“I don’t think you understand, Lil.” Her voice had an edge, her blue eyes darkened. “Ryan took advantage of Aria. She had no idea what was happening, and she still doesn’t know what happened.”

“Are you sure she doesn’t remember? Maybe she’s not being honest with you because she’s embarrassed.”

“No, not Aria. She wouldn’t lie to me. She was pretty drunk and oblivious.”

“But Ryan adores her. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.” I walked a tightrope playing devil’s advocate, but there was no way this happened the way Mackenzie painted it. These kids had been friends forever. “Maybe—”

“Stop defending him!” she blurted. “For once will you listen to me? I’m telling you that Robin’s son victimized my daughter, and you’re more concerned with keeping the peace! Well, there is no peace anymore. Robin refuses to accept the truth, and apparently you do too. So I guess I have no real friends.”

“Wait, stop that!” I jumped up from the sofa and grabbed Mackenzie in both arms, pulling her into a hug. This was spiraling away from me faster than I could reel it in. I leaned back so that I could meet her eyes. “Mac, I’m listening. You got my attention, okay? What can I do? Should I talk to Robin?”

Mackenzie had always been the peacekeeper, but I’d wear the negotiator mantle if it meant fixing this schism.

She dismissed my question with a wave, then stepped away from me. I had an unsettling feeling like I was losing both her and Robin. “Until Robin sets things straight with Ryan, I’m not speaking to her. So if you want to say something to her, be my guest. But I’m done with that whole family.”

“What about Willow? They need you right now.”

“I’ll be there to help find Willow, but then I’m done. What if Willow found out about Ryan and Aria and took off? She idolizes her brother.”

“You think that might have caused her to run away?” I had pulled my fair share of disappearing acts as a teenager, but I wasn’t a mother, so what did I know?

“That’s my guess. Kids her age don’t usually get abducted in the middle of class. It’s more likely she left on her own free will.”

“Do you have any ideas on how we can help? Put up flyers? Post her picture all over Facebook? You tell me, I’ll do it.”

“We could start with that and . . .”