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That sucks. Parents are the worst. Wanna talk about it?

Not really. Just needed to vent.

No prob. Anytime.

The dots appear again. Then:

You wanna hang out Tuesday? My cousin's having some people over. Nothing crazy. You should come.

I stare at the screen.

Tuesday is two days from now. Two more days of living in this house with Vince, trying to remember how we used to talk to each other.

Impulsively, I reply:

Yeah. Sounds fun.

Sweet. I'll pick you up around 8?

8 is good.

Cool. Try not to let your stepdad get you down. Dudes like that take everything too seriously.

I almost laugh. If only he knew.

Thanks. Talk tomorrow.

I set the phone down beside me.

Tyler's being nice. He hasn't asked a million questions or tried to get me to explain what happened. He's just invited me to hang out, like it's the easiest thing in the world.

Maybe getting out of this house for a few hours will do me some good. I could see some people, have a laugh, and forget about Vince for a little while. It's worth a try, but it doesn't make me feel any better tonight. I lie back on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

Tomorrow morning I'll have to go downstairs and eat breakfast with Vince. We'll sit across from each other and talk about things that don't matter, pretending we don't remember everything that's happened. And then we'll have to do it again the next day.

At least I'm getting out of here Tuesday night. I just wish I knew how to make the rest of it hurt less.

Sixteen

DECEMBER 28

Sophie

Camille is sitting across from me at the dining room table, laughing at something Vince has just said. And I hate her.

Vince told me about her this morning, while I was making coffee. “There’s something I should mention, Soph. I’ve invited a friend over for dinner tonight.”

“Who?”

“Camille.”

For a second it didn’t register. “Camille?”

He had the grace to look embarrassed. “Uh, Camille. You know. The woman I’ve been on a couple of dates with?”

I stared at him. Blinked. “I’m sorry, you’re having a date here at the house?”

“It’s just dinner, Soph. She’s a friend. We’ve only been out a few times, and I don’t see it going anywhere.”