`Maxine.'' Dan said my name like he had a right to it, like the last three weeks hadn't happened, like I was still the girl who used to plan his birthday surprise.
I stepped out from behind Tank before anyone could stop me.
`What do you want?''
Dan spread his arms, the same practiced, open gesture I'd seen a hundred times. `To take you home. Your parents are worried sick. They've been calling everyone, driving around town looking for you—''
`They threw me out.''
`That was—that was a misunderstanding.'' He stepped closer, and the parking-lot lights caught his face. He looked tired. He looked sincere. He'd always been good at both. `Nobody meant for any of this to happen, Max. We just want you to come home so we can talk about it like a family.''
`We.'' I tasted the word. `You mean you
