“And that’s all he’s doing? Just giving you a ride?”

My head shot up. “Yes.”

Her gaze narrowed. “I don’t even know if I can trust you, Bay. Who knows what you’ve been up to for the past few months when I’ve trusted that you’ve been here safe at home?”

“There is no safe at home, Mom. There’s no safe ever. I’ll be gone in a few months and I could be doing the same exact thing. You’d have no idea. I was taking every precaution I could. But do you think there’s anywhere any of us are safe?”

“I don’t even want to think about when you’re gone.”

“It’s coming, whether you want it to or not. Just like dad being gone. You can work as much as you want, but that doesn’t change a thing.”

“Now you’re giving me attitude because I’m working to put food on the table and a roof over our heads?”

“No, Mom, I’m not. But me playing music—you’ve never been able to stand it. It’s my one connection to dad and you can’t bear to hear it. Every time you’ve even seen the guitar, you look like you’re reliving the day he died all over again. Of course I’m going to hide it from you. Of course I’m going to do it, because it’s the only thing I have left of him, and sometimes my music is the only way I feel like I can breathe.” I broke down, my tears choking me and my sobs pounding so hard in my head the ache felt like it would explode.

She wrapped her arms around me and pressed my head against her chest. “I was scared. I’m scared. So scared of losing you just like I lost him. How you feel about music? That’s how I feel about you. You’re what I have left of him and you’re going to be gone.”

I clung to her arm. “I miss him so much.”

“Me too, honey.” We sat in the middle of the living room floor in a heap until both of us had bloodshot eyes and my throat was raw.

She walked me upstairs with her arm wrapped around my waist. After changing into my pajamas, she sat on the edge of my bed and brushed my hair back from my face.

“We’ve both had an eventful evening. Get some rest.”

“I’m grounded, aren’t I?”

She smiled. “Oh yeah. Big time. The biggest time.” Her laugh caught in her chest and she dropped a kiss on my forehead. “But we can talk about it in the morning.”

At the door, she flicked off the light and closed it behind her.

As quietly as I could, I grabbed my phone from my bag.

A message from Dare flashed on the screen the second I hit the home button.

Dare: Are you okay?

Me: I’m fine. Grounded though.

Dare: For how long? We only have less than a month left of the school year.

Me: I’ll find out from the warden tomorrow. I’m sorry my mom yelled at you.