As I ran inside with my heart racing, I closed the door quickly and leaned on it for a second, trying to catch my breath. My chest was still pounding from what I just told Marcus no, from what I told Rylan. I couldn’t believe I actually said it out loud.

Before I could even calm down, I heard my mother’s voice behind me.

“Who was that?” she asked.

My eyes widened. Of course she saw the car. “No one, Mom,” I said too quickly.

She raised her eyebrows immediately, that suspicious ...