“I wish that whole night had never happened,” Maddie said, shuddering.

“Look, I know we all agreed to stick together and not talk about this, but you need to do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. I won’t say anything to Will if you don’t want me to, but you should probably talk to your mom. And at least think about going to the police. What happened to you . . . it wasn’t your fault. Don’t worry about the rest of us. We can take care of ourselves.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Maddie said. “I just want to go home.”

“Okay,” June said. “But let me drive you.”

Maddie handed over her keys without protest.

When they reached Maddie’s house, her parents were still at work. June followed her inside, even though she could tell Maddie would have preferred to go in alone. Maddie looked miserable, but June figured she would be unhappy with or without her there. And besides, being with Maddie helped her push away thoughts about Hunter. He hadn’t just hurt Maddie—he’d humiliated her as well. June made up her mind. She wasn’t even going to give him the satisfaction of a scene. He’d probably enjoy it, and aggrieved girlfriend was not part of her self-image. As far as she was concerned, he no longer existed.

When Maddie’s mom arrived, June called her dad for a ride, and he told her that he’d pick her up on his way home from the train station. When he got there, she made a quick exit, hugging her friend and telling her to call. It had been awhile since she’d needed a ride from her parents and there was something comforting about her dad transferring his briefcase to the back seat so she could settle in next to him, NPR on the radio as always.

They drove for a few minutes in silence before her father turned to her and said, “Out with it.”

“With what?” June asked.

“With whatever it is you’re thinking about. You’re never this quiet.”

June smiled. Her father was her favorite audience, and it was true that she usually talked his ear off whenever she had time alone with him. But for once she wasn’t sure what to say.

“The police didn’t talk to you again, did they?” he asked.

“No,” June said.

“You can tell me anything,” he said. “Like I’ve always told you—when you have a problem, I can help you with a strategy.”