She looked up at me, and she seemed to soften. “Dad won’t be home until later, but Susan just called—she needs me to do an emergency fill for a lecture tonight.”

“Oh,” I said.

Mom looked me square in the eye. “We still need to talk about this weekend,” she pointed out. “But right now, I need to know that you will do as I say. No going out. No TV. No friends over. I need to trust you this time, Andi.”

Not even an ‘Andromeda,’ but an ‘Andi.’ She was seriously trying to get on my good side.

“Done,” I said. Why even bother explaining to her that I had nowhere to go and no friends left?

“This isn’t over,” she warned.

“I know,” I mumbled.

She eyed me warily, but seemed to feel it would have to do. “Okay then. I have to leave now if I’m going to get there on time,” she said, reaching for her bag and keys. “Dinner’s in the fridge. Do your homework. Dad or I will call to check up on you. Just. Please, Andi,” she begged, and I knew what she was asking.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I whispered. “I’ll be good, promise.”

“Okay.” She hesitated, but then leaned close and kissed me on the forehead. “Be good,” she repeated.

And then she was off.

The house’s silence instantly seemed to shout at me. It was horrible. I was all alone. I had nowhere to go. Vik hated me now, Bree thought I was crazy and Riley was gone.

Gone… An icy claw squeezed my heart at the thought.

The buzzing of my phone distracted me. I practically leapt upon it, but found it was only a text from Dad explaining how he was at the aquarium for an opening exhibit reception and wouldn’t be back until after midnight. Great. Another nail in my proverbial coffin. I stuffed the phone deep into my backpack. Thanks Dad. Just what I need. I was facing an entire evening of microwaved leftovers and not even the obnoxious parental watchdog eyes to distract me from the growing blackness gnawing away at my soul.

Where was Riley?

Did he go back to his weird house where nothing made sense? Was he even still on this planet? Was he even still in this dimension? The sheer magnitude of how truly far apart I could be from him almost bent me double right there in the hallway. I choked back a dry sob and clenched my teeth.

It’s your own fault, I berated myself. I should have known better. I shouldn’t have let myself get so lost in his perfect features, his perfect body, his perfect everything.

I will do anything—anything—to protect you…