If Serena were given a knife right now, the thing she’d want to do most would probably be to make James shut up.

But she didn’t have a knife, so she could only take out her phone and dial Elliot’s number.

Elliot answered quickly, his tone light, “Serena, what’s up?”

Guilt surged to Serena’s tongue, but she swallowed it down. “Elliot, my family wants to meet you. Are you available?”

There was silence on the other end. Serena’s palms were slick with ...