Daph looked abashed. “I’m sorry. I know. I can stop, I promise.” Turning to her closet, she said, “I have literally nothing to wear,” and immediately contradicted her statement by pulling out yet another article of clothing, this time a dress.

“I think that one looks really nice.” Jaya gestured to the red-and-green gown in Daphne Elizabeth’s hands, feeling a rush of relief for the change in topic. “Is it Gucci?”

“Yes, but it’s totally wrong for this! I don’t want to look like a Christmas decoration at a twenties-themed charity event in November! Especially not one thrown by you-know-who.”

“Fair point.”

Caterina had slipped thick embossed invitations to a twenties-themed yacht gala under the doors of all the seniors just an hour before. Jaya couldn’t help but feel a little disquieted by it all. What game was she playing? Whatever it was, Jaya hadn’t been given a rulebook. To be honest, she wasn’t so sure Caterina would ever forgive her, even if Caterina should logically only be angry with Alaric and Daphne Elizabeth. Jaya had underestimated the consequences of rejecting her when she was vulnerable. Still, now that she and Grey were no longer speaking, Caterina would have no more ammunition, at least. The thought should’ve brought Jaya some relief, but it didn’t. “She still hasn’t texted you back, right?”

Daphne Elizabeth looked at her, distressed. “No, she hasn’t reached out to me at all! Apparently, she just wants to pretend the text never happened.”

“Hmm.” This was very unusual behavior for someone like Caterina. Very, very unusual.

“I’ve asked Alaric about it so many times,” Daph continued, “but he just keeps saying she doesn’t want to talk about it. He told me I should just forget about it and move on.”

Jaya knew she shouldn’t say anything. It wasn’t the diplomatic thing to do. But she felt a swell of irritation too powerful to ignore. “And you’re okay with that?” Closing her book, she set it aside. “Come on, Daph. Can’t you see what Alaric’s doing here?”

Daphne Elizabeth frowned. “No, what?”

Jaya threw up her hands. Was Daph really that dim? Or was she just choosing the coward’s way out, refusing to see what was right in front of her because it was easy? Because it got her what she wanted? It infuriated Jaya that she wouldn’t do the honorable thing. “He’s manipulating you! I haven’t been here that long, but even I know that Caterina wouldn’t just ignore a text like that. He’s obviously lying to you or her or very likely the both of you! You’re in such deep denial!”

“Denial?” Bright spots of red appeared on Daphne Elizabeth’s pale cheeks. “He’s shared so much of himself with me, Jaya. You obviously don’t understand.”

Jaya made a reflexive disgusted face before she could stop herself.