“Is everything okay?” Kimmie asks me. I explained everything to her on the phone earlier—the reasons why we needed to leave my uncle’s apartment, the fact that we’re waiting to hear from my dad. Even though Mr. and Mrs. Reid asked no questions during dinner, I’m sure Kimmie has told them the entire story, and they’re all hoping for some good news.

“Yeah,” I say. “Everything’s fine.”

Looking a little embarrassed for listening in on my call, Mr. and Mrs. Reid head back into the kitchen, and Kimmie follows them a minute later. Meanwhile, Sophie remains frozen on the spot, staring fixedly at me. Even though she doesn’t say anything, there are questions in her eyes. She’s wondering who it was, and what they said, and why I ended the call as suddenly as I did.

“It was just Jorge,” I say to her. “He wanted to know if we’re doing okay here.”

She nods slowly. I try to speak up, but there isn’t much more I can say to her. I don’t have the strength to tell her that I thought we would’ve heard from Pa again by now, that I wish we’d never had to leave Jorge’s in the first place, or that I desperately want us to find a way to be with Ma and Pa soon.

Kimmie’s parents and my sister go to bed early, but Kimmie and I stay up late watching a movie in her bedroom. Even though I’m staring at the screen, my mind is elsewhere. I can’t shake off images of Sophie’s face when I told her we were moving out of Jorge’s. I can’t stop looking back on the moment when I had to call Ma and explain to her that this was our only option. I can’t stop thinking about how Sophie cried silently in the cab on the way here.

“I, uh… I introduced Darryl to my parents,” Kimmie says suddenly.

I turn toward her, blinking a few times, trying to remember where I am. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to use my voice right now, but still, I clear my throat.

“And?” I manage to ask. “How did it go?”

“Great,” she says, letting out the smallest of smiles. “I mean, all the things I feared most happened. My mom made a big dinner, and brought out the fancy plates, and then she and my dad asked Darryl about a million questions while we ate, but he survived all of it.”

I try to let out a laugh, but I just can’t.

“Have you talked to Adam?” she asks me.

“I texted him earlier.”

“What did he say?”

“He reminded me again that Sophie and I could come stay at his house instead.”

“And what did you say?”