Ashlyn narrowed her gaze, the way she tended to do whenever she looked at Summer. “I saw you with your boyfriend. Why don’t you eat lunch with him?”
“Because I’ll see him later. Right now, I thought I’d hang with you guys.”
“You’re on the dance team, though. The dance team filled with girls who like to make fun of us. I thought you all stuck together and frowned upon independent thinking.”
“Come on, give her a break.” Marcie gave Summer a warm smile. “I like having another person to talk to.”
“Yeah, Ash,” Darren said. “We like Summer being here. We need all the cool we can get.”
“You guys are plenty cool on your own,” Summer said.
Darren grinned, and there was a piece of lettuce stuck to one of his teeth.
Aaron was gripping a pawn in his hand, like it might run away if he didn’t keep his hold on it. “No one’s ever accused us of being cool.”
“Well, I’m accusing you, and I think soon the jury’s going to find you guilty,” Summer said.
Ashlyn rolled her eyes. “I still don’t get your game. No one would choose us over the cool crowd.”
“Maybe I need a little more intellectual stimulation.” Summer smiled over at Darren and Aaron. “Someday I’m going to have you guys teach me how to play chess.”
“And do your homework for you?” Ashlyn asked—more like accused.
“I do okay on my own.”
Darren glanced away from the chess board. “I’ll help you if you want.”
“Let me help you,” Aaron said. “Darren doesn’t know the difference between the tangent line and the secant line.”
“Whatever!” Darren shot back, and the two of them started arguing.
“Now look what you’ve done.” Ashlyn leaned in and lowered her voice. “If you end up hurting their feelings, I’ll make you pay.”
Summer locked eyes with her. “I swear to you, I’m genuinely interested in being friends with them. And you. I don’t understand why you won’t give me a chance. Did I do something to you?”
Ashlyn shook her head. “No. And I’m going to make sure it stays that way.” She tossed her half-eaten apple in her lunchbox and stormed off.
Argh! Things are getting worse instead of better. How am I supposed to fix Ashlyn’s relationship with her mom when I can’t even establish a relationship with Ashlyn?
“Don’t worry,” Marcie said. “She’ll come around.”
Summer watched Ashlyn walk out of the room. But will she come around before it’s too late?
Summer snuggled with Cody on the couch while the movie played in the background. He leaned in and kissed her neck. “You sure your dad’s not going to be back until late?”
“Yeah, he and Tiffany went to LA to see some play.”
Cody’s lips moved to hers. “You’re so hot.”
“You’re pretty hot yourself,” she said, running her hand down his perfect face and then parting her lips against his. He laid her back against the couch, swirling his tongue around hers. His hands slid up, under her shirt, slipping beneath her bra. He pressed his hips against hers.
Summer’s heartbeat skyrocketed, and her thoughts got fuzzy.
“Summer,” he said on an exhale. The tips of his fingers on her skin made goose bumps break out across her skin. He dragged them down her stomach. “I’m so glad we’re finally doing this.” He undid the button of her pants and she sucked in a breath. Wait? Doing this?
Oh holy crap, she still wasn’t sure.
And until she was…
“Wait, Cody,” she rasped.
He ignored her, moving to undo her zipper, so she had to push him. “Stop.”
“Damn it, Summer!” He sat back and glared at her, that angry muscle working in his jaw again. “When you told me your dad was going to be out late, I thought you meant…You know. That we could finally—”
“Well, I didn’t!” Summer scooted away from him, re-buttoning her pants. Her breaths were still coming too fast, and she missed his weight on top of her, even as she was thinking inviting him over was a mistake. “I meant what I said. That I could use the company. That we could hang out.”
Cody shook his head. “It’s not enough anymore. I think you’re just playing with me. I tell you I love you, and you never say anything back. You constantly push me away. You’re a tease. I put up with a lot that I wouldn’t have to with someone else.”
Hot tears sprung to her eyes, and she tried to quickly blink them away. “You said you were done pressuring me.”
“Do you love me?”
“You know I do,” she said, surprising herself. Maybe she’d held back saying it, but she knew she did love him. That was why it was so hard to fight with him. To not have sex, when she wasn’t even sure exactly why she was holding back. It wasn’t like the desire wasn’t there.
“Well, I’m sick of going home frustrated and in pain every night,” Cody said, his voice harsh. “Is that how you want me to feel?”
An ache formed over her heart, deepening with every beat. “You’re trying to guilt me into it?”
“No, I’m just saying, I’m done with this. You tell me to go, I’ll go.” Cody’s eyes bored into hers. “But if I do, I’m leaving for good. This is it.”Summer clenched her jaw. He’d given her an ultimatum. Give it up or he’d find someone else. Pain squeezed her chest and more tears were rising, blurring her vision. “Go then! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Cody stood and headed for the door.
This is it. If he walks out the door, it’s over.
He didn’t even turn back and look at her before slamming the door behind him.
Summer jerked up on the couch when she heard Dad come home. Her eyes burned from a combination of crying and staring at the television, and she had that special kind of headache that came from letting all of your emotions explode out of you in the span of a couple of hours.
“Hey, kid.” Dad flopped onto the couch next to her and sank back against the cushions. “What are you still doing up?”
Summer took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. “Couldn’t sleep. How was the play?”
“Tiffany liked it. I got a little bored.” Dad’s eyebrows knitted together as he studied her face. “Have you been crying over that boy, because I was serious about the two-strike rule.”
Suddenly, she felt like a little kid, and damn it, she wanted her mommy. She leaned her head on her dad’s shoulder, blinking against the fresh wave of tears. “We broke up. It’s over.” Telling Dad also ensured she wouldn’t fall for another sorry apology, even if Cody attempted one.
Dad tentatively patted her knee, as though he wasn’t really sure how to comfort her. “Do you…want to talk about it? I realize I’m not your mom…”
Mom would’ve been smother-hugging her by now; then there’d be ice cream. So much ice cream. Summer’s heart thudded, and she wanted to laugh and cry, all at the same time.
“…but I can try. I’m good at listening, anyway.”
The image of Dad strangling Cody popped into her head. No way she’d be telling him the truth about what happened. She sat up and scooted to the end of the couch. “Thanks, but I think I’m just going to go to bed.”
“Night, kid.”
“Night, Dad.” Already Summer’s thoughts were on how crappy tomorrow was going to be.
Chapter Seven
Summer put on her game face and trudged up the steps of the school. She’d been tempted to call in sick, but the Unicorn Stench show was today. No way Dad would let her skip school and still go to the concert.
Please let tonight be the night I finally connect with Ashlyn. I could really use a win.