I thought sneaking out would be easy.
Watch Mom and Dad leave.
Get Ethan to bed early, and sneak out.
Simple.
Except that evening, when they came home, something was wrong.
They barely spoke.
They moved around each other like strangers sharing the same space. My mom cooked in silence. My dad sat at the table in the living room, scrolling through his phone.
Everything felt off.
Ethan and I kept glancing at each other across the kitchen.
"What's going on?" he whispered.
"I don't know," I muttered. "But it's weird."
He slid off his chair and walked over to Mom. "Mom?"
She turned, forcing a smile. "Yes, honey?"
"Did you and Dad fight? Did I do anything wrong?"
Her smile faltered. She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. "No baby. Don't say that. We're just tired."
I didn't buy it.
"Aren't you guys supposed to be at that dinner?" I asked carefully. "For Dad's promotion?"
She hesitated. Her eyes flicked toward the living room.
"We're not going anymore."
My heart skipped. "Why not?"
She glanced toward the living room again, where Dad was pretending not to listen.
"Your father isn't sure he wants the promotion anymore."
I blinked. "What?!"
"The job would be in the city," she continued quietly. "Far from here. He doesn't like the idea of relocating the family."
My stomach dropped.
"Relocating?" I repeated. "Like… moving?"
She nodded slowly.
I just stared at her.
Moving away?
Leaving Westbrook. Leaving Lily. Leaving Owen.
"That's not his decision alone," she snapped suddenly, then softened. "I mean…..this is a huge opportunity. A life-changing one."
Dad finally looked up. "It's not worth tearing our family apart."
Mom turned on him. "We are already barely surviving."
The room went silent.
Ethan and I froze.
Mom took a breath. "Do you know how many times I've been laid off this year? Do you know how many bills I hide so you won't worry?"
Dad stood up immediately. "We'll figure it out like we always do."
She laughed bitterly. "That's what you said when the rent went up. That's what you said when the car broke down. We are drowning."
I felt my chest tighten.
"We can't keep living like this," she whispered. "This job changes everything. Better schools. A better house. A future for our kids."
"Our kids?" Dad shot back. "You want to rip them away from everything they love? Have you asked them if they're okay with the decision?"
"I want them to have a future," she said. "Not this."
They started arguing.
My heart started racing.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out without thinking and walked straight to my room, locking the door behind me.
Lily was calling.
I answered. "Hey."
"Eve! Are you coming tonight or what? Did your mom finally loosen her grip?"
I sat on my bed. "It's worse than you think."
"Worse than babysitting?"
"Dad got the promotion. And Mom is begging him to take it. We might be moving."
"Moving where?"
"To the city."
She paused. "Like… far?"
"Like new school, new life, new everything."
"Holy hell," Lily muttered. "Have you told Owen?"
"No. And don't tell him either. They haven't decided yet. Dad might not even take the job."
"But what if he does?"
I swallowed. "Then I lose everything."
She sighed. "That sucks."
"I can't leave," I said. "I won't. I can't lose you. Or Owen. Or my whole lif…"
"New places aren't always bad," Lily cut me off.
I frowned. "What?! That's not helping."
"I'm just saying… it might not be the end of the world."
It sounded like she was already imagining me gone.
"Westbrook is my life," I snapped. "You're my life. Owen is my life."
She hummed. "Well… I guess."
I narrowed my eyes. Something in her tone felt off.
"Just don't say anything to Owen," I said. "I'll talk to my dad. I won't let him take that job."
"You can't control your parents, Eve."
"I'll try this time."
She laughed softly. "You're dramatic."
"And you're weirdly calm about this."
"Maybe I just think change isn't always bad," she said. "But yeah. Totally sucks for you."
That didn't sound comforting.
That sounded like she already accepted it.
"I'll call you later," I said. "I need to think."
She hummed. "Good luck with that."
I hung up.
Mom and Dad were still arguing.
I sat still on my bed, listening to them from my room.
So much for an easy night.