Chapter 30

Joe drove us back to my house.

It was dark, but I knew my mom would still come back tonight. Joe asked if I wanted company till then, and I told him no. It felt right—the most it had in so long—for me to go inside, do my homework, and hope to get in trouble for still being up whenever my mom came home.

I kissed him and said, “I’ll be okay.” And I meant it. I gave him a smile before heading inside.

The house was cold when I got in, so I kicked up the heat...