Emma’s POV

“Bye Mom, bye Dad! Have the best time ever on that cruise, okay? Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine,” I called out, waving harder than I needed to as their car backed down the driveway. 

My voice came out a little too bright, like I was trying to convince myself more than them. 

The taillights disappeared around the corner and just like that the whole street went quiet except for the crickets starting up.

 A whole month. Alone in this big house. My stomach did this weird little flip that wasn’t exactly fear but wasn’t pure excitement either.

I turned to head back inside when I caught...