But Judy wouldn’t have worn those, she reminded herself. She also reminded herself why she was on this trip, and it wasn’t about her comfort or to figure out what was going on with her passenger.

Dylan folded his arms tightly over his chest. Part of the tattoo on his left shoulder slipped out from under the edge of his sleeve. It looked like the base of a compass with an arrow pointing south to a musical note instead of an S.

Joy threw the car into reverse.

She was not curious about his tattoo. She didn’t care what the rest looked like, or what it meant.

Dylan toed off his shoes and Joy exited the parking lot, leaving him to his thoughts as she got lost in her own. And like the compass pointing south on his arm, Joy’s mind aimed her directly back to a memory marker, once again picking up right where she’d left off: face-to-face with Judy.

“What are you doing here?” Judy had demanded, forcing her way past Kevin and into his room. “Do Mom and Dad know you’re here?”

Judy advanced and Joy scooted back on the bed, fumbling for words. She didn’t know what to say without sounding like an idiot in front of Kevin.

Judy reached the bed and gasped. “They don’t know!” She slanted Joy a look. “How did you get here?”

“I—I got a ride,” Joy stammered, rising to her knees so that she didn’t feel so small.

“From who? I know everyone at this party and they aren’t your friends.”

“Kevin’s my friend.” Her gaze darted to him. His eyes widened at being called out. He looked at her, the floor, the window, seeming genuinely uncomfortable, making Joy feel more awkward than she already was.

Judy thrust a perfectly polished fingernail at Joy. “Why, you little sneak. You stowed away in my car.”

“No, I—”

“You did! I knew something weird was going on. The blanket in the back wasn’t where Dad had left it. I’m calling him.” She dropped an overnight bag and pillow on the bed and yanked her phone from the front pocket of her skintight ankle jeans.

“Don’t you dare!” Joy lunged at Judy, making a grab for the phone. Judy dodged her and Joy face-planted on the bed, arms dangling over the edge.

“They’ll blame me if I don’t tell them what you did. They’ll take back the car. I’m not getting grounded over this.” Judy flipped open the phone, pressed buttons, and waited, eyes shooting lasers at Joy.

A wildfire of embarrassment ignited within Joy. She could feel her cheeks turn blotchy and red because Kevin was witnessing this whole, miserable sibling debacle. Why did Judy always have to obey the rules?