We’re all sitting in the room, trying and failing to watch TV, when Dad’s car pulls into the drive. Mom jumps up, careening through the dining room so she can meet Dad at the kitchen door. The second he walks through, she falls into his arms and they stand there, locked in a silent embrace for what feels like an eternity.

I share a look with my sisters. Maddie grabs my hand and I give it a squeeze, silently thanking her yet again for letting me sneak out to see Cairo. She distracted Mom while I took “a nap” in our room. It was the perfect cover and she managed to drag it out for nearly an hour. When I walked into the living room, she gave me a relieved smile and quickly excused herself to go call Holden. I slumped onto the couch, a groggy mess. It wasn’t a hard sell. With the lack of sleep and serious crying I’d been doing, I looked like a train wreck.

Mom gave me a sad smile and patted my knee, but didn’t offer any words of encouragement or sympathy.

She’s so different to Cairo’s mom. The second that lovely lady opened the door and saw me standing there, she pulled me into a hug and told me how amazing I was…how grateful she was to see me.

I bet she hugged Cairo when I left.

Man, I wish I was back in their house right now.

My insides coil as Mom and Dad finally pull apart. They share a few soft words I can’t hear and then solemnly walk into the living room.

Maddie flicks off the TV and silence descends around us like an ominous mass.

A huge lump pops into my throat as Dad takes a seat in the armchair adjacent to us. Mom settles down beside him.

“Did everything go okay?” Maddie’s voice shakes, giving away how much we’re all feeling this.

Dad nods and links his fingers together. “The money’s been paid. Debt cleared. And Conrad is on a plane. It’s done. It’s over.”

His gaze skims past me and I shrink back into the cushions.

It’s so not over.

“You three girls need to stay away from that place. In fact, I don’t even want you heading into Brazenwood.” Maddie and I nod immediately.

“Chloe, did you hear me?” Dad frowns at her.

“Oh.” She sits up, her eyes rounding as she quickly shakes her head. “Yes, I heard you.”

“Good.” His stern eyes are back on me, narrowing in and making me feel like I have a red target on my forehead. “You have no idea how terrifying that was, Maxine. Your mother and I never want to go through that again.”

“I know,” I croak. “Neither do I. You can trust me. I won’t go anywhere near there.”

“Trust you,” Dad scoffs. “How long have you been lying to us?”

“I…” Deflating with a sigh, I finally mumble, “A while.”

“A while. As in a few months! How many opportunities did you have for a little honesty?”

“I told you, I was scared! I didn’t think you’d listen and when I finally did tell you, you didn’t believe me!”

“Don’t make excuses. You were in the wrong. You snuck around and you disrespected me by pretending.” His voice cracks, showing just how much it’s hurt him. “I thought you were off playing baseball but instead you were hanging out with some guy playing guitar and who knows what else!”

Guilt scrapes me raw, the weight of what I was trying to avoid sitting inside me like a pile of razor sharp rocks.

“I’m so disappointed in you, Max. I thought I could trust my girls. But you’re a liar! You’ve been lying for months!”

I can’t think of anything to say to redeem myself.

“You’re grounded for the rest of the school year,” Dad clips. “You will be dropped off and picked up every day. If I’m unavailable, I will make sure a squad car is waiting for you.”

“What?” I whisper.

“They will bring you home and you will spend your spare time here, in this house. There are no extracurricular activities, and you will finish out this season of baseball. Your phone is confiscated until further notice. I don’t want you setting up secret meetings with that Cairo kid. You are not to date him.”

“But…”

“Dad, that’s like way harsh.” Maddie tries to bat for me, but he shoots her down.

“You’re not the parent!”

“I just think it’s really unfair—”

“I don’t care what you think right now, Madelyn! You weren’t in that room when you’re sister’s life was at stake. I’m trying to keep her safe here.”

“That has nothing to do with music and baseball! Or Cairo! That was Uncle Conrad’s fault! Max should be able to pursue whatever she wants to. Are you seriously going to punish her to a life of baseball? Because that’s what it will be! You get that, right?”

Dad’s nostrils flare as he points at his eldest daughter. “Madelyn, one more word and you’re grounded too! You can serve the punishment with her!”

She bites her lips together and glares at Dad before huffing and turning to look out the window.

“I actually think it wise that all three girls be escorted to and from school.” Mom softly ruins my sisters’ worlds.

“What!” Maddie explodes.

“Madelyn.” Mom raises her hands. “We’re not saying you’re grounded the same way Max is, but from now on, you and Chloe are not allowed to leave this house before checking with us first. We just want to know where you’re going and who you’re going to be with.”

“That’s ridiculous! I never broke your trust,” my twin argues.

I wince, hating that I’m the cause of this. Glancing at Chloe, I don’t miss the sharp dip of her eyebrows as she wrestles with the new rules.

“We’re not saying you can’t go out,” Dad snaps. “We just want to get the details first. No more checking in with each other and passing messages along. From now on, you leave in the morning, come home after practice and you always ask for permission before going out with your friends. Got it?”

Maddie’s jaw works to the side.

“Madelyn.” Dad’s voice is low with warning. “It’s for your own protection.”

“Got it,” she grits out before pasting on a sickly sweet smile.

Dad grunts at her, then points at his youngest. “Chloe?”

“Got it, Dad.” Her lips curl into a fleeting grin before she looks at me.

“Sorry,” I mouth and cringe.

She shakes her head, her kind gaze forgiving me in a heartbeat.

Typical Chloe. She can never hold a grudge.

Stealing a glance at my twin, I can’t necessarily say the same thing. She gives me a begrudging smile, but I can tell she’s still pissed. She wants to be treated like an adult and I’ve just clipped her wings.

Because I lied.

Because I went somewhere I wasn’t supposed to go and got caught up in a situation I never should have been in.

My heart starts pounding like crazy.

It’s time.

It’s time to stop lying.

It’s time to face this head on.

Scrambling for the right words, the silence grows heavier by the second.

I don’t know how to do this.

Just speak from your heart, Max. Just be honest.

I clear my throat and finally find the courage to say, “I’ll take the grounding. I won’t complain. You’re right. I lied to you and that was wrong. I should have told you after my first week at school that baseball was wearing me down. I should have admitted that trying to live up to your dreams and expectations has been too much. I want so badly to make you happy…and proud…” My voice begins to wobble, tears popping onto my lashes. “But music brings me to life in a way that baseball never has. I need that more than I need your approval, and that feels weird, because I’ve spent most of my life craving your praise and attention. But I can’t live up to your expectations anymore. I can’t do baseball at college, and if that means I forfeit a college education, then so be it.”

Mom’s face blanches, her mouth dropping open in horror. One of her daughters not getting a higher education. That’s like a nightmare for her.

I ignore her look and keep talking. “Look, whether you guys want me to or not, I’m pursuing guitar. I’ve found my home in music, and you can’t make me leave it.” My voice hitches, stealing my steam and making me sound way less self-assured than I want to. I push through, hoping my voice will gain just a little more traction as I have my final say. “And as for Cairo, you can try to stop me seeing him while I live under this roof. I’ll respect your rules, but I won’t be living here forever, and when I’m free, I’ll be dating that guy because we make each other happy, and you can’t make me break up with him.”

Dad’s bottom lip pulls up into a very small pout, his head jerking before he suddenly stands from the couch and stalks out of the room.

I gaze at Mom, who’s watching him with an agonized frown.

He’s hurting. And Dad’s not great with any emotion other than pride or anger. I’ve just broken his heart. The apple of his eye, his greatest pride, is pulling away and he doesn’t know how to handle it.

For a second, I wonder if I should follow him, but I don’t think it will do any good.

It won’t change the fact that I’m not his little girl anymore. I’m becoming my own woman now and as wretched as I feel, a small part of me knows this is right.