“But it’s been a long time now, Alexa. And it’s not like—” Caitlin clapped a hand over her mouth as though she could keep the evil words inside.

“It’s not like what? Say it, Caitlin.” The rage was rising, rising.

“Nothing.”

“Say what you were about to say.”

“Nothing,” said Caitlin, around her hand.

“You were about to say, it’s not like he was my real father, right?” Alexa could tell by Caitlin’s face that this was 100 percent correct.

“No, I—”

Alexa’s voice was steel. “Then what were you going to say?”

Miserably, mutely, Caitlin caved. “That?” she whispered. “But I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Forget it,” said Alexa. “This game is stupid. I’m going home.” She started toward the kitchen, where her phone and car keys were.

They both said things like, What? And Why? And We didn’t mean anything! And (this was the most infuriating one, the one that set her teeth on edge): Stop being so sensitive!

“Are you mad at us?” Caitlin was pleading now. Good. Let her. “Alexa, please don’t be mad at us? We didn’t do anything?” She looked at Destiny for confirmation.

“Big surprise,” said Destiny. “Alexa’s leaving.”

Alexa turned around slowly. “Big surprise?” she repeated. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You leave everything, if you even show up in the first place. You’re, like, totally disengaged. And it’s not just around us. Tyler told me the same thing.”

“I’m sorry,” said Alexa. “Tyler told you the same thing?” Problem number one with this story was that Tyler was unlikely to use a word like disengaged. Problem number two: why was Tyler talking to Destiny about Alexa?

“Yeah.” Caitlin looked like she used to in middle school, when she had an overbite and zits along her hairline, before she had a big glow-up and learned how to dress to flatter her skinny legs. “He talks to me sometimes too, you know. He’s allowed to have other friends.”

“I know he’s allowed to have other friends!” Alexa snapped. “Caitlin, obviously I know that.” She wasn’t that kind of girlfriend. Tyler could have all the friends he wanted. But she didn’t think he should talk to her friends about her behind her back. That felt sneaky and mean.

“He worries about you, Alexa. That’s all. Because he cares. But he said you can be prickly sometimes.” That was Destiny.

Alexa let out a short, derisive laugh. She faced Destiny and spat, “Now you’re both turning on me? Now I’m prickly?”