“It’s just…I didn’t think you liked that kind of thing. I was surprised you accepted their invitation. You told me you didn’t like Amy.”

Mum knows me better than anyone. That’s why she’s looking at me with suspicious eyes. But she’ll only agree if she thinks I’m genuine, so I say, “I do like Amy,” which is not a lie, and then, “and I like her family,” which is a lie. “I just thought it would be nice.”

Mum tilts her head. “She seems nice.”

I’m glad she focused on the truth. Even if the chances of Amy being my girlfriend for more than one amazing afternoon could fall to zero if I force her parents to slip up.

64

“Whose stupid idea was that?” Nia asks. She can’t stand still, and she keeps tossing out evil looks like they’re grenades and we’re the enemy.

Don’t say mine. Don’t say mine. Don’t say…

“It was Tom’s idea,” Jay says, “and I think it’s a good one.”

Nia turns all her anger on me. “Saturdays are our night. It’s Aaron’s night.”

“And this one will be too,” Jay says. “But it’s nice to meet new people.”

“I don’t want to meet new people. I’m happy with the people I know.”

When Nia gets like this, Jay calls it regressing. He says she’s acting like a kid, but she’s not. She’s being a big sister, upset that the one night with her brother has been changed without her permission.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I just…”

“You know I’m not friends with Amy anymore. So this is going to be super awkward.”

That’s what I’m hoping for. I hope it’s so awkward that Jane or Chris slip up. If you’re forced to talk for long enough, eventually something important comes out.

“Is this about those fucking carvings?” my stepsister asks.

“Nia!” says Jay. “Enough!”

If she hadn’t sworn, Mum would have asked what she meant. But Jay raises his voice so rarely that, when he does, he sucks everyone else’s from the room. Nia goes upstairs and slams her bedroom door.

“She’ll get over it,” Jay says, but I can’t take that chance. If this is going to work, I need her on my side, so I knock until she answers and say, “I know you hate me right now. But please, hear me out. And, if you still hate me afterward, I’ll convince Mum to cancel.”

Nia doesn’t reply, but she doesn’t slam her door either. I tell her about the warning on the car and how uneasy I felt at Amy’s and how, if she lets me, we could finally trip them up.

“Are you done?” Nia asks, and, when I nod, she says, “I love Aaron more than anything.”

“I know.”