“No, we’ll be home in about . . .” I look at the clock, then at Aiden, who shrugs and fills in the blank for me. “About twenty minutes.”

“Good,” comes her relieved voice. “My parents are out of town for the night and Jake’s throwing a party. You need to come.”

Aiden and I exchange a glance. We were supposed to talk out what to do about this whole Luke situation. I’m still feeling frazzled about it. Can I really just go to a party and pretend Annalisa’s not the daughter of my mortal enemy?

“Amelia?” Charlotte prompts. “Come on. It’s going to be a bunch of Jake’s friends and they’re all college kids and I don’t want to be outnumbered in my own house. Anna and Julian already bailed; I need at least one of my girlfriends here. Mason, Noah, and Chase are coming, but you know how they are at parties, I probably won’t even see them the whole time.”

I try to gauge Aiden’s opinion, but he just downshifts and says, “Up to you.”

“If it makes you feel better,” Charlotte continues, a hopeful note in her voice, “no one will crash since it’s a college party, so no Ryan.”

I can’t bail on Charlotte. House parties are part of feeling normal, and I’m trying to feel normal despite everything spinning out of my control. “Sure, we’ll be there.”

A high-pitched squeal emits from the phone and I hold it away from our ears. “Yes! Awesome! Look hot—well, you always do—but still! See you soon!” She ends the call before I can say anything.

“Guess we’re going to a party,” Aiden says.

We pull into Mason’s driveway in no time. Natalia offered to watch Aiden’s brothers while we went out today. We’re picking them up so they can get ready for a birthday sleepover they were invited to, then we’ll get changed and go to Charlotte’s house.

I’m tempted to sit and wait in the car so I don’t have to face Natalia, Mason, or Brian, but that feels rude, so I walk up to the door with Aiden and he rings the doorbell. Natalia opens the door, a wide smile on her face as she takes in Aiden and me.

“Amelia! So nice to see you again! Come in, come in.” She ushers us in and closes the door behind us. I glance around, waiting for Brian to pop up.

“It’s good to see you too.” My face heats but I do my best to ignore it and try to plaster a look on my face that doesn’t scream her husband is cheating on her. I hope it’s not a grimace.

She gestures down the hallway and into the kitchen. “I just made enchiladas, Mason’s favorite, so the boys are eating. There’s plenty for everyone, come, grab a plate.”

It does smell delicious, but I feel like throwing up. I try to hide the deer-in-the-headlights look on my face behind my hair. Where is Brian? The sick feeling in my stomach doubles over on itself at the thought that he might be with my mom right now.