The next morning, I woke up feeling strangely light, a feeling I hadn’t experienced in weeks. For the first time since I arrived in this town, there was a quiet excitement humming beneath my skin, the kind that made the air itself feel different. I dressed quickly in a simple T-shirt and jeans before heading downstairs.
Dad was already standing at the kitchen counter with his usual mug of coffee, while Anna moved around the kitchen preparing breakfast like she always did.
“Dad,” I said, trying not to sound too eager, “could I drive one of your cars to school today?”
I threw a quick glance at Anna because I knew exactly what she was going to suggest next—that I should just ride with Alec. Not today. Definitely not after what I’d done.
Dad looked up from his mug for a moment, studying me
