I know I said I was gonna stay out of his way and do my own thing, but this feels important. This definitely warrants calling a temporary truce. I excuse myself from the others and head over. Rhys is loudly talking about tax breaks, and Tiffany and Ethan are hanging on every word like he’s their actual messiah. I hadn’t noticed before, but Kellen has toned down his look from last night. He’s swapped the bare chest for a plain white shirt, and he’s swapped the heels for flats. His suit still has a little sparkle in it, but that feels like just about the only part of his personality still showing. He’s clutching Rhys’s arm maybe just a bit too tightly. And Rhys’s body language seems off. As if he wants Kellen to let go.

‘Can we talk?’ I ask. Tiffany scowls as if disgusted by my presence.

‘I’m kinda busy,’ Kellen says dismissively.

‘It’s important,’ I say. ‘It’s about … you know.’

‘OK, fine,’ he says, breaking away from the others. ‘I’ll be right back.’

Tiffany looks at him as if to say don’t hurry.

‘OK, what is it?’ he says as soon as we’re out of earshot.

‘I think we should talk about what’s about to happen.’

Kellen sighs. ‘I already know what’s going to happen, Zach. I messed up yesterday. Now I’m gonna fix it. That’s it. I don’t know why you’re caught up in this too, but I need to focus on myself. I want this night to go perfectly, and right now you’re messing with it.’

‘By talking to you?’

‘By interrupting me,’ he says. ‘I was in the middle of a conversation.’

‘About tax breaks,’ I reply. ‘Do you even know what those are?’

‘I’m not an idiot, Zach.’

‘I’m not saying you are. I’m just saying you’re not a part of that world.’

‘Because I’m on a scholarship? You sound just like them.’

‘I’m just saying you don’t belong with them. You’re better than they are.’

Kellen scoffs. ‘This is nothing to do with Ethan or Tiffany or the rest of Hawthorn. What you’re really saying is that I don’t belong with Rhys.’

‘No, I’m not.’

I definitely am.

‘If you’re gonna say it, say it with your whole chest.’

‘OK, fine,’ I say. ‘I don’t think you belong with Rhys. There. Happy now?’

‘Thrilled.’

‘You’re infuriating.’

‘I’m infuriating?’ He laughs. ‘You’re the one who’s dragged me over here for this meaningless conversation.’

‘It’s not meaningless!’ I say. ‘Someone is about to leak Ethan’s photos. Shouldn’t we be doing something to stop that? He’s meant to be your friend, right?’