“She’s not as wheels-off as you were at that age, but she’s challenging. Reckless.” Ben massaged one of his knuckles. “She doesn’t respect the boundaries your parents have put down to try to keep her safe. She’s got a lot of attitude.”

“I noticed.”

“I’m worried about her, and your parents are worried about her, too.”

It sounded like history was repeating itself. His mom and dad had done everything possible to keep him out of trouble during his high school years. But there’s only so much adults can do to restrain a teenager who’s set on destruction.

After Ethan was born, his parents had attempted to have one more child. They’d suffered a miscarriage, followed by infertility. No luck having a third child, so they’d made peace with the fact that God meant for them to be a family of four. Then Ethan died, and they’d all imploded.

His parents had held tight to each other and God. They’d tried to hold tight to him, too. But Luke had made that impossible.

Three years later, when his mom was forty-one, she and Dad had been shocked to discover they were expecting a baby. Then shocked again to discover the pregnancy would result in twins.

Luke had been glad for them. He’d also been glad for himself, because the girls’ arrival made it easier for him to leave. His parents could have a family of four again—with two girls this time instead of two boys. He’d been sure they’d have nothing but happy, carefree parenting days in front of them. They’d been through a lot. They deserved happy, carefree parenting days.

Only Blair wasn’t acting according to plan.

“And Hailey?” Luke asked. “How’s she?”

“She’s a dream. Very sweet and studious. Have you seen her lately?”

“No. Why?”

“Just . . .” Ben shrugged. “You’ll know when you see her.”

“What’s Blair into?”

“So far, I think it’s stuff like vaping, smoking, drinking at parties. She doesn’t have a boyfriend that I know of, but sometimes kids hide that.”

Luke didn’t want to remember the things he’d been doing at Blair’s age. “Can you get me the name and number of a high school kid who can tell me what’s going on with her?”

Ben thought for a second. “Sebastian’s girlfriend is named Leah. She’s a friend of mine and a teacher at the school, too. Her younger brother, Dylan, is a senior. He and Blair aren’t in the same friend group, but I’m positive he knows who she is. No doubt they’ve hung out at some of the same parties.”

“Do you think Dylan would help me?”