“Seriously?” I asked. Caelyn was an incredible guardian. It would be impossible for the kids to be in better care.

“She’s just one of those miserable humans who needs to make herself feel better by trying to break others down. But when she told me I didn’t have good instincts because I wasn’t a real mother, I nearly lost it.”

“What?” I growled.

“I told you. She’s a real piece of work.”

I studied Caelyn carefully. “Tell me the truth. Did any of this have to do with me?”

Caelyn’s lips formed a hard line. “She mentioned you, yes. But plenty of other things, too.”

My stomach sank. It was starting already. The last thing I wanted was for Caelyn to have more on her shoulders simply because she had a friendship with me. “We can go.”

Her head snapped up. “Are you kidding?” My eyes widened. “We do not let ignorant, cruel people win. That’s a rule.”

Will looked at us, picking up on the tail end of the conversation. “She’s right. It’s a rule in our family, and if you hang with us, you have to follow it.”

I swallowed against the burn in the back of my throat. “Well, I can’t go breaking rules that would get me kicked out of the cool-kids club.”

“Dang straight.” Caelyn’s eyes locked with mine. “Don’t you dare listen to any nonsense or whispers coming from people who don’t know you. Or I’ll—I’ll—I don’t know what, but it’ll be bad.”

Will choked on a laugh. “When she’s really flustered or mad, she can never think up punishments on the fly.”

The tension running through my shoulders eased as I took in Caelyn’s flushed face. “I promise I won’t listen.”

“Good.” She slapped her hands down on the table. “Now, let’s go get some freaking ice cream.”

Ava giggled at the ferocity of Caelyn’s tone. “You really want that ice cream, don’t you?”

She smiled at Ava. “I might get two scoops.”

“Careful. You could end up in a sugar-induced coma,” Will warned. “Your body’s not used to all those sweets.”

She stuck out her tongue at Will, and he laughed. Mia held her arms out to me, and I picked her up. She burrowed into my shoulder. “Griffin?”

“Yes?”

“Will you come over after? I know it’s not Friday, but maybe we can watch a movie?” she asked, eyeing Caelyn hopefully.

I glanced in the same direction, unsure if I’d overstayed my welcome. But the truth was, I wanted any excuse not to leave her or the kids. I hoped the note had been left by her spiteful mother, but I didn’t want to risk leaving them alone tonight.

She threw up her hands. “We only live once, right? Movie night it is.”