“I’m—I don’t know what to say.” I really don’t. Mason’s parents’ marriage is over, and my mom is going to start a relationship with someone who has roots here, in King City. What’s going to happen if we really do get relocated? Is she willing to walk away from Brian after he ended his marriage for her?

“So, I know that this is an important thing for you guys to discuss, but is no one going to address the fact that Amelia is really Thea?” Noah exclaims, staring at me as the doorbell rings, and Mason gets up to let Aiden in.

As I fidget with the sleeve of my sweater, Noah shifts closer to me. “Is that a real beauty mark on your cheek?” When he reaches out to poke me I swat his arm away, even though I appreciate his attempt to break the tension.

“Yes, it’s real.”

“Hey,” Aiden says, putting his arm around me as he drops onto the couch beside me. I instantly feel comforted by his presence. “You okay?” He frowns and wipes a stray tear from my face.

“Yeah. Better than ever,” I reply, and it’s not a lie. I feel better now that the truth is out.

“What have you told them?” he asks.

“Not much,” Mason answers. “We kind of got sidetracked.”

“We know her name is Thea, not Amelia.” Noah grins, then it falters. “So how much do you know?”

Aiden looks at me, then back at Noah and shrugs. “Everything.”

“What! I can’t believe you knew that whole time and didn’t say anything! That’s a huge secret to keep,” Noah says, then adds, “But it’s totally one you can trust me with.”

Mason’s face pales as he regards Aiden. “At the beach house when you said I didn’t really know Amelia, you meant . . . ?” He leaves the question open for us to fill in the blanks ourselves.

We still haven’t addressed the other elephant in the room, namely Mason’s feelings for me. Maybe one thing at a time.

“What’s important is that you guys know now, and you know to keep it a secret,” Aiden says, and we all subtly look at Noah, who realizes a beat too late.

“What? I said I’d keep it a secret! This isn’t like the time Mason couldn’t make it to the bathroom and pooped his pants in class in third grade.”

“Dude!” Mason exclaims, and when the realization hits Noah, he laughs.

“That secret’s different! And if it makes you feel better, I kept that secret for, like, nine years, so I can totally keep secrets. You can trust us, Amelia—not-Amelia—Thea.”

I shake my head but a laugh still escapes me. Did I make a mistake? I’m not sure, but I feel better now that everything’s out in the open. “I’m just glad I don’t have to hide it anymore. I’ve hated all the running and hiding and lying and losing control.”

“What were you saying about a man trying to kill you?” Mason asks, concern shining in his eyes. His face is hard, serious, and reminds me so much of Aiden in that moment.