CHAPTER 1: THE FIRST KISS

Friday game night was a sacred ritual.

Kids were at the sitter's, phones were silenced, and by eight o'clock, the first bottle of wine was open and the familiar, comfortable chaos had settled in.

For three years, it had been this way: Helena, Dane, Cady, and Aiden. A perfect square of friendship.

Tonight, they were sprawled around the living room, the debris of a pizza box and a discarded game of Cards Against Humanity between them.

Helena was tucked into the corner of the large sofa, her dark, curly hair a wild halo around her face.

She was the warm, grounded center of their group,...