“Take her phone away. Ground her for life. Overreact and lecture her about all the creeps and weirdos out there on social media trying to prey on young girls. And then, because the lecture would involve a lot of cursing, he’d probably have to put like twenty dollars in the swear jar.”

I sighed. “Yeah, that’s not really my parenting style. But maybe my style is all wrong. Maybe if I’d been tougher, she’d have respected my rules more. Maybe I deserve this.”

Frannie put an arm around me. “Stop it—you’re a great mother. She’s just been through a lot. And really, this isn’t that big of a deal. Just talk to her.”

“I will.” I stared down at our shoes, swallowing hard. “It makes me so sad that she doesn’t feel beautiful. Is it my fault somehow? Am I fucking up this whole single parenting thing already?”

“No,” Frannie said emphatically, giving me a squeeze. “You’re doing the best you can in a shitty situation. All girls her age go through this—Millie is right there with her. I cannot tell you how many tears she has shed over her hair before school in the morning. Her hair is ruining her life.”

I shook my head, laughing a little because I remembered those days all too well. “I know they do. I certainly did. But she never acted this way before the divorce and I’m just worried some of it’s coming from being deserted by her dad.”

“That’s why you have to talk to her. Or find a therapist for her. Mack’s girls went to someone after his ex left. Want her number? They really liked her.”

“Yes, please,” I said.

“You got it. I’ll get it from Mack and text it to you.” She stood up and tucked her phone into her purse. “You gonna be okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah. It just seems like whenever I think I’m making progress at my fresh start, something sets me back.”

“This isn’t a setback, Syl. It’s a little bump on the parenting road. You can handle it.”

I smiled at her and took a deep breath. “Thanks. And thanks again for having them last night.”

“My pleasure. We had fun. Did you enjoy your night alone?”

My face got hot. “Um, yes. I enjoyed it a lot.”

“Sylvia . . .” Frannie’s head tilted. “Why are your cheeks so red?”

“Because I wasn’t exactly alone.”

She gasped. “What?”

I covered my face with both hands. “I can’t even believe I’m telling you this.”

“Oh my God—you were with Henry, weren’t you?”

I nodded, still hiding behind my palms.

“I knew it!” she crowed. “I told Mack something was up between you two on Christmas Eve. So what happened?”

I let my hands fall into my lap. “Everything.”

“Like, everything everything?”

“Three times.”