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“Tomorrow,” I said.

“Really? Is that new?” More fireworks popped, both on-screen and out my window.

I nodded again.

“She’s coming home tomorrow!” Kamala yelled as if this was the best news.

“Tell her I have a surprise for her!” Asher said. “A big one!”

Kamala smiled in what I assumed was his direction, like they were all three the best of friends now.

“I’m going to go,” I said.

“What?” Kamala screamed.

I waved and hung up. She didn’t try to call back or text. Neither did I.

Zoey came home several hours later, obviously sobered up. She checked our mom’s bedroom, which was still empty, and grumbled something like, “Figures.”

“You awake?” she asked.

I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

The next morning, our mom was still not home. I packed my bag and when Chad sent me a text, I headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Zoey asked, standing in the kitchen waiting for her toast to pop.

“Chad’s giving me a ride home. You can text Mom and tell her I’m gone and you can have the experience you wanted to have with her all along.”

She sighed. “Wren, wait.”

“Oh, and while you’re at it, ask her again to come to your graduation. Really pin her down. See how she reacts to that.” I let the door shut behind me before Zoey could finish whatever she was going to say.

When I got to Chad’s idling car, I threw my backpack and suitcase into the back seat and climbed in after them. “Hey,” I said, buckling up.

“Hi,” Chad said. His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. Maybe he was gauging my mood today. I wasn’t sure what he saw, how easy I was to read, but he didn’t say anything else.

David was in the passenger seat and he turned all the way around and said, “I got the playlist, you cool with that?”

“So cool,” I said.

Chad backed down the gravel drive and then drove along the dirt road to exit the commune. I leaned back in the seat, closed my eyes, and let them talk the entire way home.

I knew my dad would be home when I arrived, and even though I’d had hours to think about it, I still had no idea what I was going to say. I wondered if Zoey had given him a heads-up. And if so,had she put all the blame on me? When I opened the door, though, he gave me a surprised look. Meaning no warning had happened.

“I thought you guys weren’t coming home until tomorrow.”

“It’s just me. I caught a ride with a friend. Zoey will be home tomorrow…I think.” Who knew—maybe she would extend her trip now that I was out of the way.

“You left Zoey in Tahoe?” Dad asked, obviously trying to process.

“She has a car.”

“That she will now have to drive home alone?”

“She’ll be fine.”

In a rare show of taking sides, he said, “You couldn’t have lasted one more day with your mom to help your sister? I’m disappointed in you.”