“I can honestly say I haven’t been this happy in a long time.” I hope it lasts when I move.

“I’m so happy for you. You guys are perfect for each other,” she says.

“Thanks. What about you? What’s going on with the whole Noah and Chase situation?” Also known as the time Chase walked in on the two of them in bed together at the beach house and got into a fistfight with Noah, revealing to everyone who already didn’t know that he’s in love with Charlotte.

She swirls the cup in her hand to mix up the drink. “Nothing, really. Noah doesn’t like me like that. It was just a heat of the moment thing. And it’s not like we slept together . . . I mean, we would have, but either way it’s not a big deal. I like having him as my friend.”

Noah is talking to Mason and a couple of pretty girls I recognize from history class. I know what she means. I like having him as my friend, too, as well as Mason.

I miss Mason. It’s so weird now. Our friendship used to be fun and free and playful, but now it feels strained. I want nothing more than for us to go back to normal, but every time I look at him I’m reminded of his father’s affair with my mother, and I don’t even know what he’s thinking every time he looks at me.

I want to tell him about his dad but don’t want to be the person who destroys his family, who ruins his image of his father. If I tell Mason, it might ruin my relationship with him forever. But not telling him might do an equal amount of damage. Either way, I lose. Brian needs to do the right thing and tell him, and hopefully Mason won’t hate me too much for knowing and not saying anything. Aiden is strongly on team Mason needs to know. We got into a heated debate about it the day after Mom and Brian walked in on us. If I were Mason, I’d want to know too. But how can I tell him that my mom is the other woman? I don’t care what anyone says, people always shoot the messenger, and I’d like to stay bullet-free for now. If it comes to it, I’ll tell him, but I just need some time to fix our relationship first.

“What about Chase?” I ask Charlotte, bringing my own red Solo cup to my lips for a drink. The cranberry juice with a light splash of vodka is refreshing.

“I don’t know how I should feel about Chase. He’s my best friend and I love him, but it’s not the kind of love he wants me to feel.”

“Hey, no one can tell you how to feel,” I say.

And it’s true. Coming into this I wasn’t supposed to make friends, never mind fall in love. And despite everything, I fell in love with Aiden.