Page 8 of Cocky Secrets

I groan, “They’re fine!” glancing over to see everyone leaving the garage. Shay and Mylar lookfarfrom excited. “Are they joining you guys? Are they going to be Ciphers?”

Soph keeps her voice low, underneath the cicadas who are breaking into song now that the motorcycles are quiet and gone.“I don’t know if they were bored because it was easy, or if they just don’t get it.”

Celia mutters, “I predictcollegefor Shay and Mylar. We’ll see.”

I shake my head, “College, huh?” wondering if the predication will come true. I know that Shay has been hoping to learn more about the world, and Mylar goes wherever Shay goes. The Ciphersdotravel, but whattheysee of the world isn’t its brighter side. I wonder if that’ll satisfy Shay’s longings, or if history classes in person among people their own age, is what will come to be.

Sean rests his hand on the small of Celia’s back. “We all have to find our own path.”

He should know.

His led him here.

Buthereisn’t for everyone.

My rebellious brother calls out to me on his approach, long black hair flying free. “Anything new happen while we were gone?”

“What doyouthink, Atlas?” I toss back.

He laughs to Luke, “Sage is such a little shit.”

From a good distance behind, Luke unbraids his long black hair, oil on his dark jeans shimmering in the moonlight from whatever he was doing with his hog that took him longer to come out of the garage.

“Missed you, Sis,” Luke says, and I wait to receive a kiss on the top of my head.

My brothers are both handsome, but while Atlas is more dangerous-looking, Luke is beautiful. Not just on the outside. He’s always had a softer, quieter, inner self-reliance, a quality that almost cost him his happiness with Sofia Sol.

I didn’t get their height.

Norhair color.

And my eyes are dusty blue like Mom’s. I look a lot like her, actually, red hair, same nose and mouth, except for my skin is golden brown where hers is of the palest pink.

“Missed you, too,” I tell Luke, and stick my tongue out at Atlas. “Not you, though,stinker.”

He winks at me. “Yeah you did.”

He’s right, but I won’t tell him that.

I missed them all.

I always do.

It’s sad when the house goes quiet after the roar of motorcycles fades away. I much prefer the way its volume increases every time I hear them come home. Much, much prefer that rumbling sound of happiness that builds into a cacophony of engines so loud I feel it in my bones.

“Melody’s gone, still, but…we have sandwiches!”

Soph grunts disappointment, and one by one voices multiply until the final Cipher has walked back inside, where they, wherewe, belong.

Home crazy home.

FOUR

Sage

Since Melody and Denita took the one car we have, that meant Jett and Luna had to ride their motorcycles into our sleepy little town to pick up breakfast and haul it back to us in stuffed saddlebags. We’re about to enjoy spinach and ham omelettes, hash browns, roasted tomatoes, fresh squeezed orange juice, plus my favorite: everything bagels with cream cheese and blackberry jam.

Melody taught Mom and Carmen how to make omelettes, and they do a pretty good job but not as good as our house chef. Melody's cooking has that undeniable talent, one which can’t be duplicated. Whenever she’s gone, we feel it. Even though nobody says anything — not wanting to insult Mom and Carmen — I can tell by their faces that it’s just not the same. When Melody’s here, everyone moans as they take bites. You just can’t help it!

---