I glance at my bag, an action that doesn’t go unnoticed by Aiden.

He gives me a look, one that says he knows what I’m up to, that he knows I took the file. Of course I’m taking it this time. No way am I leaving it here where someone else can stumble upon it. I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t need Annalisa poking around it and asking questions. Plus, I need answers, and there’s only one guy who can give them to me.

11

When I get home, I park in the garage and open the door, only to be met with loud, Spanish music coming from upstairs. Annoying. It only means one thing: Mom’s upstairs with Mason’s dad.

I slam the door and chuck my shoes across the foyer, where they hit the front door and land with a thud. I march through the house into the kitchen, slamming doors and cupboards and trying to be loud in general.

The music turns off, and I throw the metal knife I was using to make my Nutella sandwich into the sink, where it bounces around with loud, satisfying clinks. They know I’m home now. I just ruined their date.

Ugh. Gross.

I sit at the table, making sure to scrape the chair loudly across the floor as I pull it out, and calmly eat my sandwich.

Mom’s bedroom door creaks open, and soon she’s standing in the kitchen.

“Oh, what are you doing home?” she asks, trying to fix her still messy hair. At least she’s fully dressed.

I put down the rest of my sandwich and stare at her with incredulity. “Are you serious? It’s 6 p.m. School ended hours ago. Technically I’m late.”

She tilts her head as she considers my words. “Huh. I guess we lost track of time.”

I scoff. Unbelievable. Who’s the adult here?

She walks back to the hallway and stands at the base of the stairs.

“Brian, it’s just Amelia!” she calls up to him.

I join my mom in the hallway and lean on the door frame, crossing my arms as Brian comes into view.

“Where were you this whole time? Why were you late?” Mom asks me and I openly stare at her.

“Does it matter? You didn’t even know I was gone.”

Brian meets us at the bottom of the stairs. “Oh, hi, Amelia. We need to stop meeting like this.”

His attempt at a joke is lame and doesn’t work. I grind my molars together. “Can’t you guys at least try to be discreet? It’s like you’re begging to get caught. What if I brought my friends over after school?”

Brian shrugs his jacket on. “I did park around the corner, but you’re right, we should be more careful.”

“What you should do is put an end to this and tell your family what a piece of shit you’re being right now.”

“Amelia!” Mom immediately scolds me. “Respect your elders.”

“I’ll respect my elders when Brian respects his vows.”