The truth hit Lauren then like a slap to the face. Hard and fast, it left her reeling. How had she not seen it before? The missing piece wasn’t that Whitney was a lesbian, trying to seduce her mom. The truth was much more sinister than that.

She steeled herself against this newfound knowledge, instantly aware that she had to keep it inside for now. She had to play it delicately. No room for error.

This changed everything.

“Why would you give it to the police, anyway?” Amelia asked, eyeing the journal and picking so viciously around her fingernails, the skin was dotted with blood. “Does it say anything about Bethany?”

“Of course not. This was her diary from high school,” Lauren answered.

“Then...it’s not relevant to this, is it?” Amelia pointed out, once again making it clear whose side she was on.

Not Lauren’s.

This entire charade had run its course. Lauren couldn’t keep pushing. Sharing. It was time for her and Amelia to leave.

Still focused on the diary, Whitney tried again, reaching out her hand. “Can I please see the journal? I’ll give it back. I just really want to read it.”

Lauren hesitated only a second. “Fine.” She thrust the diary in Whitney’s direction. The relief Whitney felt was palpable as she closed her fingers around it. It gave Lauren a sick sense of satisfaction. Whitney was stupid if she thought Lauren was giving up that easily. Of course, she wouldn’t hand over her only copy of her mom’s diary. She had photos of the whole diary hidden in a flash drive in her suitcase.

Hope was written all over Whitney’s face, and Lauren couldn’t wait for the day when she could erase it. Wipe it away. This was far from over. Lauren knew the truth, and one day everyone else would too.

“So, are we cool, then?” Lauren asked, capitalizing on the moment. “To go on our trip?”

“Where exactly are you planning to stay?” Whitney asked, holding the diary close to her side, so tight her knuckles whitened, as if she was afraid it would leap out of her hand if she loosened her grasp.

“We haven’t made an exact plan yet. We were gonna play it by ear,” Lauren said.

Whitney’s fear-laced frown grew deeper. She turned away from them a moment, running a hand through her hair. She must’ve gotten a text or message because she took her phone out of her pocket, peered down at it.

Lauren and Amelia exchanged a glance.

When Whitney whirled around, she sighed. “Fine.”

“For real?” Lauren blurted out. It wasn’t at all what she’d been expecting. Completely out of character, from what she’d seen of Whitney so far.