“Fuck.” Dare’s head dropped and mine shot up.

A sinkhole opened up in my stomach, unexpected, unannounced, unfortunately at the absolute worst time.

Sitting in my driveway was my mom’s hunter green sedan.

As if it weren’t bad enough, the second we hit the bottom of the driveway, the front door opened. Still in her scrubs, my mom walked toward the car like each step might break the concrete walkway.

“Bay Eleanor Bishop, do you have any idea what time it is?”

Dare’s headlights flooded over her glowering stance in the center of the windshield.

We exchanged glances and for a second I contemplated just telling him to gun it in reverse. I could sing on the street corner for cash.

He turned off the engine.

So much for a speedy escape.

She rounded the side of the car and yanked open the door. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been about you? I’ve been home for nearly two hours. How long have you been doing this?”

Her gaze drifted to the back seat of the car where Dare had gently propped up my guitar, complete with seat belt.

“You went to the studio?”

Before I could even think to refute it, the demo CD Freddy had given to me flopped onto my lap, like a gift to the parental punishment gods.

Her gaze darted between me, Dare, the guitar, and the disc glinting in the interior light of his car. “In the house right now.” Each word was charged with the explosives of me never being able to leave the house again. She’d push the plunger on the detonator and I wouldn’t be able to leave until my second semester of college.

“And Dare. I thought you were more responsible than this.”

His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. The muscles of his jaw pulsed and throbbed like he was a second from exploding, but he kept his gaze trained straight ahead.

I rushed to grab my guitar and end his audience to my embarrassment.

Walking in front of the car, following behind my mom, I mouthed ‘I’m sorry’. In the brightness of the lights, I couldn’t see his face, but his engine turned over and revved before he threw it in reverse and shot out of the driveway as the front door closed behind me.

“I cannot believe you did that. How long has it been going on?” She stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “How long, Bay?”

“Since January.”

“You’ve been doing this for five months?”

I ducked my head. “January of last year.”

She gasped. “You’ve been lying to me for almost a year and a half. You’ve been going to the studio. I thought we had an understanding. I thought I could trust you.”

“It’s not like I’m out doing drugs or drinking. I’m working in the studio to make extra money and I’m—and I’m playing.”

“And Dare?”

My shoulders dropped. “Sometimes he gives me a ride, so I’m not riding my bike so late at night.”