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“Yup. I texted August, and he said it’s happening this Friday. It’s in one of those giant sea caves I told you about, so it’s really close for both of us.”
“I guess the main issue is getting me there,” she said, brows dipping in a contemplative frown. “I’m basically grounded forever because of my fake drug addiction.”
“I could break the lock on your window and help you sneak out,” I suggested. “I’m pretty sure I can find a ladder somewhere so you don’t have to risk falling off the trellis.”
Amerie shook her head. “I’m pretty sure there’s a hidden camera in my room, remember?” she said. “If I’m caught sneaking out, I’ll just get in more trouble.”
“Damn. I forgot about that.” I laced my fingers behind my head and leaned back, mind whirring through the puzzle. “You know… it actually might be possible to get Ali and Zara’s permission for you to go.”
“Jensen, there’s no way they’re going to let me go to a party. Not after they just made a whole new set of rules to keep me from going anywhere.”
“Just hear me out.” I cocked my head. “They’re trying to build a whole narrative about you being an off-the-rails wild child, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“It would actually fit that narrative to have you spotted at a few parties around town. That way people will be even less surprised when you go missing. They’ll just think ‘Yeah, she was definitely a major party girl, so it makes sense that she was into some shady stuff with drugs’,” I said. “Of course, it goes against Zara and Ali’s concerned parent act to let you go anywhere, but I think they’ll say yes in the end, because they’ll realize it actually helps their cause.”
Amerie’s brows rose. “You’re right,” she said, nodding slowly. “I didn’t even think of it that way.”
“So you think it’s worth a shot?”
She smiled. “Yeah. Let’s give it a try.”
Ten minutes later, we stepped through her front door and found Ali and Zara in the front sitting room, chatting as they shared a pot of tea. They paused mid-conversation when we walked in, flashing amiable smiles in our direction. I clenched my jaw, suppressing the urge to fly across the room and punch Ali right in the fucking face, and returned the smiles with a friendly wave.
“How was the rest of the day for you, sweetie?” Zara asked, brows knitting as she looked at Amerie.
Amerie smiled weakly. “It was okay. I have a lot of test prep to do, though,” she replied. “Anyway, I just wanted to ask if it’s okay to go over to Jensen’s place so we can study together.”
“Yes, that’s fine, as long as you’re home by six for dinner. Oh, and remember to take your phone.”
“Okay.” Amerie bit her bottom lip and took a small step forward. “Um… there’s also something else I wanted to ask.”
Zara’s brows rose. “Oh? What is it?”
“I know I’m basically grounded forever because of everything that happened on the weekend. But one of the kids from school is throwing a party in a sea cave near here on Friday. I’ve always wanted to see what they’re like, so I was hoping—”
“No.” Zara lifted a hand to cut her off. “Absolutely not. A party is the last place you need to be at a time like this, with all the issues you’ve been having. I’m honestly shocked you’d even ask.”
“Hold on, Mrs. Prescott,” I said. “You’ve been worried about Amerie not fitting in at school, right?”
“Yes, but I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
“Well, if she goes to a party like this, it might help her bond with some of the other students,” I said. “Also, I’ll be there to keep an eye on her, so you’ll know she’s totally safe. It’s better than worrying about her sneaking out and hanging with total randoms, right?”
Zara’s lips twisted as she considered it. Then she glanced over at Ali. “We’ll need to discuss it in private,” she said. She looked back at me and Amerie. “Would you two mind leaving us alone for a few minutes?”
Amerie and I went into the kitchen and sat up on the bar stools behind the counter. “Do you think they’ll actually say yes?” she asked in a low whisper, nervously twisting her hands on the marble.
I stroked her arm again, heart racing with anticipation. “I hope so.”
Zara called us back into the sitting room five minutes later. “We’ve decided to let you go,” she said. “But we have conditions. If you can’t agree to them, you can’t go.”
Amerie nodded. “Okay. What are the conditions?”
Zara turned her stern gaze to me. “Jensen, you have to promise that you’ll be completely sober for the whole night. We can’t trust you to keep an eye on Amerie if you’re drinking.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “Obviously, I won’t let Amerie drink either.”
