Cindi Madsen - Cipher

Then, as always, Gabriella’s outline glittered before disappearing completely.

Music always made menial tasks better, so Summer put her earphones in, cranked up her tunes, and started unloading the dishwasher. Singing and dancing, she twirled here and there, putting away the dishes. She tucked the spatula in the utensil drawer and spun around.

And froze mid-song and dance, blonde curls covering one of her eyes.

Troy stood in the archway of the kitchen, giant, heart-melting grin on his face. He stuck a thumb toward the living room. “Your dad let me in.”

Heat flooded Summer’s cheeks, embarrassment mixing in with the tingly excitement of seeing her super-cute boyfriend. All hers. That realization never got old. She tugged out her earphones, wondering just how much singing and dancing he’d witnessed.

He crossed the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I thought you said you couldn’t sing.”

“I can’t. And I really wish you hadn’t heard me trying to.”

Troy leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, sending her heart rate skyrocketing. “Because now you have to kill me?”

“Exactly.” Summer closed the small distance between their mouths, covering his mouth with hers. She ran her fingers up his arms and looped them behind his neck, loving the way his fingers dug into her sides as she deepened the kiss. They both knew it was only a matter of time before Dad “accidentally” interrupted, so each kiss, each second she could be pressed against him, felt stolen.

The volume of the TV in the other room went quiet, which meant time was up. Sometimes Dad would come in. Sometimes he’d just listen. Mostly, he was a pain, but in the way she still loved him anyhow.

Troy pulled back but kept his hands on the sides of her waist. Even though the space between them was fractional, she couldn’t help resent it. “So, Sunshine, what are we going to do tonight?”

“About that.” Summer twisted one of her curls around her finger. “I’ve got to go to this party, and as much as I want to, I can’t take you with me.” The omission of the words frat and college had been intentional.

Troy’s eyebrows drew together. “Who are you going to go with?”

“Kendall.”

“So what? You don’t want me getting in the way of you meeting guys?”

Summer shrugged. “Um, kind of?”

Troy’s teasing expression dropped. “That was supposed to be a joke.”

“Look, all I really know is that someone needs help, and that I’ll be more approachable if I’m unattached.” She grabbed both his hands and laced her fingers with his. “But don’t worry, I’m still really attached.”

“Just no one gets to know.”

Summer leaned in and kissed him.

“If you think that you can just kiss me and everything will be fine, then—”

Summer kissed him again, sucking lightly on his bottom lip until she felt his posture relax.

Troy leaned his forehead against hers. “You’re playing dirty,” he said on a breath. Then he straightened, his expression too serious again. “Be sure to take your mace, and call me if you need me.”

“Now you sound just like my dad.”

“I worry about you.” His green eyes bored into her, saying things he didn’t say aloud. Telling him about her instincts to help people and about the visions she got when she bumped into a person who was about to die had helped her deal with her bizarre life. It’d lessened her sorrow when she didn’t think she could take any more. She no longer had to constantly lie to him, and on top of that, he was extremely supportive. But he also worried more because of it, and she hated that he carried that burden now.

“I’ll be fine.” Summer wrapped her arms around his waist and dropped her head on his chest, enjoying the way he automatically tucked her into a secure hug. She sighed. “There’s no going back now.”

“What do you mean by that?” Troy asked, and she could feel the vibrations of his voice against her cheek.

“Now that I know what it’s like to be with someone like you, no other guys have a chance.”

Troy trailed his fingers down her back. “Just keep that in mind while you’re partying it up without me.”

If only she were going to be partying. Instead she had to find Liam and try to figure out how to help him, even though his dad was someone she already despised. She hugged Troy tighter, listening to his steady heartbeat, hoping some of his strength would transfer to her. “Trust me. I will.”

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA novels All the Broken Pieces , Demons of the Sun, Cipher, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, and Cinderella Screwed Me Over.

Find out more at www.cindimadsen.com