She’d pressed “end” without saying another word.

Kiran had been right to instruct her to go to the source. Recently, Amma and Appa had been hinting that Jaya marrying Kiran might be a good political move for the Raos. It made sense. He was the firstborn son of the well-placed Hegde royal family. An alliance would only strengthen both estates. When the time came, Jaya would be happy to do it.

Now, at St. Rosetta’s, Jaya felt Isha’s sharp gaze on her, and took her time answering. She inhaled slowly and deliberately, trying to calm her rubbed-raw nerves. Then, pushing her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, she said slowly, “I’ve… heard of Grey Emerson. Is he here?”

“Yes, and he has disappeared again as he does,” Leo said, exchanging a glance with Rahul that Jaya didn’t understand. “But we can introduce you on Thursday, the first day of classes. Please come sit with us in the senior dining hall during breakfast.”

“We have the table all the way to the back and right,” Rahul added helpfully.

“That’s nice of you to include Jaya!” Isha chirped.

In spite of her cheerful tone, Jaya could see the worry in Isha’s eyes. All summer long, Isha had seen the embers of anger burning in Jaya’s heart. She was no stranger to the way any mention of the Emersons had flushed Jaya’s cheeks, fevered her eyes. Now she was worried how Jaya would react to the knowledge that an Emerson went to this school.

But that wasn’t all Jaya saw in her sister’s eyes. Jaya recognized Isha’s anxiety, too. As was her nature, Isha had been quick to forgive and forget the Emersons’ deception; she’d just wanted to move on with her life. But Jaya had seen how the scandal had left her usually effervescent sister flat, dull, empty. She’d worried during Isha’s blackest period that she wouldn’t come back to her whole. Now, in Isha’s eyes that were just a bit too wide, in her smile that was just a bit too stiff, Jaya saw Isha’s memories of that time resurface.

But Jaya would be her shield now. No Emerson would ever hurt her sister like that again.

Jaya smiled her most convincing smile at the boys. “Yes, thank you,” she said. “I’d really like that.” And she’d worried finding a way to get close to Grey might be difficult.

“Heyyyooo, what up?”