The night I got the text from Mom about a “special family dinner,” I nearly choked on my microwaved ramen. It had been ages since we’d all gotten together, and even longer since it felt like my parents actually wanted me there.

I love my family, but being the middle child is like being the bologna in a sandwich where everyone’s fighting over the bread. I stared at my phone, thumb hovering over the keyboard. Part of me wanted to make up some lame excuse, but then I thought about Tina and Cameron, my perfect older sister and my can-do-no-wrong little brother. They’d be there, basking in Mom and Dad’s approval, like always. And I’d remain the perpetual afterthought if I didn’t show up.

“Count me in,” I typed, hitting send before I could change my mind.

Mom replied instantly: “Great! Le Petit Château, 7 p.m. next Friday. Don’t be late!”

Le Petit Château. Fancy. I whistled low, already mentally tallying up my savings. This wasn’t going to be cheap, but maybe it was a sign things were changing. Maybe they actually wanted to spend time with me, Jennifer the Forgettable.....