“You were speeding,” the cop said.
Summer turned her attention back to the uniformed officer. “Oh, not…” She trailed off, not knowing how to finish without making things worse. She shot him a quick smile, then reached for glove box again.
“Be careful,” Gabriella said. “You better tell him what you’re doing so he doesn’t think you’re reaching for a weapon.”
“Why would I have a weapon?”
“What did you say?” The cop asked, tensing.
Summer’s pulse quickened as she saw his hand hovering over his gun. “I said registration. I’m trying to remember where my dad said my registration is. I think it’s in the glove box, so I’m going to get it.”
“Do you have a weapon in the car?”
“No. Well, I have some mace.” And the woman who’s responsible for sending people to their deaths. Does that count? “My dad makes me carry it, but don’t worry, I won’t use it on you.”
“I strongly suggest you don’t. You better keep your movements slow.”
Summer wanted to tell Gabriella to get out of here before she made things worse. Since she couldn’t talk to her without looking crazy, though, Summer reached past the Angel of Death and retrieved the necessary papers.
“Here you go.” Summer handed the information to the cop. She smiled up at him again, trying to soften him. It didn’t have the desired effect.
He gave her a stern look and then headed back to his car.
“I don’t think that went very well,” Gabriella said, shaking her head and then pursing her lips. “Getting grounded right now would be a detriment to your job. You can’t afford any time not working on Ashlyn.”
Summer frowned. “It’s not like I meant to get pulled over. And I think things would’ve gone much better if I wasn’t talking to an invisible person while he was here. I said weapon with an armed cop right outside my window. Is this how I’m going to die?”
“I can’t change the past,” Gabriella said. “We need to focus on the problem at hand.”
“So, you think my dad’s going to ground me?”
“That’s why I decided to pop in, even though I really don’t have time for it. So, instead of getting all dramatic and defensive with your dad—like you always do with me—explain your bad day. Tell him that you realize how dangerous speeding can be, and promise you’ll pay better attention to keep it from happening again.” Gabriella nodded to herself. She looked even more out of place in Summer’s car than she did in her bedroom. “Yes, I think that’ll work.”
“You haven’t already seen the future conversation all played out?”
“Don’t be silly. I don’t see the future; I’m going off a hunch. My hunches are reliable, though.”
“I think this is the most helpful you’ve been.” Summer leaned back in her seat. “Of course, you might be wrong.”
“Oh, Summer Dear, you always know exactly what to say to make me feel like a failure at a job I’ve done for… Well, longer than I care to admit.”
“Sorry.” Summer’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, then back to Gabriella. “You seem kinda sensitive for someone who delivers death sentences on a daily basis.”
“Oh, you think when I was a little girl I dreamed of spending eternity doing this? That I was like, that’ll be such fun, delivering messages of imminent death and dragging souls away from their bodies? I assure you, I didn’t. But ordinarily I do a pretty good job of it. If you saw the big picture, you’d realize that death isn’t the end. I know my job is important, and it’s hard work. Just because I’m used to delivering tough news doesn’t mean my feelings never get hurt.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I appreciate the advice about my dad.”
“Just stay out of trouble. You can’t afford another complication.” Gabriella glanced out the rear window. “Your cop’s coming back with a ticket. It’s too late to talk him out of that one.” She was transparent when she added, “Now, get back to work on Ashlyn.”
The cop handed Summer a ticket listing damages in the hundred-dollar range, then told her to be safe. Like he actually cared about her safety.
Summer eased back onto the road and started thinking about what she was going to say to Dad. Convincing him she’d had a bad day shouldn’t be much of a challenge. She had enough ammo on that subject to last for days.
Chapter Fourteen
Summer killed her car’s engine and looked over at Ashlyn. “Are you ready?”
Ashlyn shook her head. The whole drive to Kendall’s, she’d tried talking Summer out of going to the party. Since she was already on Kendall’s blacklist, though, skipping the party wasn’t an option. In fact, she felt lucky Gabriella’s advice had worked so well—that she hadn’t gotten grounded. Dad had been surprisingly understanding about the speeding ticket, only giving a short-by-his-standards, ten-minute spiel on safety on the road before letting her off with a warning.
“Come on. It’ll be fun once we get inside.” Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Summer exited the car. Witnessing Cody and Jenna making out all week had been gut-wrenching. Being forced into tight quarters with them would make the awkwardness almost impossible to avoid.
Music filled the air, getting louder the closer she and Ashlyn got to the house. Summer knew it was supposed to be a small party. Judging by the cars around the house and the noise coming from inside, it looked like it had already gotten out of control.
Without bothering with the doorbell, Summer walked in, Ashlyn trailing behind her. Kendall’s platinum hair caught her eye.
“Happy Birthday!” Summer thrust the silver-wrapped box into Kendall’s hands—earrings she’d not-so-subtly pointed out. “Kendall, this is Ashlyn. Ashlyn, Kendall.”
The two regarded each other with a slight nod. Neither bothered with the usual nice-to-meet-you-type comments.
Jack walked up behind Kendall and wrapped his arms around her. He looked over her head at Summer. “What’s up, Summer? Long time no see.”
“Yeah, it’s been a little crazy lately.”
They stood there for an awkward moment, everyone staring at each other. A new group showed up at the door, and Summer led Ashlyn into the living room. People filled the room, music blared, and some girl she didn’t recognize was already on the brink of passing out. So, par for the course.
“Hey, what’s that par for the course saying about?” Summer asked Ashlyn.
“Golf or something,” Ashlyn said. “But I always hear people talking under or over par. So what exactly is par? I mean from the saying I know it means normal, but why don’t people just say, ‘That’s normal, yo?’”
Summer laughed. She loved that Ashlyn simply took up the conversation, not needing to know why Summer was asking, or where it came from. Or even giving her a you’re-such-a-weirdo look. “I never understood golf. I just know it’s the most boring of the sports to watch on TV.”
“My mother doesn’t consider it a sport because there’s not enough cardio.”
Okay, I need to say something about this. Something helpful. “At least you don’t have to watch it, then, right? And you don’t have any golf magazines shoved at you, so…win?”
Ashlyn wrinkled her forehead—so apparently that topic change was too much of a stretch.
“Hey, Summer,” Matt, a guy from the football team, said as he lifted his red cup. He looked at Ashlyn, and a smile spread across his face. “Aren’t you in my Spanish class?”
“Sí,” Ashlyn said.
He laughed like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard, then thrust out his hand. “Me llamo Matt. It’s Ashlyn, right?”