This was what a broken heart really felt like. Silly me, thinking I knew what it felt like every time I’d seen Kyler with a new chick. That had nothing on this.

I tucked my hair back and decided on, “Why do you think it has to do with Kyler?”

“Well, for starters, I’m not blind.”

My brows rose.

“Kyler hasn’t been here once since you got home. That boy practically lives in this house when you’re home from school. And not once has he stopped by, and that is like the sign of the apocalypse.”

I would’ve laughed at that, but it was true and it made my throat burn.

“I thought it was strange how you left without saying goodbye to him, but I chalked it up to the shock of everything that’d happened.” Mom walked over to the table and sat across from me. “And then there’s the fact that I’m pretty sure he hasn’t even called you.”

Wow. Thanks for reminding me. Not that I believed he’d call. I’d made things pretty clear in Snowshoe, but the fact that he hadn’t called stung like a hornet. And that was stupid, because I wasn’t ready to talk to him, but if I was being honest with myself—which sucked and who wanted to do that?—I knew what I really wanted.

Kyler to come begging and pleading for forgiveness—forgiveness I wasn’t even sure I could give.

“So I’m assuming something happened between you two,” Mom said.

“You know what they say about assuming things…”

Mom’s expression looked like she’d swallowed something sour. “Funny.”

A sigh shuttled through me. I didn’t know what to say or how to begin. What could I tell her? “Mom…”

My phone buzzed with a message from Andrea. She was outside. I flew from the table, relieved. “I got to go. Andrea’s here.”

“Sydney—”

“Mom, I’m okay. Everything is fine with Kyler.” I gave her a quick hug. “Really.”

I darted from the house before Mom could stop me, grabbing my jacket off the back of the couch. Nearly breaking my neck on the iced-over driveway, I joined Andrea in her toasty Honda.

“Hey, girl, hey…” Andrea chirped, studying me in the dim light like I was some kind of science experiment. “You don’t look too busted up.”

I rolled my eyes. “Gee, thanks, I think.”

She tossed a red curl off her forehead. “I’m glad you don’t. Holy shit, girl, I still can’t believe it. You could’ve died! Or worse.”

I wondered what was worse than dying.

“Or you could’ve ended up on Dateline or something.” She shook her head as she slipped the gear into drive. “Maybe had an episode of Law and Order based on it.”

I laughed then. “You’re nuts.”