14. Summer
Summer
“Do you think Steele’s going tonight?” Cody asks, tossing another potato chip in his mouth.
Addie winds another lock of hair around her curling wand. “Probably. Summer said Chase’s going, so I’m sure they’ll all be there.”
“All of them?” Cody pauses with a chip halfway to his mouth.
“You know,” Addie shrugs. “Steele, Jasper, Xavier … they follow each other around like lost puppies. Where one jock goes, the others follow.” She twirls another piece. “Why?”
Cody’s eyes flick to mine in the mirror before he answers. “No reason.”
We’re at Addie’s getting ready for the bonfire. I haven’t seen her since Xavier’s party. I wanted to come over the following morning, but she insisted she was fine and needed some rest.
Translation: She spent the day in bed hiding from her feelings.
We’ve messaged here and there, but it was obvious she wasn’t ready to talk about it.
That’s how she is. She doesn’t open up when she’s hurting.
She retreats. I’ve learned not to push over the years.
She comes to me when she’s ready, the same way I go to her.
We don’t always need words, and we never have.
One look and we know what the other person’s thinking.
Addie catches my eye in the mirror. “Are you certain Steele didn’t mention anything about me when you bumped into him yesterday?”
I made the mistake of mentioning that I ran into Steele on my way home from work, in addition to telling her that Chase was considering going to the bonfire.
She’s been stewing on it ever since.
“I’m sure he didn’t mention anything. We only spoke about our favorite TV shows, when we’re due for our next period, and braided each other’s hair,” I say, throwing my hair up in a ponytail.
Cody scoffs.
“Hilarious,” she deadpans.
“If he’d said anything, I would have told you. Promise,” I assure her.
“What about Chase? Has Steele said anything to him?”
“If he did, Chase hasn’t told me,” I reply.
I don’t mention Felicity’s diagnosis. That’s Chase’s news to share—if he chooses—not mine.
It’s strange, I don’t like talking about him when he’s not around.
Even to Addie. It feels disloyal, like I’m giving away pieces that only belong to us.
We’ve always kept our friendship separate from the others.
Addie has no idea how much time we spend together, and I’ve never felt the need to tell her. I’m not sure why.
Her eyes narrow. “What’s the point in being friends with him if you can’t get all the juicy gossip for me?”
“Hey!” Cody yells as I snatch a chip from him and pelt it at her.
Addie plucks it off her shoulder and eats it. “Thanks.”
“Do you think you’ll talk to him?” Cody asks.
“Steele? I don’t know. He’s such an asshole,” she says, moving onto another section of hair.
I offer her a small smile. “I’m sorry, Adds.”
A humorless laugh leaves her. “I should’ve known. It’s not like he’s ever had a girlfriend. He hooked up with half our class. Why would I expect him to treat me any different?”
“Don’t put that on yourself. He messed up,” I say.
“Has he still been blowing up your phone?” Cody asks, dusting crumbs off his shirt.
She plucks her device from the floor beside her, checking her notifications. “Four texts. And that’s just today.”
“He’s messaged you every day?” Cody asks.
“And called,” she replies.
My brows stitch together. “What do the texts say?”
She shrugs. “I stopped reading them two days ago. They’re all a variation of I’m so sorry. Please let me explain. You’re the only girl for me. Blah, blah, blah.”
She then swivels, pointing her curling wand at Cody. “Stop eating on my bed! It’s going to be full of broken potato chips.”
He sits up straight. “Hang on. You’re asking Sum if Steele mentioned you when she bumped into him, when he’s already messaged four times today, and you’ve ignored every single one?”
“Correct,” she says.
He frowns. “That makes no sense.”
“Love rarely does, Cody. It rarely does.”
Our brows lift at the same time, and Addie freezes. “I didn’t mean that!” she rushes.
She totally meant it. I think Addie’s been in love with Steele for a long time.
“Love?” Cody says, arching a thick brow.
“Oh, shut up,” she says, turning her attention back to her curls. “You know what I mean. I like him—liked him.”
“Sure,” Cody replies, a knowing smirk teasing his lips. “That’s why you aren’t putting any effort into your outfit tonight.”
Addie’s wearing a cropped halter-neck top, a sliver of toned belly on display, and a low-cut miniskirt with tan wedges. She looks amazing.
“Leave her alone,” I say, giving him a playful shove.
“Speaking of effort,” Addie pipes up, glaring at me, “is that what you’re wearing tonight?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth twists before she returns to her task.
I look down, surveying my outfit. Denim cutoffs, flip-flops, and a hoodie. I’ve applied minimal makeup—I hate the feeling of foundation on my skin—and my hair is out of my face.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I ask.
“Nothing,” Addie says, her voice high-pitched.
She hates my style.
Cody catches me by surprise when he reaches for my ponytail. I flinch, my body locking up at the contact. He studies me with a frown before smoothing his features and giving me a subtle nod. Is this okay? Slowly, I release a breath and nod back. I glance at Addie, who’s busy on her phone.
Cody gives the elastic a gentle tug and my hair falls out, tumbling down my back.
My shoulders loosen and he crooks a smile. “That’s better.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Really?”
“Ooo!” Addie sets down the wand and shoots to her feet, tousling her finished curls. “Can I style it?”
“We’re just going to the beach …”
Her hands slap together in prayer. “Pleeeease.”
I glance at Cody who waggles his eyebrows.
“So unhelpful,” I mutter. Sighing, I concede. “Fine.”
She pats the edge of the bed, and I plop down in front of her. She begins sectioning my hair. “So,” she says, “do you think you and Chase—”
Before she can finish her sentence—thank fuck—her bedroom door swings open.
Joanna enters, a giant gummy snake hanging from between her teeth. She pulls the gummy until it snaps, chewing loudly.
“Ew, Joanna. What do you want?” Addie asks.
“Where are you guys going?” she asks, popping her hip.
“To a bonfire.”
“Where?”
Addie rolls her eyes, muttering a quick “Give me strength” before turning back to her sister. “The beach.”
Joanna lifts her brows, the apples of her cheeks tinting a pale pink. “Is Xavier going?”
“Do not even think about it, Joanna Walker.” Addie wiggles a finger at her. “You’re not coming.”
Joanna reels back. “Why not?”
“Because you’re fourteen.”
“So?”
“You aren’t old enough to go out with us, Jo!”
She crosses her arms. “Fine. I’ll just send him a DM instead.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I interject, unable to help myself. Hell-to-the-no.
Joanna glares. “Why not?”
“He’s way too old for you. Even if you weren’t prepubescent, I wouldn’t let you anywhere near him,” Addie replies, scrunching her nose. “That man dips his wick in anything with a heartbeat.”
Joanna’s features pinch. “Yeah, right. Like you can talk.”
Addie’s eyes thin to slits. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Joanna arches a brow. “Hello? Steele Hewitt? Everyone knows he’s a total fuck-boy.”
Cody and I ping-pong between them like an intense tennis match.
“You aren’t coming to the bonfire, and you aren’t DM’ing Xavier Lancaster.” Addie’s tone is final.
Joanna scoffs. “Whatever.”
“You got any more of those?” Cody asks Joanna, pointing to her candy.
“Yeah,” Joanna sasses. “Got a few more right up my ass.”
Addie’s mouth drops open. “Get out, you heathen!”
Joanna quickly assesses me. “Your hair looks good, Summer.”
I duck my head. “Thanks, Jo.”
“Sucking up to my best friend won’t work, you little shit.” Addie raises her voice. “Out! Now!”
Joanna grins, clearly pleased with herself, and backs out of the room with an exaggerated bow. “Have fun with your jocks, losers!”
Cody and I burst into hysterical laughter as the door slams shut.
Addie slaps a palm to her forehead. “She drives me insane sometimes.”
“I love her,” Cody says, falling back against Addie’s pillows.
“Great. You can have her.”