Cipher

mine. It’s a family specialty.”

“Anything other than soup or take-out is pretty special to us. I’m sure it will be as good as it smells.” Balancing the silverware on top of the plates, Summer headed into the rarely-used dining room and set them down on the table. A big pile of mail sat in the middle, so she scooped it up and stuck it off to the side. Most of the time she and Dad ate in front of the TV, and she preferred it that way.

Dad brought in salad dressings and placed them in the middle of the table. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Tiffany put a lot of work into dinner, hoping to get some time to talk to you. She wants to get to know you better.”

“I don’t see the point,” Summer whispered. “I’ve already got more friends than I can handle, and she’s dating you not me.”

Dad crossed his arms and locked eyes with her. His hurt expression made her feel two inches tall. “Dating me involves getting to know you, too. You know that, so try to be nice.”

“I am trying.”

“Try harder,” Dad said and then headed back into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, they were all sitting around the table, eating dinner. Summer put a lot of effort into listening to Tiffany and adding to the conversation, trying her best to make Dad happy. Again, Summer couldn’t help thinking Tiffany was all wrong for him. The woman liked opera and plays. She sold extravagant works of art for a living. Her fancy personality just didn’t mesh with Summer and Dad’s fast food, low-key lifestyle.

“Doesn’t the feta cheese and dill add an interesting kick?” Tiffany asked, pure excitement stretched across her porcelain features.

Even her food’s pretentious.

“It was delicious. The whole meal was amazing.” Dad tossed his napkin onto his plate.

“Thank you, John.” Tiffany leaned over and kissed his cheek.

There it was. The way she said John. The way she kissed his cheek. The way she came into their home and rearranged things. The way she was nothing at all like Mom. Of course, Summer would’ve hated it even more if she was like Mom.

“I really should go do my homework,” Summer said, not wanting to watch any more affection between them. It was easier to be nice from afar.

Dad started stacking plates. “I’ll have to remember that when the choice comes between dishes or homework, Summer will choose homework. I’ve finally cracked the code.”

“You’re hilarious, Dad, honestly.” Summer stood and turned to Tiffany. “Thanks so much for dinner.”

Then, before she got roped into another conversation she didn’t want to be part of, she hurried away. What she really, really needed to do was call Ashlyn. Just when she’d been making progress on their friendship, she’d accidentally stood Ashlyn up.

“Hey,” Summer said when Ashlyn picked up. “What’s up?”

“I’m just watching some television. You know, since my friend never showed up to hang out.”

“I know. I’m so sorry. Practice went long, Kendall needed something, then I got home and Tiffany had cooked dinner. Apparently the world was going to implode if we didn’t all sit down together to eat it.”

“I figured you decided to ditch me and go back to your old friends,” Ashlyn said, and though her voice sounded the way it had when they’d first met, Summer could hear an edge of vulnerability in there, too.

“I swear it’s not like that.” Summer couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “I was really bummed we couldn’t hang out.”

The silence on the other end caused Summer’s stomach to drop. Great. She’s back to hating me. Her chest tightened, and she was picturing a disappointed Angel of Death. That sick sensation was even filling her body again.

“Well, you’re going to make it up to me,” Ashlyn finally said. “Tomorrow morning. Meet me at my place at five forty-five.”

“Wait? Like in the morning?”

“That’s what I said. Bring your swimsuit and your clothes for school. You’re not going to stand me up again are you?”

“Are you going to murder me and throw me into the ocean?”

“Yes, of course,” Ashlyn said. “And I want you to be in your swimsuit so it doesn’t look suspicious.”

Summer laughed, glad to hear the humor back in her friend’s words. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

Chapter Eleven

Ashlyn thrust a wetsuit at Summer. “Put this on.”

Summer squinted at the first rays of the day. The chilly air bit her nose, and goose bumps crawled up her arms and legs. “I can’t believe you got me up revoltingly early for this. When you said swimsuits, I was thinking hot-tubbing. Something warm and relaxing.”

Ashlyn stepped into her wetsuit. “You wanna be a Barbie girl, or a real Cali girl?

“Real.” Summer rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself up. “The kind that lies in the sand and doesn’t go into the freezing cold water at the butt crack of dawn.”“First thing in the morning is the most exhilarating time. Now, suit up.”

The rubbery wetsuit gripped Summer’s skin, as if it was rejecting the thought of going into the ocean, too. As soon as she zipped it up, Ashlyn handed her a tall surfboard, then grabbed a shorter board. “This is going to be fun. You’ll see.”

Summer groaned before following Ashlyn to the sand. “I’m not that much taller than you. Why do I get the giant board?”

“It’s a long board, and it’s easier to learn on. First we figure out your stance and find the sweet spot. Then we’ll work on the rest.”

Ashlyn went over the how-tos of surfing and demonstrated how to stand. They practiced a couple times on dry land, until Summer thought she was ready to try in the water.

Icy needles stabbed through Summer as she entered the frothy water, every part of her body coming alert. Caffeine had nothing on this kind of jolt. Salt water splashed in her face as she paddled out after Ashlyn. Already she’d changed her mind about learning to surf. That Too late to turn back now saying popped into her head.

When they got out into the deeper water, Ashlyn sat up on her board, dangling her feet off the sides. Summer followed suit. They floated, staring at the cloudless gray sky while waiting to catch a wave—or what Ashlyn called baby waves.

Ashlyn’s body tensed. “Here comes a wave. Now, remember all the things I said and try to catch it.”

The wave came toward them, and Summer tried to stand up. She put too much weight on the back and ended up toppling off her board. Fighting for her bearings, she flailed in the water until finding her board again. She climbed back on, choking on saltwater.

Okay, so it was harder than it looked, but Summer was determined to catch the next one. She looked behind her, watched the wave approach, and tried to remember all of Ashlyn’s tips.

Time after time, wave after wave, Summer got the same tumbling result. She got to her knees a few times, but every time she tried to stand, she crashed. Just when she was about to give up, she stood and rode for a few short seconds before falling into the water.

That small win was enough for her to get back on her board and go again and again, until every muscle in her body ached and it was time to get back to shore.

As Summer and Ashlyn walked onto the beach, their wet footprints trailing behind them, Ashlyn’s breath came out in jagged bursts. She dropped her board to the sand and clutched her chest.

Summer rushed over to her. “Are you okay?” Dread seized her, her insides turning as cold as her skin. She’d gotten so caught up in having fun with Ashlyn, she forgot she’d started hanging out with the girl due to her freaky job. A job involving making peace between Ashlyn and her mom—something Summer hadn’t come even