~ELENA~

“Elena?”

I freeze.

That voice.

My mom.

I spin around, my pulse slamming into overdrive. She’s at the far end of the hall, her brows pulled together, surprise flickering across her face when she sees me standing there… barefoot, as I am trying to sneak into the room.

“Where have you been?” she demands, her tone sharp but laced with worry. “Do you know how worried you made me? I’ve been looking for you since last night! And here you are trying to sneak into your room early in the morning.”

My throat goes dry. My brain scrambles for an excuse, any excuse.

Should I tell her I went...