she told her driver.

As the vehicle pulled off, she dialed her phone. "Let me call up these girls, see if they’re ready."

She called Adriana first. "Hey, Adriana, ready to go to the beach?!"

"Oh, that’s today? Sorry, Summer. My mom booked a church retreat," Adriana replied apologetically.

"That’s a shame. It’s okay, though," Summer sighed and ended the call.

"Damn. I really wanted Adriana to be there... Guess it’s just Madison and Tequila left."

But when she rang them, both gave similar excuses.

"So basically... no beach day," she murmured, slumping back in her seat as the car approached her home.

As she stepped out and approached her front door, she suddenly remembered—she needed to restock on food for her birthday party.

Throwing on a casual outfit, she set off toward the Estate supermarket. As she passed Edward’s house, laughter and excited chatter caught her ear.

She paused, smiling faintly. "Hmmmm."

"Okay, okay, that’s enough," Nina said breathlessly, her cheeks wet from tears of laughter.

"You look like a child, Nina," Edward chuckled, watching her curl up from the tickles.

"Nina told you she was sensitive to tickles, dickhead," she muttered, flicking his forehead.

"So, what’s the plan for today?" Nina asked, catching her breath.

"Plan?" Edward repeated blankly.

"Yeah, like... what’s the plan for today?"

"Nothing. The plan is nothing. We’re staying at home," Edward replied flatly.

"Damn. Nina thought we’d go to the park or something," she said, pouting.

"I guess we can... but we’ll have to ask my mom," Edward relented.

"Let’s go ask her then!" Nina beamed, grabbing his hand and pulling him downstairs.

They barely reached the living room when—

"Oh! You guys are done making out?" Rebecca teased, grinning at them.

"Shut up, Rebecca," Nina fired back, sticking out her tongue.

"Mrs. Jennifer!" Nina called out. "Yeah?" Jennifer responded.

"Nina and Edward were wondering if—"

The doorbell rang, interrupting her.

"I’ll get it," Rebecca offered, hopping up from the couch.

A second later, her voice rang through the house. "Wait, wait, wait, wait... no way!!"

"What is it, Rebecca?" Edward called, confused.

"It’s—it’s—it’s Summer Celestèe!!" she screamed.

"Wait, like the Summer Celestèe?!" Nina cried, rushing to the door.

She froze as she saw her. "Becca... pinch me."

"Heyy," Summer said with a light wave.

"It’s actually you..." Rebecca breathed in awe.

Edward finally stepped up. "Hey, Sum."

"Hey, Eddy," Summer replied as she stepped in and gave him a hug.

"Did he just call Summer Celestèe ’Sum’?" Nina whispered.

"Did he just hug Summer Celestèe?" Rebecca echoed.

"So... what are you doing here?" Edward asked.

"Let me sit down first, Eddy. Don’t you know how to treat a lady?" Summer said with a smirk.

"Pardon me, mademoiselle. Where are my manners? Please, sit," Edward offered with a dramatic bow.

"Thank you," Summer said as she took a seat on the sofa.

"Hey, Jennifer," she waved.

"Hey, Summer. Nice seeing you today," Jennifer greeted her.

"So what brings you to our home, Summer?" Jennifer asked.

"Well, Jennifer, I had a stressful day at work, and I planned a beach outing with my friends after... but at the last moment, they canceled."

She paused, glancing around at the gathered group.

"So, as I was walking past your house, I heard laughter and talking. I assumed Edward had guests... and I came to ask if they’d love to go to the beach with me. I really don’t want to go alone."

"Yes! We would love to go!" Rebecca and Nina chimed in, nodding wildly.

"Edward, are you going?" Jennifer asked.

"What the hell... let’s do it," Edward said with a smile.

"Oh wait—me and Nina didn’t bring swimsuits!" Rebecca said, suddenly remembering.

"No issue. We’ll head to the mall and cop some," Summer assured them.

"Yayyyyyyyyy!" Rebecca and Nina squealed.

"Seeing Rebecca is eerie," Edward thought to himself.

"Are you coming too, Jennifer?" Summer asked sweetly.

"Oh God no, this old body belongs in the shed," Jennifer replied.

"That’s nonsense. You don’t look a day over twenty," Summer said with a grin.

"Oh, stop it," Jennifer said, blushing a little.

Summer stood and walked over to where Jennifer and Edward were sitting. "Come on, Jennifer. Y’all should hype her," she said to the group.

"Jennifer! Jennifer! Jennifer!" Rebecca and Nina chanted.

"Okay, okay! I’ll come. Y’all are a persistent bunch," Jennifer laughed as she stood up.

Moments later, Jennifer went upstairs for her bikini. Edward gathered his swim gear.

They all piled into Jennifer’s car. She took the driver’s seat, with Summer beside her in front. Edward, Rebecca, and Nina sat in the back.

"To the beach!!" Nina yelled, pointing forward dramatically.

"No, Nina. We’re going to the mall first," Summer corrected.

"To the mall!!" Summer echoed, pointing forward as well.

"Yeah!!" the girls cheered in unison.