“Ugh, no athletes, please. This isn’t a contest of endurance or strength. Or, um, daintiness?” Ashna adjusted the strap on her kitten-heeled sandals. She had considered wearing sneakers, as she usually did in the kitchen, but it was just introduction day, so why not?

“Maybe one of those ex–boy band types. A Jonas brother? Who was the cute one?” Nisha conjured a brow brush out of thin air and gave Ashna’s eyebrows a sweep as Trisha held the door open.

Sunshine flooded into the house. Early spring in Palo Alto used to be Ashna’s favorite time of year. Before it became the season of bad memories and she forgot how to love it. Yearning for the simplicity of a love like that—for the way light filtered through trees, for the smell of air saturated with possibility—unfolded inside her.

“Nick?” Trisha tucked her arm into Ashna’s and pulled the door shut behind them.

They followed Nisha, who was pregnant-waddling purposefully down the path that led to the gate in the fence.

“Nope. Nick’s out. He just married Priyanka Chopra so he’s too big for this now,” Nisha threw over her shoulder. “The other cute Jonas, the one with the great hair.”

“I’m pretty certain it’s not going to be any of the Jonas brothers.” Could it be, though? She hated not knowing. She had begged China to tell her, but of course China’s favorite line at the moment was “I’ll lose my job.”

Trisha made a face. “I’ve been badgering DJ about it. Either he doesn’t know or he won’t tell me. You know what’s annoying? I can’t figure out which it is, and he loves that. Do you think there’s something wrong with British men?”

Nisha and Ashna rolled their eyes.

“You just want us to tell you again how perfect we think DJ is,” Ashna said.

Trisha’s response was a dreamy grin.

As they cleared the thicket of jacarandas and got to the deliveries parking lot, Nisha’s phone beeped. “It’s China. They’re on their way. We have to be inside before she gets here with your star. Hurry up.”

“Eeek! Is the star with her now? Ask her, ask her!” Trisha grabbed Nisha’s phone “WHO IS IT??? TELL US!” Trisha read off as she typed in all caps. Nisha jumped up and down, baby bump and all.

They stared at the screen, waiting for a response.

Can’t tell you. But . . . S C O R E!!!

Yes, China had put a space between each letter. Given China’s legendary texting laziness, that made the butterflies in Ashna’s belly turn into bats.

“What on earth is that supposed to mean?” How had Ashna thought herself calm? Now she couldn’t even think the word calm without getting light-headed.

Trisha linked arms with Ashna. “Let’s get in there and find out.”