Double crap! There was literally no other way in or out of our apartment than the front door. I mean, other than the gaping hole in the guest bedroom floor. But my mom could never find out about that. Ever. “I did,” I quickly said. “I was just tiptoeing very softly.” I was glad I wasn’t right next to her, or surely she’d see the lie all over my face.

“Oh.” She stared at me for a moment. “I must have been lost in thought. Well, I think the two of us need to have a talk.” She tapped the seat next to her at the kitchen island.

“Is Dad hiding in the pantry about to jump out and yell at me?”

My mom laughed. “No. Which is good because he’d be very upset about how short that dress is. Your dad is sleeping. And he has no idea that you snuck out to go to that party despite the fact that you’re grounded.”

I pulled on the hem of my skirt. I was so royally screwed. But my mom didn’t yell. And she hadn’t told my dad what I’d done. Yet. Maybe there was still some way to get out of this without being grounded a second time. I walked into the kitchen and sat down on the stool. “Mom, I’m sorry, I...”

“We both know you’re not.”

I opened my mouth and closed it again. Well, I didn’t really know what to say to that.

“And I don’t need to hear some made up excuse. I know why you snuck out. I get it. I do. I was your age once. If I’d been invited to any parties in high school, I probably would have done anything to go. And before you add some comment about me not being all innocent or whatever, I know that, Scarlett. Which is why I know that we can’t keep you locked up in this apartment forever. Even if that’s what your father wishes.” She smiled at me.

I just stared at her. “Does that mean you’re not going to tell Dad I snuck out tonight?”

She slowly took a sip of her tea. “Well, that depends on two things.”

“I’ll do whatever you want. Just tell me the conditions.”

She raised her eyebrow at me. “First, you won’t sneak out again while you’re grounded. I don’t like keeping things from your father.”

“I won’t, I promise.” Honestly, I wish I’d never snuck out in the first place. All I’d accomplished was ruining my first kiss. And I wanted to be ungrounded before the first football game of the season. I pictured Axel’s face when he’d told me he wanted me there. Right before he basically said he didn’t care who I did or didn’t kiss.

“And second.”

I looked back up at my mom.