“The best movie I’ve seen since yesterday,” Summer stated all announcer-like, mocking the preview.
“This movie has actors in it, and they say stuff,” Ashlyn said with a laugh.
Troy shook his head, but he was smiling. “You two have lost it.”
That only made Summer laugh more. Inviting over reinforcements had definitely been the right call—they’d both come, no questions asked. Since Summer still wasn’t sure what to do about her growing not-friendship feeling for Troy, she was glad to have Ashlyn there to help keep her mind off it. Though, he did look extra cute tonight.
Suddenly, the hairs on her arm pricked up, and it had nothing to do with Troy’s cuteness.
Gabriella filled in next to the television. She crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow at Summer. “I’m glad you’re having fun, Summer Dear, but aren’t you supposed to be repairing Ashlyn’s relationship with her mom?”
Summer glanced from Gabriella, to Troy, to Ashlyn, and back to the Angel of Death. Neither of her friends seemed to notice Gabriella’s presence. In fact, now that the video clips of people getting hurt were playing again, they both had their eyes glued to the screen. Seriously? I’m the only one who sees her?
“Look, I’m trying,” Summer mouthed.
Gabriella crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Summer rolled her eyes and turned to Ashlyn. “So? How’s your mom doing?”
“Um, weird transition, dude.” Ashlyn shifted, leaning back against the armrest of the couch. “She is how she is. Condescending whenever I’m around.”
Summer glanced at Gabriella, who wasn’t offering any advice, but rolling her finger, telling her to keep going. “But that’s how moms are. She loves you. I can see it every time I go over there.”
Ashlyn’s eyebrows drew together. “Why do you keep bringing up my mother? I want to relax and enjoy the night without thinking about her. You said mindless fun, not Topics That Make You Feel Punchy.”
“Hey, when are we all going to go surfing together?” Troy asked, veering the conversation in a completely different direction. “I still want to see Sunshine out in the water,” he said, poking her in the side.
Gabriella dropped her head in her hands and shook it. “Do something,” she said. “You keep getting way off track.”
“I think we should go on Saturday,” Ashlyn said.
“I’m still waiting,” Gabriella said, her high-pitched voice grating Summer’s last nerve.
Summer shot off the couch. “I’ll be right back.” Once she was behind the couch where Ashlyn and Troy wouldn’t see, she jerked her head toward the hall, hoping Gabriella knew that meant she wanted her to follow her.
“What are you doing?” Summer whispered as soon as they were out of view of her friends. “I’m working on it, but you being here is totally throwing me off.”
“You’re not working fast enough. Since this is your first job, I’m trying to help you.”
“She doesn’t want to talk about her mom. I’ll work on it later.”
Gabriella’s fists went to her hips again. “You keep saying that, but pretty quick, there’s not going to be a later. Think about that while you’re laughing and talking. You might be having fun, but Pamela’s going to have a lot of guilt. Ashlyn will feel unfinished as well. But it’ll be too late because you wouldn’t listen.”
Then, with no warning or goodbye, Gabriella disappeared. Even after all other traces of her were gone, her disappointed expression remained burned in Summer’s mind. Summer walked back into the living room and flopped down on the couch. Once again she’d shifted moods, going from finally happy to irreversibly frustrated.
“Are you okay?’ Troy asked. “You seem a little crazier than usual tonight.”
She shot him a dirty look. “I’m not crazy.”
“You’re a little crazy,” Ashlyn said with a smile.
“I’m perfectly sane. Now just drop it!”
Troy and Ashlyn glanced at each other, eyes wide. Summer tried to think of something to say to fix the weirdness. If only there weren’t so many thoughts screaming for her attention first. Instead of getting better, she was getting worse. In fact, she felt like she was pushing Ashlyn and her mom apart rather than together. All Summer had wanted to do was sit down and relax, but she couldn’t do that with Gabriella’s warning running through her head.
Dad poked his head into the room. “Hope I’m not interrupting, but Tiffany made some brownies earlier, and I was thinking about busting them out. We’ve got soda in the kitchen, too.”
Might as well try to fix it with sugar. “I’m in.”
“Actually, I’ve got to get going.” Ashlyn scooted to the edge of the couch and stood.
“But it’s still early,” Summer said, standing as well. “Besides, you’ve got to have a brownie first.”
“I’m good. I’ll see you guys tomorrow. And surfing Saturday.” Ashlyn pointed to Summer. “You’re in, right?”
Asking if they could all hang out with Pamela seemed like the wrong move. “I’m in.” She’d have to figure out how to work her way in after the surf session. Maybe the fact that they were spending Saturday morning exercising would open Pamela’s mind enough for Summer to make progress.
It was a big maybe, but she needed something to hold on to.
Chapter Seventeen
Summer walked across the cafeteria and sat down in her usual spot next to Marcie. “This day’s been hell.”
“The girls aren’t playing nice?” Ashlyn asked.
“That’s an understatement. I’ve been called things I’m not even sure what are, some I wished I didn’t know what were, and I feel like I’m wearing a Give Me Evil Glares sign.” Summer twisted so Marcie and Ashlyn could see her back. “I’m not, right?”
“No sign, so they must’ve passed it through the Air Heads ‘R’ Us Network earlier.”
“Okay, that? That deserves a high-five.” Summer lunged across the table and smacked Ashlyn’s hand.
Out of the corner of her eye, Summer saw Troy heading their way. Her heart beat picked up speed, each beat tripping over itself, anticipation swirling through her stomach.
Then that stupid volleyball-player girl that kept popping up everywhere cut him off. Summer shoved a handful of Cheetos in her mouth, chewing as she stared at the two of them together. “Who’s the girl Troy’s talking to?” she asked, trying to sound casual, as if jealousy wasn’t stirring in her stomach, ruining her nuclear orange lunch.
Ashlyn peeked around Summer’s head. “Not sure. Marcie, do you know who Troy’s talking to?”
Marcie craned her neck to see them. “Um, I’m pretty sure her name is Cara.”
“She’s pretty,” Summer said, wishing she wasn’t. When she’d asked Troy about Lexi, he’d said he liked someone else. No doubt Cara was the someone else. “She and Troy seem to hang out a lot. Seems like there might be something else going on there, too.”
Ashlyn raised an eyebrow. “I was wondering about you two, actually.”
“Me and Troy?”
Ashlyn nodded. “I thought I caught a vibe.”
“Anytime he’s around, there’s definitely a vibe,” Marcie said, a dreamy edge to her words. The two girls leaned in, looking like they were waiting for Summer to give them the scoop.
Lately, she got this strange tugging sensation in her heart whenever she was around Troy. Or looked at him. Or thought of him. Which she’d been doing a lot. But that was crazy. They were just friends. If they were going to be more, it would’ve happened already.
Ashlyn and Marcie were still staring, eyebrows raised.
“I just don’t want him to get a girlfriend right now,” Summer said, trying to convince herself that was all there was to it. “His last girlfriend hated me, then I started dating Cody, and Troy and I stopped hanging out. I really don’t want to go back to not hanging out.” She glanced back at Troy and Cara—still talking, ugh—then looked at Ashlyn. “Speaking of boys, how are things with Matt? Is Spanish class muy caliente?”