We eat in silence until Wren comes back a few minutes later and sits down at the table.

“Sorry again,” she says before grabbing her fork.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” my sneaky sister asks without a warning.

“Callie!” Ma bellows. I should say something too, but my thoughts freeze for a moment. Or more like catch fire. The thought of her with another man makes me feel like I’m swallowing pure lava.

“It’s fine,” Wren says. I’m not sure whether I imagine it, but I think her eyes flit my way before she returns her attention to Callie. “No, I don’t have a boyfriend. That was just my cousin.”

Huh. I thought she didn’t have any family left apart from her mom. Why didn’t she spend the holidays with her?

Callie tilts her head. “What’s her name?”

I snicker. My sister is such a gossip. Not with everyone, though. She only gets curious about the lives of people she likes.

“Aqidah.”

Callie’s brows furrow before Wren adds, “Her mom’s Pakistani.”

Didn’t know that either. It’s like outside of her place or mine or the farm, I don’t know who she is.

I also have no idea if I ever will.

“Is she your age?” I ask softly.

“A little older.” Wren picks up her glass of water and takes a huge gulp.

Clearly she doesn’t particularly want to talk about it, but the curious side of me takes over. “Did she have anything important to tell you?” Wren cocks her head, so I add, “I mean, I’ve never heard you take a call from her before.” My voice is low enough that others can’t hear.

“She, um, wanted to invite me to her and her husband’s ten-year anniversary party.”

“So she’s really old, then,” Callie says, not a bit ashamed of her eavesdropping.

Ma laughs. “That’s not insulting at all.”

“When is it?” I ask Wren.

“In two weeks.” She shakes her head. “But I’m not going.”

“Why not?” Ma asks. Another one who loves getting invested in other people’s business.

Wren shrugs. “Oh, you know, we’re just not that close.” She looks at me again, and I see right away there’s more to the story than what she’s letting on. Under her breath, she whispers, “We have different views on…things.”

By the seriousness in her expression, I assume this has something to do with their shared heredity.

“It might be fun,” Ma says, unaware of what Wren just said. “If you don’t want to go alone, Aaron could go with you.” She side-eyes me.

Okay, she’s definitely figured something out. I don’t know why she hasn’t brought it up with me, but it probably won’t be long now.

“No, no, don’t worry about it,” Wren says before taking another bite. Ma shrugs and does the same.