The evening with Seth was perfect. Lying back in bed, wrapped up in each other's arms, with the burdens of the world ebbing off with the warmth of our connection—it was all very nice. His fingers were drawing lazy patterns on my back, and for one moment, I allowed myself to believe that it was really going to be all right.
My phone rang just then and broke the silence. The caller was Anne. My heart sank immediately, since Anne never called at this hour unless there was some terrible problem. I answered, and her sobs filled my ears.
"Christie, he threw me out!" she sobbed. Her voice was frantic. "Noah told me to leave. He found out about Mom and Dad's scheme to hook you up with that old man, and he's blaming me for not stopping it. Please, you have to come. I don't know what to do."
I sa
