The chaperones had set them loose with instructions to meet back at the bus that night at ten, but for now they were free to go wherever they pleased. She and Daphne Elizabeth had immediately joined up, and Rahul and Leo had gone shopping together at one of the big department stores. She and Daph were taking a shopping break at La Maison du Chocolat, a Parisian chocolate shop. Daphne Elizabeth’s father owned a large portion of stock in the international company because she loved their stuff so much.

Daphne Elizabeth bit into her fudge brownie. “Oh my God. Wow.” She closed her eyes as she chewed. “Mmm, no I’m totally listening. It’s just that I’m also having a foodgasm.”

“Erm… ha. Yes. Of course.” Jaya never knew how to respond to Daphne Elizabeth’s often crass, rarely appropriate jokes. Then she ate a truffle and her taste buds almost exploded on the spot. “Oh my. You’re right. This is absolutely divine.”

“You’re literally the only person our age I know who says ‘oh my’ unironically.”

Jaya frowned. “What do you mean?”

Daphne Elizabeth bit back a laugh. “Nothing. Anyway, back to what you were saying. We need to talk about what?”

Jaya crumpled up the thick paper cup her chocolate had come in. “You have to tell—”

But Daphne Elizabeth’s phone beeped, cutting Jaya off. She pulled it out of her pocket. Studying the screen, Daph muttered, “Great.” She turned her phone around to show Jaya.

Your father and I have to jet to Milan over Christmas. We think you should just go to Nana’s—or maybe just stay at St. Rosetta’s? We’ll pay the extra boarding fees. xxMitzi

Jaya frowned. “Who’s Mitzi?”

“My mother,” Daphne Elizabeth said, snorting. “She thinks ‘Mom’ makes her sound old.”

“But… do you celebrate Christmas?” Jaya asked, and Daphne Elizabeth nodded. “Oh, Daph, I’m sorry.”

Daphne Elizabeth shrugged. “I’m used to it. This has happened before. It’s fine.”

Jaya could not think of a single sadder thing. On impulse, she found herself saying, “Why don’t you come visit my family? If you want to, I mean? We don’t celebrate Christmas, but we do go to a different country every winter break.”

Daphne Elizabeth stared at Jaya. “Seriously? You’d do that for me?”

Jaya smiled. “I bet I could even convince my father to put up a Christmas tree wherever we go and do a gift exchange.”

Daphne Elizabeth shook her head. “That’s so sweet. I mean, I’ll probably just go to my aunt’s in France for most of the break, but maybe I’ll come visit you, too.”

Jaya smiled. “I’d love that.”