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“Oh, it’s nothing. She’s just been ignoring our calls, and we made plans to take her to the mixer tonight.”

“Maybe if you hadn’t teased her yesterday, she’d answer your calls,” I say, not bothering to hide the accusation in my tone.

“We’re her friends,” Delaney says. “Friends tease each other. That’s what they do.”

“Bad friends, maybe.”

Delaney shoots me an evil look, but Amber grabs her arm, pulling her attention back to her.

“We know she didn’t go home to Doug and the kids. There’s no way she’d miss the reunion. She probably just fell asleep or something. I’m going to find Mrs. Trott. She probably has a key to Brooke’s room so we can check on her.”

“Or we could go to the mixer and wait for her there. We’re already late as it is,” Delaney says, looking even more annoyed that Brooke is messing up her plans.

“See? Bad friend,” I sing-song as I walk out the door.

Sienna never breaks eye contact with Delaney until we’re outside. The second the door closes behind us, my shoulders instantly relax.

It’s always been like this around any of the Reds. My guard goes up, my muscles tense, and my entire body prepares for a fight before one has even started. Not exactly the best way to spend your teenage years.

“Want to take my car or yours?” I ask.

“You can drive,” Sienna retorts, still looking back over her shoulder.

“Forget them. Let’s just have a nice dinner tonight, okay?”

“Yeah. Okay,” she replies, not sounding entirely convinced.

Thankfully, by the time we drive onto Main Street, all thoughts of the Reds have become a distant memory. At least until I spot the one Fairhope Red who didn’t show up to brunch yesterday.

“Is that—”

“Yep.” Sienna leans her head against the headrest. “That’s Kayla.”

I can’t believe it. Then again, I’m not sure I would’ve recognized Kayla Cushman at all if she weren’t standing outside the diner talking to Betty.

She looks completely different. Gone is the strong, toned physique she loved to show off back in high school, her once-athletic frame now reduced to little more than skin and bones. Her hair has been shaved into a buzz cut, and more tattoos and piercings cover her body than I can count.

Still, it’s not her appearance that keeps my attention. It’s the way she can’t seem to stand still.

Kayla bounces from one foot to the other, rubbing her arms, her entire body restless as she talks to her mother.

I’ve witnessed that kind of behavior firsthand enough times to recognize it.

She’s in withdrawal. And judging by the state she’s in, if she doesn’t get her next fix soon, she’s in for a world of pain.

“I can’t believe that’s really her.” My chest aches as I watch her. “It’s heartbreaking seeing her like this.”

Sienna shakes her head.

“Nah, Max. What’s about to happen next is the real heartbreaking part.”

“What do you mean?”

“Give it a second.” She keeps her focus trained on them. “Five… four… three… two… one. And there it is.”

My frown deepens as a forlorn Betty reaches into the pocket of her apron and pulls out a few dollar bills.

Even from where we’re sitting, I can see the relief wash over Kayla’s face as she snatches the money from her mother’s hand. She throws her arms around Betty in one breath and takes off down the sidewalk in the next.