Brian straightens up. “I should get going now. Good-bye, Caroline. Amelia. Aiden, I’ll see you at home later.”

He gives my mom a quick kiss and then turns to leave. Mom watches him go, then turns back to me and Aiden, trying to assume the Responsible Mom role instead of the Mistress one.

“I don’t think I like the fact that you two were here alone, doing goodness knows what. That’s not very responsible of you, Amelia,” she says, frown lines marring her mouth.

“And I don’t think I like the fact that you’re fucking my best friend’s married dad, so I guess we both can’t get what we want, can we?” I reply with as much attitude as I can.

Her mouth drops, and even I’m a little surprised. I guess to hell with a brain-to-mouth filter? But we did just catch her shirtless and making out with Brian, so she really can’t stand here and lecture me about being responsible. Such a hypocrite. We stare at each other in a standoff, our shoulders squared and eyes challenging the other to say something.

“I should go pick up the twins from school,” Aiden says. “I’ll call you tonight?”

Aiden slips out quickly to avoid the fight that’s about to happen. I don’t break the staring contest I’m having with Mom.

She’s the first to break. “I don’t think I want you seeing that boy anymore.”

“Who? Aiden?”

She turns and I trail after her into the kitchen, where she pulls some vegetables from the fridge and places them on a chopping board. I face her from the other side of the island.

“Yes, Aiden. You spend a lot of time with him. What if you slip up and tell him our secret?”

For a split second, I consider telling her that Aiden already knows, and that he’s more supportive of me than she’s ever been, just to spite her. But I don’t, because I’m trying to be logical, and telling Mom that a boy she doesn’t particularly like knows our life-changing secret wouldn’t go over too well.

“I’ve been doing this for over a year now, I think I know how to keep a secret,” I lie, since I can’t keep a secret from Aiden. “We’re leaving soon, so it doesn’t even matter, does it?”

I add, “Plus, you’ve been spending a lot of time with Brian. What if you slip up and reveal everything?”

“Oh, we don’t do much talking when we’re together.” She laughs.

I make a general sound of disgust and take a seat at the island. “Mom, for real.”

“Relax, I was joking. I know how to keep certain information from people. But can you?” She pauses from chopping vegetables to raise an eyebrow at me.

“Are you asking me if I’ll keep your affair a secret from my friends?”

“Well?”

“Depends,” I answer nonchalantly, stealing a carrot that she just sliced.

“On what?”

“Are you going to keep seeing him?”

A corner of her lip turns up. “Depends.”