Chapter 24


    Emmitt rested his hands on the tabletop, peering at Summer as the corners of her lips curved into a


    bittersweet smile. “I guess you could say that.”


    Spotting his expression, Summer’s face softened with concern. “Haven’t settled on a school yet? If


    that’s the case, I’ll just give my dad a call right now…” She reached into her purse and pulled out her


    cell phone.


    “No need for calls,” Emmitt interjected, “it’s not that we haven’t chosen a school.”


    Summer’s hand, poised to dial paused mid–air as she looked at him, puzzled.


    After a slight tug at the corner of his lips and a two–second silence, Emmitt revealed, “She’s already


    picked her school. It’s Parkside High School,”


    Summer blinked in disbelief as if she hadn’t quite heard him right. It took a moment for it to sink in, then


    with a voice tinged with incredulity and something else, sheughed, “Emmitt, are you talking about


    Parkside High School? That’s my school isn’t it?”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Seeing Summer’s astonished look, Emmitt knew she was as skeptical as he’d expected. After a pause,


    he spoke up. *She’ll be registering at the school tomorrow. Actually, the reason I asked you out sote


    is to see if you could keep an eye on her for us.”


    He paused before adding. “Mira’s been raised in a small, out–of–the–way town and hasn’t seen much


    of the world. We’re not exactly clear on how her grades are, but they’re definitely not Parkside High


    material. I have no clue how she got her hands on that transfer eptance letter from Parkside High,


    but she’s adamant about going. So, Summer, I’m really counting on you.”


    Though Emmitt had reservations about Mirabe, she was family, and he intended to help where he


    could.


    Summer listened intently, her gaze dropping momentarily as she suppressed certain emotions within. It


    took only a second before she looked back at Emmitt with a sweet smile. “Don’t worry, Emmitt. You


    didn’t have to ask–I’ll take good care of Mira.”


    Emmitt had always known Summer to be a sweet girl, and looking at her now, he couldn’t help but feel


    a twinge of regret. If only there hadn’t been that baby mix–up.


    “But Emmitt, you just mentioned you’re unsure where Mira’s transfer letter came from?” Summer


    quickly resumed her questioning with a feigned puzzled look.


    Emmitt nodded, “Yeah, Mom and Dad are clueless too.”


    “I see…” Summer fiddled with her phone’s edge, then put on an uncertain expression. “You know, I


    vaguely rememberst month. I think I overheard my dad on the phone with the principal of Parkside


    High.”


    At this, Emmitt visibly stiffened. Last month? Wasn’t that around the same time as the date on his


    sister’s admission letter? But then it struck him–Mirabe hadn’t been raised in the Gilbert family. She’d


    been left to grow up in a distant town with her grandmother. Considering her rather unprivileged


    upbringing, would the Gilberts really pull strings to get her into such a prestigious school? He found it


    hard to believe.


    Keenly observing Emmitt’s shifting expressions, Summer saw his brow furrow and quickly added, “But


    you know, a school as demanding as Parkside High might be tough to get into, even with my dad’s


    influence. Maybe I misheard.”


    With an innocent shrug and a yful stick of her tongue, she looked every bit the harmless girl next


    door. “Don’t sweat it, Emmitt. As long as the transfer letter is legit, it doesn’t matter who helped her.


    We’re all just looking out for Mira.”


    Emmitt’s frown deepened at her words.


    Summer nced at Emmitt’s silent brooding, a sly smile tugging at her lips, but she said no more.