Cipher

come back in and get ready.”

The awful churning in her stomach got worse as Summer headed downstairs. It’d bothered her ever since Gabriella showed up, but this was different—a twisting torture she felt nothing would fix except figuring out a way for Ashlyn and Pamela to get past their issues.

Chilly morning air greeted her as she opened the door. Whoa, I need a jacket before facing that. Her blue hooded sweatshirt sat crumpled in a ball next to the door. It was something Mom would’ve hated but Dad never commented on. In fact, his jacket was there, as well.

Summer tugged the hoodie over her head and zipped it up. Armed for the chill, she opened the door and crossed the lawn. She came around the driver’s side of her car and stopped dead in her tracks. The front tire was completely flat. “Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Not wanting to deal with it right now, she reached inside her car and grabbed her phone. There was a missed call from Troy—curious—and a text from Ashlyn.

Had a good time. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

It was a little early yet, so Summer figured she’d wait to text Ash back. She closed her door and squatted to examine her tire. She was running her hand over the rubber when she heard Tiffany’s car pull up. Without at least a shower first, she wasn’t near cheery enough to greet her, so she stayed down, waiting for her to go inside.

“Need some help, Sunshine?”

She jumped, the motion nearly toppling her backward onto her butt. “Holy crap, you scared me,” she said, trying to get her racing pulse back under control. She slowly stood to face him. Then, remembering her ragged appearance, she ran a hand down her hair.

“Sorry,” Troy said. “I thought you heard me.”

“I thought you were Tiffany.”

“I get that a lot,” Troy said, flashing her that killer smile of his.

It was bad enough that things with him had gone downhill. Even more frustrating that his smile still sent butterflies swirling through her stomach. But did she have to look like a complete mess when he came over, too? “What are you doing at my house so early? It’s the weekend. You’re supposed to be in bed.”

“That means you are, too.”

“I went to bed early last night. Yeah, my Saturday night was that exciting.”

Troy leaned against her car, crossing one ankle over the other. “I tried to call you.”

“I left my phone in my car last night. I was expecting a call from Ashlyn, so I came out to get it, and then I saw my tire was flat.”

Troy held out his hand. “Give me your keys. I’ll help you change it.”

The keys clanged together as she handed them over. “Careful. I’d hate for you to accidentally spray yourself in the face with my mace.”

“Somehow, I doubt that. You’d probably find it amusing.”

It was impossible not to smile at that. “Maybe a little.” Summer followed him to the trunk, trying to not think about how horrible she looked. I bet none of his other girlfriends ever look like this. Of course, I’m just his friend.

Troy popped the trunk, uncovered the spare, and handed her the jack.

“So, why’d you call, anyway?” Summer asked.

Troy heaved the tire out of the trunk, the muscles in his arms flexing with the effort. “I wanted you to see a show.”

Summer followed him as he rolled the tire to the front of the car. “Some new obscure band?”

“Yep.” Troy set the tire down and held his hand out. “Jack, please.”

Summer handed it over. “What are they called? Maybe I’ll impress you with my knowledge of them.”

“I doubt it. Last night was their first show. They’re called Pieces of Flair.”

“Sounds cool. What do they play?”

Troy twisted the handle on the jack, lifting her car off the ground with each rotation. “A few covers, a few original.” He glanced up at her and said, “I hear the drummer’s cute, and I know that’s important to you.”

She tried to make out his expression, the way the corner of his mouth was twisted up. “Is that a jab at me? I’m not really sure what we’re talking about anymore.”

“It’s the band I’m in.”

“You’re in a band? I knew about the drums, I just—Oh, I get the drummer comment now.” Honestly, she’d always crushed on drummers. Lead singers, guitar players—they were all good—but there was something about a cute drummer.

“Kevin, Tiny, and I have been playing together for a while now. We had our first gig last night, and I wanted you to come down and hear us play.”

All the pieces clicked into place. The way Troy and Kevin paid so much attention to how bands set up at Equinox. Tiny calling him aside in the hall.

Troy went to work with the wrench, taking the lug nuts off the tire. “I wasn’t sure if we were still in a fight or not, though, so I called. Then when you didn’t answer, I decided to come on over and see how bad of fight we’re in.”

“Like I said, I fell asleep early, so I didn’t get your message. I told you yesterday that we were fine. That I wanted to be friends still.”

“Yeah, but your parting comment seemed more like a jab.”

Summer remembered the stupid girl with him, and annoyance welled up in her again. Unable to think of a way to explain herself, she decided to move on. “I’m not mad at you, I swear.” I’m just jealous. She crossed her arms, trying to warm herself up. “You care that much if we’re in a fight?”

“Of course I do. You’re one of my favorite people. I hardly saw you all summer, and it sucked. Even when we’re fighting, you at least keep it entertaining by giving me riddles to solve.” He shot her a smile. “I prefer the laughing and joking to the fighting, though.” He twisted off the last of the lug nuts and it clinked against the others as he set it down. “So, why can’t we seem to get along anymore?”

Summer shrugged. “Would you feel better if I said I’m going through a lot right now?”

Troy removed the flat tire. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing, really. Just personal stuff.”

“So that’s a no. You were mad when I was hiding my stuff from you. That’s why I decided to let you in on my drumming obsession. I’m finally admitting it to people, all except my mom, of course. I know I can’t hide it from her forever, but I’m going to hide it for as long as I can.” He glanced over his shoulder at Summer. “Not that I think she’ll punish me; I’m just scared of hurting her.”

“I get that. And I’m glad you told me.” Of course thinking of that day made her remember how she’d thrown herself at him and how wrong everything had gone after that. Needing a distraction, she propped up the spare tire for him.

Troy lined it up and placed it on the car. Summer handed him two lug nuts, then started twisting on the others herself. After they were on, Troy tightened them with the lug wrench and used the jack to lower her car back to the ground.

He gathered all the tools and stood. “Well, your tire’s fixed.”

“Thanks.”

She followed him when he walked back to her trunk and put the tools back in her car. He closed the trunk and turned to face her. “You promise we’re good?”

“I promise.”

Troy tapped her nose. “Good.”

Tiffany’s BMW pulled up in the driveway. She climbed out and waved at them. “Hello, Summer and…?”

“Troy,” Summer filled in. “Troy, Tiffany.”

“Nice to meet you,” Troy said.

“You, too.” Tiffany squinted. “What’s all over your nose, Summer?”

Summer turned to Troy. “You put black on my nose?”

He held his index finger and thumb together. “Little bit.”

She gave him a playful shove before turning back to Tiffany. “Troy was helping me change my flat tire. You