Lucy nudged Maddie’s shin and sat up straighter, retaking control. “But that’s part of this. I wasn’t always.”

Delia spoke for the first time. “Lucy, why don’t you tell him about Emma.”

“Oh, r-i-i-i-ght,” Tim said. “Emma Santos. Now this is starting to make sense.” Tim held up his phone, showing a picture of Emma beside Ryan. He then pulled it back and swiped, returning it to the air, this time with the photo of Lucy and Ryan. “Listen, sweetheart . . .”

Maddie moved to the edge of the couch, and Lucy put a hand on her knee.

“No shame in looking to raise your Pulse by being ‘close’ to my man.” He put air quotes around “close” and wiggled his eyebrows. “And no doubt you’re hot enough that it should have worked. But you can’t come running to your elders when your ‘business dinner’”—another set of air quotes—“doesn’t quite yield the results you expect. Real-world tip here . . .” His lips smoothed into a sympathetic smile. “Sometimes the Pulse rubs off, sometimes it doesn’t. I mean, if I had a dime for every chick cozying up to Ryan to skyrocket to Crushing It, I’d be a rich man.” He pressed his finger to his lips. “Oh, wait—”

“That’s it.” Maddie leapt to her feet.

“Yes,” Lucy said, also standing. “It is. Let’s go.” She tipped her head toward the pile of dirty laundry on the kitchenette counter that made Lucy wish she’d bathed in hand sanitizer before entering the room. Hanging over the edge was the tee only given to Pulse employees.

She locked eyes with Maddie and then Delia. They all saw. They all knew what this was. A waste of time.

*   *   *

That night, Lucy, Maddie, and Delia stood on the balcony off the common room watching the explosion of fireworks that lit up the night sky. Palms as tall as the buildings dotted the quad, and each new flash bathed the airy fronds in vibrant colors, like light reflecting through a prism.

“At least it’s beautiful,” Delia said.

“Nothing beats Boston’s,” Maddie said. “But it’s all right.” As the sequence of bursts transitioned from red to white to blue, Maddie faced Delia and Lucy. “That was a mistake. Mine, and I’m sorry. I thought we’d gain something by reporting it quickly, but at least we can prove we tried. We’ll go to Nishi as soon as she’s back. She’ll believe us. I’m sure of it.”

She would. Lucy didn’t doubt that. And yet . . . what had she said in the club? “Different rules for the gents.” A warning. That Lucy didn’t heed. She may even think Lucy had brought this on herself. Because that’s exactly what Lucy thought.

“No,” Lucy said. “I changed my mind. I don’t want anyone to know.”

“What?” Maddie said. “But we agreed. He’s a bully.”