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For the following two weeks, Milo barely leaves my side. Aside from class, he makes sure I rarely spend a minute alone.

I wish I could say his overprotectiveness is unfounded, but I know better.

As an added precaution, I even begged the Cushmans to let me come straight here to the diner after school and stay until closing for the next few weeks. I made the excuse that money was tight and the extra shifts would help me immensely.

Neither Bill nor Betty thought much of it, especially since the previous week, they’d sent me home early most days because I couldn’t make it through an entire shift without having a total meltdown.

By the time my shift ends, Milo is always waiting outside in his truck to drive me home.

The only time I’m ever left alone in my house is when Milo has to run across the street to his and pretend he’s going to bed. Those are the longest thirty minutes of my life. Though they really shouldn’t be.

Peyton and her goons haven’t paid me a single nightly visit since Milo started spending the night. Not that I’m surprised. Peyton must track Milo’s every move as diligently as she tracks mine.

Causing mayhem in my life is one thing. Risking Milo finding out she’s behind it is another.

The last thing Peyton wants is for her stepbrother to see her for who she really is.

Knowing how desperately she cares about what Milo thinks of her makes my stomach turn.

Thankfully, the dinner rush doesn’t leave me much time to dwell on it. By the time the last few customers trickle out, my thoughts have been buried beneath dirty plates, endless coffee refills, and enough orders shouted through the kitchen window to drown out just about anything.

“Not bad for a Saturday night, huh, kids?” Betty beams as she wipes her brow.

“Does that mean I get a raise?” Kody teases as he lifts Paige onto the counter, her arms wrapping around his neck. “I’d love to take my girl out for a meal that isn’t hamburgers and fries.”

Kody doesn’t get another word out before his dad whips him across the shoulder with a rag.

“Put Paige down. This is where people eat, you know. And if I were going to give anyone a raise, it’d be Max. She carried most of the weight tonight while you were making out with your girlfriend in the stockroom. You think I wouldn’t notice?” Bill scolds.

“Sorry, Dad.”

“Sorry, Mr. Cushman.”

Paige and Kody speak in tandem as Kody grabs her by the waist and plops her back onto her feet.

“Our son isn’t the only one who’s been ignoring his duties,” Betty piles on, her gaze fixed on her daughter sitting in one of the corner booths. “Kayla didn’t do much all night either.” She raises her voice. “You do know your dad and I don’t pay you to sit and play on your phone, right?”

“Whatever,” Kayla grumbles while glued to the screen, typing away.

A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of who she could be texting, but I do my best not to show it. The Cushmans have always been kind to me. It would break their hearts to learn what their daughter is truly like.

“Psst, Max,” Paige whispers. “Your boyfriend’s here.”

She wiggles her brows toward the window, where Milo’s truck is currently parked.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I say a little too loudly, hoping Kayla doesn’t immediately text that shit to her cult leader.

“Whatever you say.” Paige giggles.

“I… um… would it be okay if I headed home early tonight?” I ask Betty, suddenly desperate to put some distance between Kayla and me.

“If anyone deserves to clock out early, it’s you, kiddo. Go right on ahead.” She pulls me into a hug. “It’s good to see you doing better. You had us worried there for a while.” She gives me one last squeeze before letting go. “Now go. The kids can help Bill and me clean up.”

“Thank you.” I wave goodbye, grab my coat, and hurry for the door.

But the second I step outside and look at Milo, I know something’s wrong. There’s no smile waiting for me tonight. No dimples. None of the warmth I’ve grown accustomed to seeing whenever he comes to pick me up.

“Milo? What’s wrong?”