When Amelia was a little girl, the word mom rolled off her tongue with such affection, it made Whitney warm and fuzzy inside. Today it sounded like a curse word. Whitney’s shoulders tensed.

Drawing in a breath, she pressed the door open all the way and stepped inside. “I was just checking to see if you girls wanted a snack or something.”

“If we wanted a snack, we would’ve gotten one,” Amelia said with annoyance.

“I’m good right now, but thank you for the offer,” Lauren said, wearing an apologetic smile.

Why was a stranger treating her better than her own daughter?

Whitney’s gaze shot to Amelia. She was on her phone, typing something with her thumbs.

On the ground near her knee was a smattering of papers. They appeared to be printed from a web page. Some of the words were highlighted.

“Are you guys doing homework?” Whitney asked, taking a step toward them. Amelia hadn’t told her much about Lauren. She didn’t even know what class they had together.

After lowering her phone, Amelia gathered up the papers. “It’s...no, it’s not homework.”

Pink spots had appeared on Lauren’s cheeks.

“What is it, then?” Whitney asked, curiosity piqued.

“Have you heard of the Enneagram?” Lauren adjusted the glasses on her nose. Whitney mused again at how different she seemed from Amelia’s other friends. Quieter. More subdued. Serious.

“The what?”

Amelia blew out an irritated breath.

“The Enneagram,” Lauren repeated, ignoring the exasperated look on Amelia’s face. “It’s kind of a personality test.”

“Oh, like Myers-Briggs or something?” Whitney nodded, remembering how she’d taken that test back in college when she and Dan were dating.

“No, it’s not really like that,” Amelia said, throwing her new friend a knowing look, as if to say, You never should have involved my mom.

It irked Whitney the way she acted like they were in cahoots. Amelia barely knew this girl. With Becca, Whitney never felt like the odd one out. She and Becca didn’t used to hole up in Amelia’s room, sit close and whisper. Whitney would take them to the mall, the movies, out to eat. Or they’d stay here and all watch TV together. Whitney was often included. Becca may have been Amelia’s best friend, but Whitney was her mom. The person who knew Amelia better than anyone.

At least she thought she had.

“Same concept, though,” Lauren said.

Whitney nodded, grateful for how gracious Amelia’s new friend was being. Maybe she wasn’t so bad, after all. Whitney had been skeptical. Honestly, she wasn’t prepared to like her. She was still hoping this was all a passing phase and Becca would be back before she knew it.

“What class is it for?” Whitney asked.

“I already said it wasn’t homework,” Amelia said, her tone impatient.