I wonder what Isabel and her friends are doing, especially if Jenna’s not as otherwise occupied as I thought she was. Probably something totally beyond me, like taking Ashleigh’s car into town and going to a bar or whatever. Even though we have plans to get together tomorrow to talk about our talent-show routine, I still don’t feel like Izzy and I are at the point where I can just text her and say yo what up.

(You will never be at the point where you should be texting anyone and saying “yo what up,” Salem would tell me, I know.)

Then again, would a cool girl be second-guessing whether it’s uncool to text a friend and see what she’s up to? No, a cool girl would not. A badass definitely would not. I’m still not sure which of those things I aspire to be, because in my mind, they go hand in hand, but either way, it’s a status I have not achieved.

Yet.

Deep breath. Find Isabel McEvoy in contacts. Type words. Go.

Evie

We still on for tomorrow?

Five minutes of no response later, I’ve just about given up when suddenly, incoming text.

Isabel

Yep! But can we make it 11? I’m def gonna need to sleep in.

Ah, yes, I too will require recovery time from this night of debauchery.

Evie

Sounds good!

So much for that.

People always want to know why I love playing cards so much, and the reason I always give is that it’s something my dad and I did a ton when I was a kid. And it’s true—that is definitely the number one reason. When Sierra and my mom would go out and do the special mother-daughter things that mothers and daughters who actually have things in common do, my dad and I would kick back with cans of fruity seltzer and play.

When I was little, it was war and go fish, then spit and casino. Gin rummy came next, while I learned the very basics of blackjack and poker. On the rare occasions we played as a family, hearts or spades often came out, or Pres, which Sierra gleefully told me was actually called Asshole. As I got older, I learned everything I could—bridge, canasta, even whist. But in truth, my favorite thing about cards is that solitaire is and always has been a perfectly legit solo activity, and it’s kept me company on more occasions than I can count.

It sounds pathetic when I put it that way, which is why I never do. But it’s also why I carry a deck in my pocket the way other people carry fidgets or pens. And I guess this is the perfect time to put it to good use.