Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Getting To Know Summer (Part 7)
Don didn't let the awkward silence settle for long. He could feel the atmosphere shifting, and he knew if they didn't keep talking, things might get even weirder.
So, he decided to change the subject—though, in hindsight, he wasn't sure if this was the best direction to take.
"So, how come you're not out with a boyfriend like most girls your age?" Don asked, trying to keep his tone casual as he picked up another piece of chicken.
Summer froze mid-bite, her fork hovering just inches from her mouth. Her eyes flickered with hesitation, and instead of answering, she deflected. "Why are you asking me that?"
Don shrugged, acting nonchalant. "Just curious. I mean, as much of a pain in the ass as you are, you're not ugly or anything. So, I'm wondering why."
Summer narrowed her eyes at him, clearly not amused by his choice of words. "Not ugly? Seriously? I'm hot, Donnie. Incredibly so."
Don rolled his eyes, smirking. "Confidence is important," he said sarcastically, though there was a playful edge to his voice.
Summer huffed, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the bedframe. "Just for that, I'm not telling you."
Don shrugged again, taking another bite of his food. "Your choice," he replied, not pushing the matter any further. He could tell she wasn't ready to talk about it, and the last thing he wanted was to make her too uncomfortable.
They both continued eating in silence, the only sound in the room coming from the music still playing in the background. Just as Don was about to comment on the song, the next track came on—and it was a drastic change in mood.
The beat was slow, sultry, and the lyrics were anything but subtle.
"*Touch me slowly, let me feel you crawl, whisper my name as you take it all…*"
Summer's eyes widened in horror as the words filled the room. Without thinking, she practically dove for her phone, clearly desperate to change the song. But Don was quicker, grabbing the phone just before she could reach it.
"Give it back!" she demanded, her voice laced with embarrassment as she tried to snatch the phone from his hands.
Don held it just out of her reach, a teasing smile on his lips. "Relax, I just wanted to see the title," he said, turning the phone so he could read the screen. "Huh, *Bedroom Eyes and Thighs.* Interesting taste you've got there, Summer."
Summer's face flushed a deep red, and she lunged for the phone again, this time managing to knock it out of Don's hand. It hit the floor with a soft thud, and before either of them could react, a podcast began playing automatically.
"And welcome back to another episode of *Whispers in the Dark,* where we explore the steamiest fantasies and how to bring them to life in your own bedroom…"
Summer's face, already red, turned an even deeper shade as she dove for the phone, quickly exiting the app and silencing the podcast. She clutched the phone to her chest, glaring at Don with a mixture of anger and mortification.
Don, trying his best not to laugh, looked away and held up his hands. "I didn't see or hear anything," he said, though the smirk on his face suggested otherwise.
Summer wasn't buying it. "You better not tell anyone about this, or you're dead," she threatened, her voice deadly serious as she glared at him.
Don grinned, clearly enjoying the power shift. "I don't know… I might risk it."
Seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes, Summer's panic increased. She rushed to block the door, planting herself firmly in his path. "Don't you fucking dare, Donnie," she warned, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Don's smile only widened as he saw how desperate she was. He couldn't help but find the whole situation amusing, though he knew he had to tread carefully. "What's it worth to you?" he asked, leaning casually against the wall as he crossed his arms, clearly savoring the moment.
Summer's eyes widened with worry as she tried to gauge how serious he was. She bit her lip as she considered her options. "What… what will it take for you to forget this ever happened?"
Don pretended to think it over, even tapping his chin in a contemplative manner. "Well, this is an interesting opportunity," he muttered, his voice thoughtful as he watched her squirm.
Summer crossed her arms defensively, her foot tapping anxiously on the carpet. "Come on, Donnie, this isn't funny," she insisted, though there was a note of pleading in her voice. "Just tell me what you want, and I'll do it."
Don raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised by her offer. "You'd really do anything?"
Summer hesitated, clearly not liking where this was going, but she nodded nonetheless. "Just… don't tell anyone, okay? This is embarrassing enough as it is."
Don couldn't help but feel a little bad for her—just a little. He hadn't meant to push her this far, but now that they were here, he couldn't resist taking advantage of the situation. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Alright, I'll make you a deal."
Summer's eyes locked onto his, clearly desperate to hear what he was going to say. "What's the deal?"
Don smirked, taking his time before answering. "You have to be nice to me for an entire week. No insults, no hitting, no making fun of me. And… you have to let me pick the music tomorrow."
Summer's mouth fell open in disbelief. "That's it? That's all you want?"
Don nodded, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "That's it. I think it's a fair trade, don't you?"
Summer blinked, clearly not expecting the terms to be so… reasonable. She had been bracing herself for something much worse. After a moment, she let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Fine. You've got yourself a deal."
Don extended his hand, and with only a brief hesitation, Summer shook it, sealing the agreement. In truth Don couldn't pick anything too absurd or weird as he knew Summer wouldn't agree and it would only hurt their relationship. So instead, why not use it as a chance to show that even when given the opportunity to be in a position of power over her, he wouldn't abuse it.