The bell rings, but Pops gets to it before I can. It’s been only a few hours since we met up, but my friends are totally put together: Claudia’s holding a bouquet of flowers. Lydia is hiding behind them. My parents are so glad about me having friends that they don’t need to bring anything. They do it anyway. I’m an only child, and there’s still competition to be the favorite.

Actually, that’s not fair to say. My half brother still lives in New York with the rest of our extended family, while we moved out here when I was five or six. I’m not supposed to refer to him as my half brother, but that’s exactly what he is. He barely speaks to me or Dad during the school year and lately, when we visit him over the summers, he just seems bored.

“Hope we aren’t late,” Lydia says, glaring at Claudia. “Someone doesn’t know how to drive.”

“Lydia’s just a hater.” The corners of Claudia’s mouth turn up. “Anyway, we brought flowers.”

“They’re from my mom,” Lydia says, stepping inside. “She wanted to thank you for having me over all the time.”

“That’s so sweet.” Pops smiles down at the bouquet. “You’ll have to thank her for me.”

I lean against Claudia. Things feel more normal than they did earlier.

“Hey,” she says, nudging me. “You never told us if something special happened at rehearsal today or not.”

A smile blooms on my lips before I can stop it.

“Simone can tell all of us at the table,” Dad says. “I didn’t make Cornish hens for them to go to waste. Hi, girls.”

They wave. I huff, hiding my face in Claudia’s shoulder. I’m definitely not talking about Miles in front of my parents. It’s like Dad picked up on it before Claudia even asked. I swear, my parents must have boy radar or something.

Claudia nudges me again as we move toward the table.

“Your parents are great,” she says, voice lowered. “You don’t need to complain.”

I hold back a groan. It isn’t fair when she does this.

“I’m not complaining,” I say. “I never said anything.”

She shrugs. “It could be so much worse. You could live at my house.”

Claudia’s parents are super controlling, and they’ve been especially harsh since she came out as lesbian and ace. Her father had her sent to a mental hospital once—I shit you not. I’m glad I don’t get invited over there, because I’d punch the guy.

Once we sit down, Pops turns to me. “What happened at rehearsal today, Simone?”