“Middle Eastern blood,” she says with a shrug, and I curse my Russian DNA for leaving me unprepared. Next to her, I look like a panting sheepdog.

When she finally declares it’s time to pack it in, I’m beyond relieved. I can already feel the air conditioning in her Jeep. But at four o’clock, there’s plenty of daylight left, and I have no idea what to do with it. I want to ask, “Now what?” but she’s already taken me under her wing for the day, and I imagine she must want some space.

Sure enough, there’s no mention of evening plans on the way home, only twenty minutes of indie rock followed by “Thanks for the help” when we get out at her house. I’m halfway to my room when she says, “Owen’s having some people over for a barbecue tonight, if you wanna come.” Before I can answer, the main bathroom door shuts. A few seconds later, the shower turns on, and I realize she has completely taken my “yes” for granted.

God, I must radiate loneliness.

I take a shower in the smaller bathroom I share with my mom, then check the phone I’ve barely glanced at all day. There are a couple of pictures from Shannon on the group text chain—a selfie with a croissant between her teeth and a shot of her linking arms with a cute guy while drinking champagne—a video from Gia of her falling on her ass during a routine, and a notification that Kiki posted a new episode of her podcast. I smile at the latter and queue it up after posting my favorite selfie from the gardens, letting Kiki’s familiar, soothing voice surround me as I moisturize.

“What is that?” a voice asks, and I nearly jump out of my towel when I realize Jasmine’s standing in the doorway to our little suite. I hadn’t realized I never closed the door, and now I’m standing here half naked, though thankfully only the two of us are home.

I wrap the towel tighter around myself and swipe at my face to clear any visible dabs of lotion. “My friend Kiki’s podcast, Kiki on the Case. It’s fun—it’s like a gossip column where she plays detective, and she posts a new episode every week.”

“Ooh, cute.” Jasmine comes in and sits down on my bed, privacy clearly not a dominant word in her vocabulary. “What’s this episode about?”