LAUREN'S POV

We walked toward the couch and slowly sank into the cushions. My legs felt heavier than usual, and even though I tried to appear calm, my mind was buzzing like a swarm of restless bees. Tessa sat beside me with her arms crossed tightly against her chest, her brows furrowed in that way she always did whenever she was about to interrogate me. She looked less like my best friend at that moment and more like a mother waiting to scold a reckless child.

“Where were you last night?” Tessa finally asked, her tone sharp and filled with curiosity. It wasn’t an innocent question, it carried weight, expectation,...