“Momma, Reese brought us some homemade barbeque. She put it in the fridge,” Abby interjects.

“Well, aren’t you sweet. Abby, you never told me about your roommate.”

“We don’t hang much,” Abby says. “We both stay busy with school. And I have track too, and any spare time is spent with Fitz, you know.”

“Oh, don’t I know it.” Abby’s momma laughs, and she tells me, “You know, they’ve been like two peas in the same pod ever since they were kids.”

I blink. “Yes. I know.”

I do know, but the way she’s speaking, it’s like they really haven’t broken up.

Uncertainty flickers through me. What if Abby’s plan worked? What if he is back with her? If only to save her from herself.

There’s a sound from the doorway and Martha turns around. “Speaking of the devil. We were just talking about you. Did you get everything you needed from home?”

“Hey, baby.” Abby’s voice is warm and smug, her eyes boring into me.

My own gaze is fixed to the back of Martha’s head, where her hair has been pulled back into a perfect bun.

Heart pounding, I finally look at the doorway. My heart lifts at the sight of him, and I could swear his own face brightens for a second when his eyes meet mine, but then his expression turns to one of horror.

I don’t think it’s because he’s scruffy and tired and worn as an old shoe and hates for me to see him like this.

He blankets his expression quickly, but it’s too late.

His eyes flick from Abby and her momma back to me.

“Yeah, I got my stuff.” He lifts the bag he’s carrying. An overnight bag. Because he’s staying here . . . with her?

“Hey, Reese.” His eyes shift away.

“Reese was kind enough to bring us some food for later, baby,” Abby says to him.

His Adam’s apple bobs when she calls him baby, and I can’t move. What do I say to that?

Clearly, they are back together.

“Fitzy, why are you still standing there?” Abby laughs. “Why don’t you put the bag under the bed over here and come give me a kiss now that I can feel my lips again?”

I can’t.

My throat closes up in distress.

I can’t stand here and watch them hug and kiss and act like a couple.

“It was nice to meet y’all.” I keep my eyes on Abby’s momma. “I . . . have somewhere I have to be.”

I smile at Mrs. Summers and ignore the rest of the room in an awkward move worthy of every bad thing anyone’s ever thought about me.

Then I bail, striding past Fitz without looking back. I don’t have to. I can feel all the eyes on me.

Once I’m out the door, I have to stop for a second and lean back against the wall to catch my breath.

“She’s . . . a strange duck,” Abby’s momma says.