“I’m so glad you brought this up,” Dabney said. “Because I have the best idea.”

I smiled. “All ears.”

“I think we should be the Spice Girls!” she said excitedly. “I’ll be Baby Spice, obviously.”

Chloe scrunched her nose. “So, you want to go, like, vintage?”

She nodded. I didn’t hate the idea.

“Jessica and Alexis would be our other two?” Chloe asked.

Dabney nodded, and I could tell that Chloe’s questioning had taken some of the wind out of her sails. It made me want to defend her, even though I wasn’t 100 percent on board with the Spice Girls situation.

“Do you think people will get who we are?” Chloe sounded doubtful.

“When the five of us are all together, for sure,” I said. “I mean, everyone’s seen the David Beckham docuseries now.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Chloe said. “I didn’t think of that. Okay. I’m in!”

“Yay!” Dabney said. Then she paused. “Um, Ris, we can put your outfit together for you.”

I shook my head. “You guys already had to do my Belle Epoque costume. I bet Alice can pull something together for me. She has a huge closet full of cool stuff, and she’s very generous with it.”

“Speaking of, how’s life at the mommune?” Chloe asked.

“I think it’s good. I mean, kind of weird sometimes when I really think about it, but also awesome to be with all these cool people.” I paused. “You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten Merit’s mom’s cooking. I’m serious.”

“What about Alice?” Dabney asked. “What’s she like?”

I knew why she was asking. “She’s like this really calm, centered goddess. I can’t explain it. I didn’t know what an ‘aura’ was until I met her.”

“It’s probably the Lexapro,” Chloe said seriously. Then we all burst out laughing.

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh, you know,” Dabney said. “There are just so many rumors about her and all those dead husbands.”

I winced. “You don’t honestly believe Alice killed her husbands?” Of course, I had believed it mere days ago. Did I still? It was hazier now.

She shrugged. “I don’t not believe it.” She paused. “Just be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”

Had Alice ever done anything that seemed strange to me? Well, maybe taking our phones. A cold chill ran up my spine, but I scolded myself. That was for our mental health and development, not so she could murder us all and we wouldn’t be able to call for help.

“Is it true that everyone breastfeeds each other’s children?” Dabney asked.

I almost spit out my Twizzler. “Ew! Dabs! There aren’t even any babies in the house.”

This questioning was ruining the night’s vibe. I needed to course-correct.

“Okay,” I said, sitting up straighter. “How about a game of truth or dare?”

“Yes!” they said simultaneously.