Bethany arrived home just as her dad spotted her through the half-open door of the living room. The evening light spilled across the floor, casting long shadows that made the familiar living room feel oddly different, as though the day’s events had shifted the very atmosphere.
“I thought you were spending the night at Ava’s?” Mr. Martins asked, surprise evident in his voice. His eyebrows shot up, and the calm timbre in his voice carried a subtle edge of curiosity, almost like he knew something had happened that she hadn’t told him yet.
Bethany hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. “Uhmm…” Her voice trailed off, caught somewhere between honesty and the instinct to hide what she’d done. Before she could formulate a better lie, her dad’s eyes flicked downward and lo
