But there’s no time for that. Tiny’s brick-sized stack of health papers is being inspected by customs agents, and we’re pushed out of the security area, where a handful of tween girls chug espressos from tiny cups like they’re mezcal shots. I clutch the handle of my luggage, ready for anything, and thank god for that. When I spot a bored-looking man holding a Killgore Party sign, and the brunette next to him, my heart drops down only to my stomach. As opposed to, say, the center of the planet.

Ah, yes. The exact person I hoped to avoid. Right in front of my eyes.

“Maya, right?” the woman asks, taking a few graceful steps in my direction. A wide smile carves a dimple on her left cheek. “I’m Avery.” I don’t say I know, because it would come across as chilling, like I’m the kind of person who invests huge chunks of her time online-stalking her crush’s girlfriend to find out ultimately insignificant things about them.

It’s exactly the kind of person I am, of course, but I will attempt to bring it to my grave. Jade is under strict instructions to wipe my devices the second I flatline.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Avery.” It’s the truest thing I can think of. I expect us to shake hands, but she pulls me into an affectionate hug, which has me begging my overtraveled pores to take a break from perspiring for just a second.

“It’s so cool to finally meet you. Can’t believe it hasn’t happened before.” She’s a little shorter than me, and we fit oddly together. Her nose against my shoulder. My frizzy hair in her mouth. When I pull back, I feel awkward and frumpy in my dog hair–speckled sweats and UT crop tee.

I should act distant. Icily polite. The problem is, Avery seems really nice, and I like nice people. “It’s so weird,” I say, “that we both live in Austin—”

“—but we’re meeting for the first time in Italy, I know. And after I’ve been hearing so much about Eli’s sister.”

“The rumors have been greatly exaggerated.”

Her head tilts. “Rumors of what?”

“Everything.”

She laughs, musical, a little husky. Shit, I think she might be sexy. “No, no—your brother and Minami are so proud of you. All those startups that were recruiting you, and that award you won, and the MIT stuff—everyone admires you so much. I was so sad to be the only one who hadn’t met you.”

“Yeah, well, that’s on me. You only began working at Harkness last summer, right? I spent most of last year in Switzerland. Only came back a few weeks ago.”

“Hard girl to track down, for sure.” Her shrug is as beautiful and put together as the rest of her, even just off a transatlantic flight. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable by gawking at her dewy skin and unpuffy eyes, so I force myself to glance around. Take in reunions, the babel of languages, hugs upon kisses upon hugs. Eli’s driver crouches in front of Tiny and pets his head—a willing new subject to our king.