Seth knew almost nothing about him—had purposely steered clear of anything and anyone who could tell him more.

This is the right number. Merry Christmas. I wish you well, too, he wrote.

But he couldn’t bring himself to send it.

“Pretty girl,” Tia said, trying to get Kiki to copy her.

Instead the bird said, “Shh, be quiet,” which made Tia laugh.

“Okay, you got it,” she said and began tossing the ball.

Kiki brought it to Tia before landing on a nearby branch to await another throw.

“Shh, be quiet,” the bird said again.

Tia took a picture of Kiki to send to Maxi.

Kiki hasn’t learned any new words. I must be a terrible teacher. But she’s happy and doing well. I hope you’re having a wonderful trip. Thanks for letting me stay in your gorgeous home. Merry Christmas.

When her phone buzzed a few minutes later, she assumed Maxi was responding to her, even though it was the middle of the night in Europe. But when she checked, she found a message from Barbie instead.

You doing okay? I texted you earlier to wish you a Merry Christmas but I haven’t heard back.

Tia hadn’t known how to respond. And while she was trying to figure out what she should say now, Kiki flew down, picked up the ball Tia had let roll to the ground and dropped it in her lap.

“Okay, okay,” Tia muttered and threw it, but her mind remained elsewhere. Did she pretend not to know that Barbie was the one who’d told Kouretas she was in Silver Springs? Could there be any possibility she was wrong?

She tried telling herself she didn’t really need to know if Barbie had done it or not. She could choose to believe her friend and assume that Kouretas must’ve used a private detective or something.

But she knew that was highly unlikely. Unless there was a GPS tracker on her car, how would a private detective trace her? Especially so fast? And if there had been something like that going on, Kouretas would’ve come right to the house.

I know you did it, she wrote.

Did what? came Barbie’s immediate response.

Tia shifted on the small wooden bench. Had she just accused another innocent person?

Possibly. But without this conversation, the doubt she now harbored would always stand between them. If they were going to remain friends, Tia had to know she could trust her.

Stop playing games, Barb. Kouretas told me.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. Kouretas is lying. It wasn’t me.

Then how did he give me your name?

It was a bluff. Tia hated to use it, but she knew Barbie would just continue to deny it if she felt as though she could.