Holly stretched her neck left and right to help ease the ache in her head and the tension in her muscles. As she did, she noticed they were beginning to attract an audience. She groaned – on the inside, but still. She caught the waitress’s eye, raised four fingers, and mouthed, ‘Boxes, please,’ relieved when the woman nodded. She was probably as glad to be rid of them as Holly was to be gone.

Several minutes later, their bill paid, the four of them weaved their way through the maze of tables and bodies until they were finally outside with Sophie marching ahead of Jersey.

Jersey cried as Leigh Ann did her best to soothe her. The most patient and comforting of the girls, Leigh Ann had what Holly and Sophie joked was the magic touch. Which was kind of ironic, considering she’d just joined their little group in the last four years.

Wishing their girls’ night out had gone better was a waste of time, so as they made their way to her car, Holly looked at the bright side of their evening ending earlier than planned. Her parents had gotten back from Indiana late this afternoon, and she hadn’t yet had a chance to see them. They would be out to dinner with Isaac, but now she would be home when they got back. She wanted to make sure her mom was doing okay. Ever since she’d realized the serial killer she’d been hunting was also the brother she’d always believed had been murdered when he was four, her mom had done her best to hide the emotional turmoil and impact it was having on her.

Her mind whirling with thoughts of her mom, it took Holly a second to realize Jersey had stopped just steps away from the car.

‘You know what? I think I’m going to hang back, go for a walk and clear my head.’ She wrung her hands together, avoiding all their gazes.

‘What? Why?’ Holly asked. A quick glance at Leigh Ann told her she was just as surprised. Sophie’s face registered more impatience than anything else.

‘I need some fresh air is all, so I’m going to head over to the duck pond for a bit.’ Jersey tipped her head in the direction of the university.

Not feeling comfortable leaving her friend alone and without a car, especially since daylight was fading, Holly tried to get Jersey to reconsider. ‘It’s going to be dark soon, so why don’t you just come with us, and I’ll drop you off first, okay?’

Jersey shook her head and turned to stare at the windows of a nearby retro clothing shop, her pretty features reflected back at her from the double-pane glass. She chewed on her bottom lip before a sad smile turned down the corners of her mouth. ‘I’m sorry for being such a downer. I know this was supposed to be our fun night. And this isn’t the first time my parents have threatened divorce, but since Dad’s already in another country with his nearly-my-age girlfriend, I’m pretty sure it’s for real this time.’ She lowered her voice, still not looking at her friends. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be okay. I won’t be long, and when I’m ready to head home, I’ll call an Uber.’