Of course, I can’t say any of this aloud. I talk back and the next thing I know they’ve told Rose and she’s giving me one of her talks about respect for your elders and no one likes a smart-ass and you’re a guest here, young lady, and your behavior should reflect that. I’m not even a guest. I’m as much of a guest here as a crack baby in a hospital dumpster.

“It’s those pesky overactive libidos.”

“Thank God that’s over.”

“Speaking of libidos, what day is it?”

“Why,” Frances puts on fake surprise. “I do believe it’s Friday. First one of the month, in fact.”

“Already? I wonder who Ted will row over this month.”

I mark my page with the leaf I’ve been using and gather up my bag, fighting off the massive smile Gretchen and Frances planted there.

I hand the nail scissors back to Gretchen and they let me by. “Um, thanks.” It seems like the polite thing since I don’t know what else to say.

“See you tonight,” Frances chants after me.

First Friday of the month. I completely forgot. I take out my phone; I put it on silent when I got to the Oceanic. One missed call. Jason.

Chapter Three

It’s late, almost quarter past two, and I’m running again, past the clumps of long, pale grass bent from how the wind’s always bothering them. It’s hot. My underarms are all itchy. I shouldn’t be nervous about Jason coming but I can’t help it. Little e-fiend butterflies are having a sweaty rave in my stomach as I climb the hill. Jesus, it got really hot. And what am I wearing? It doesn’t matter. I don’t even look right in my own clothes, so I might as well look wrong in Lolly’s. I consider stopping to call Jason back—I’m already late; two more minutes won’t make a difference—but I’d rather call when I’ve gotten my breath back and I’m less at risk of sounding like someone’s asthmatic phone stalker.

Mrs. Tyburn is at the kitchen table looking through the Sotheby’s catalog. She glances at her watch when I walk in. She won’t say anything if I stay a little late tonight.

“Pleasant lunch?”

“Yeah. I went to the Oceanic to read to the Duchess for a bit.”

She smiles and sort of coos at me.