“Music will help,” she said when she finally found her voice again. “You always being there helps. That’s what I need the most right now.” She squeezed his hand, and this time he let her release it. “I’ll pick you up after I get done with practice.”
Troy reached into his jacket pocket and produced a pair of sunglasses. “Want these?”
Summer took them and put them on. They felt huge. “How do they look?”
The glasses slid down, and Troy pushed them back up on her nose. “You look like the Terminator.”
I feel like the Terminator. Not so much the tough part, but the killing part. The smile she gave him was weak, but it was the best she could manage right now. “I’ll see you tonight.”
The door to Ashlyn’s house swung open, revealing Pamela. “Hello, Summer. I’ll get Ashlyn.”
Summer bit her lip, shifting her feet from side to side. “Um, actually, could I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure. You need some advice on how to tone up those arms?”
Summer glanced at her arms, suddenly self-conscious of them. Then she remembered her mission. “You know, I used to judge people too harshly. The more open I am, the more I find out how many good people there are. It doesn’t matter what they look like, doesn’t matter if their interests are different than yours. You miss out if you don’t take the time to really get to know people.”
A crease formed between Pamela’s eyebrows as she looked at Summer. “Well, good for you then. For…figuring that out.”
“Ashlyn is one of the best people I’ve ever known. Her heart is gold. Your daughter is awesome.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I do think so.” Before her determination faltered, Summer straightened and plowed on with the rest. “But I also think she needs to hear it more. You letting her know how awesome she is would mean a lot, I know it would.”
Pamela’s nostrils flared. “I’m responsible for keeping her safe and making sure she’s got the best life possible. I always compliment her when she eats well and exercises. And I reward her when she gets good grades. I take care of my daughter.”
Pulse pounding through her head, Summer met Pamela’s gaze. “Yeah, but you’re overlooking who she is as a person. She’s funny, sweet, and fiercely protective of her friends. She needs you to see who she is.”
Anger flickered through Pamela’s eyes. “We all express ourselves differently, and I don’t need you to tell me how to talk to my daughter.” Looking over her shoulder, she raised her voice. “Ashlyn, Summer’s here!” Without another glance at Summer, Pamela walked away, leaving her standing in the empty doorway.
So much for being a natural at this job.
Troy walked across his yard and hopped in the backseat of the Civic. “What is this awful music?” he asked as they drove away.
“It’s good.” Summer turned it up, knowing how much Troy hated dance music.
“They say the same lyrics like five hundred times. The music is all computer generated—not even real music—meaning they’re not even real musicians. I still can’t believe you listen to this garbage.”
“But you can do this to it.” Summer danced as much as she could while driving.
Ashlyn laughed and danced along. “She’s right. It is good for dancing.”
“You’re going to wreck dancing to this,” Troy said.
“Nope. We’ve got to stop at this light.” Summer threw her car in park and made her dance moves bigger. “I’m not moving until you join in.” She twisted toward Troy. “Come on, Mister Bond. Dance.”
He rolled his eyes, then made a sorry, mini-throw-his-arms-up attempt at a dance move. “There. Are you happy?”
“Very.” Summer noticed they’d caught the attention of the car next to them. “Those guys are staring at you, Ash.”
“Still staring?” Ashlyn asked, her eyes on the road in front of her.
“Uh-huh.”
In one swift movement, Ashlyn twisted, flattening herself against the window. The guys in the car jumped. Summer laughed at their priceless wide-eyed expressions. The light turned green, and she shifted into drive and accelerated through the intersection. “You’re so awesome, Ash.”
“I know, right? There’s nothing quite like giving a bunch of frat boys a heart attack at a stoplight.”
Summer glanced at Troy in the rearview mirror. “Now, since you showed us your awesome dance moves, Mister Bond, I’ll find a happy medium. Music you can dance to that’s still genuine music.” She switched to her Paramore playlist and continued bobbing her head—as hard as it was not to go all out and do a little head banging, she’d promised both Gabriella and Dad she wouldn’t get into any more trouble with the cops.
The parking lot of Equinox was surprisingly full for a Monday night. Summer finally managed to find a parking space, and they headed inside the club. “I can’t believe how crowded it is,” Summer said as they squeezed in with the rest of the people waiting for the show.
They forced their way to the front as the band took the stage. An electric guitar rung out, one note, then another. Drums mixed in, slow at first before gradually picking up speed. A pale kid with a lot of freckles and red hair stepped up to the microphone. Everything sped up, including the lights swinging around the room.
Then there was only the music and the energy hanging in the air, seeping into her skin until it was pumping through her veins as well.
In the middle of the second song, Troy leaned in. “So, what do you think?” he shouted over the music.
“Why are they yelling at me?” Summer shouted back.
“I think that’s supposed to be singing.”
“Oh,” she said with a laugh. “That explains a lot.”
Troy put his hand on the small of Summer’s back and his warm breath hit her neck. “But look at the drummer. He’s really good.”
The drummer’s arms flung through the air in lightning fast movements, and he had this intense look of concentration on his face.
“He’s cute, too,” she said.
“Yeah, that’s why I pointed him out,” Troy said, his words dripping with sarcasm.
Summer gave him a side hug, wrapping one arm around his waist. “Thanks for getting me out tonight. Practice was hell again and I needed this. Even if the lead singer is yelling at me.”
Troy smiled down at her, and her heart jumped into her throat. The lights turned his skin colors. Red, green, blue. Glimpses of every shade of Troy, and they all looked good. The song ended, and the world seemed to stop, just her and Troy, standing in the middle of the floor.
Ashlyn grabbed Summer’s free hand. “I’m in dire need of a Diet Coke.”
Before Summer could figure out if she and Troy were having a moment, she was yanked away and being tugged through the crowd. A tall guy bumped into her, and Summer tightened her grip on Ashlyn’s hand so she wouldn’t get lost in the sea of people.
When they came out into an open area, there he was.
Cody’s eyes met hers before she could decide whether to say hi or hurry away.
“Just a second.” Summer pulled Ashlyn toward her ex-boyfriend. It seemed like a good idea to say hi, but now that she was standing in front of him, it was more awkward than anything. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
Cody stared at her for a moment, brows drawn low over his eyes. Then he gestured to the guy standing next to him. “This is my brother, Tyler. He’s in town for a few days, so we decided to catch a show.”
Summer nodded at his brother, who had the same blue eyes, blond hair, and handsome features as Cody. She knew Tyler played football for a college somewhere—Arizona? New Mexico? Somewhere cactusy. She never could remember. “Nice to meet you.” She waved an arm at Ashlyn. “Um, you know Ashlyn right?”