Brian grinned. “She probably wants to protect you from people like me!”

“Hey, Mom.”

“Honey, we’re headed your way. We should be there in about ten minutes,” said Mom, obviously from inside a car.

We? Is she coming here with her boyfriend? Really? Is that kosher? I’d ask Siri, but she apparently hates me. “There’s no need to rush, Mom. The party ends at one anyway. I was going to ride home with Karen and Corey.”

I heard Mom sigh. “You’re already way past your curfew. We’re close by, so I thought we’d go ahead and pick you up.”