“It does change things a bit, though,” Alfie says. “I wouldn’t have brought Edmund if I knew that.”

“Why are you saying that like it’s my fault?” I ask.

“I’m not! I’m apologizing for my oversight.”

“Oh.” I wince. I guess I’m as easy to rile up as Rose is today. “Sorry.”

“Next time I’ll make sure I bring a guy who finds you hideous,” Alfie promises.

“Actually,” Rose says, “if the two of you don’t mind, I’d rather drive this toe pick into my eyeball than do this again.”

“Okay, okay,” Alfie says, wounded. “Failed venture. Got it. At least we got some good photos, right?”

Rose forces a smile and claps her hands rapidly. A flash of light tells us the paparazzi got that on camera, too.

“So, what did you and Edmund talk about?” Rose asks me once we get out of her car at Bramppath and have a second of privacy.

“Not a whole lot. Mostly small talk. He’s nice, though.” She raises both her eyebrows and looks anywhere but at me. “Nice enough,” I add, smiling.

She glances back at me, and then frowns. “What’s funny?”

“You. You’re all jealous.”

She shrugs, and looks off again.

“We thought I was the one who was going to struggle with keeping us secret,” I say, “but it’s not as easy as you thought it was gonna be, is it?”

“Shush.”

“I spent most of the day watching you,” I say. “I tried not to, but I couldn’t help it. You’re the last person who needs to worry, I promise.”

The smile she gives me makes me want to stop in my tracks and pull her in to me, right here in the courtyard, and never let go. If only.

“Thank you,” she says, and I make sure to “accidentally” brush against her as we walk. And once more, for good measure. It’s not enough, but it’s what we’ve got, so I’ll take it.

THIRTY-ONE DANNI

I’m on edge all through dinner that night. So much so I can barely eat.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Rose asks from her place next to me. Under the table, she nudges my foot with hers. “Does anyone know if a lack of appetite is a sign of a concussion?”

“Why would you have a concussion?” Molly asks me from across the table while she cracks her crème brûlée.

“She fell down at skating and hit her head.”

“Well, have you gone to the nurse?” Molly asks, pausing with her spoon halfway to her mouth.

“No, I’m fine, I promise,” I say. “I’m not in pain anymore.”

“You don’t look fine,” says Eleanor. “You look pale.”

“I am pale.”

“I’m taking you to the nurse after dinner,” Rose decides.

“We have the arts performance after dinner.”

“We’ll skip it,” Rose says.