“I’m not. Sorry, I can go.”

“No, no, come in. I’ve got some time.” She sipped from a small blue ceramic mug. “What can I help you with?”

Lucy hovered in the doorway, inhaling the warm spice of Nishi’s chai, unsure how to answer. Because she needed help, they all did, so much help.

“Is it your presentation?” Nishi said. “I can’t imagine it’s not perfect down to the fade-ins and -outs. You’ve been meticulous about taking notes on everything since the first session. Your notebook must be an excellent blueprint for Lit.”

Her notebook. Lucy’s notebook was an excellent blueprint for Lit. It contained everything they’d thought and done and hoped to do. And had been missing for days. Since the night with Ryan.

A shock wave jolted her.

His car.

When they’d careened across the street and into Ryan’s driveway, everything she had with her was thrown to the floor. She’d grabbed her bag. She remembered grabbing her bag. And then she remembered grabbing her notebook off the table in the restaurant. She’d never put it in her bag.

Ryan had it. And must have given it to Gavin.

And it was then that she knew the answer to her earlier question. Gavin wanted her to know it was him. Same as Ryan did. They wanted her to know they did this—together. That they teamed up to destroy not just Lit but her. Because if she told about the code, she’d have to tell about that night with Ryan. And the one with Gavin. Everything would come out. And it wouldn’t matter who Lucy was or wasn’t; all that would matter was what it looked like. What she looked like. And that wasn’t anything good.

So what? She’d already lost everything.

Nishi sat behind the desk, an increasingly confused look on her face, but Lucy was remembering a different expression: the awe she’d shown upon meeting Lucy’s mother.

Which meant Lucy had just one thing left: her reputation. And Maddie’s and Delia’s. She had to protect all of them.

She moved into the office, her hand at her side, her fingers typing a quick text to Gavin.

Take it down. You won.

Three little dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.

She didn’t care—whatever he had to say, Lucy was done with Gavin. She blocked his number.

An extra layer of guilt weighed heavy on her as she sat in the wooden chair across from Nishi. She switched off her ringer and shoved her phone under her leg.

“Lit is . . .” Lucy struggled to finish her sentence. Finally, she simply told the only truth she could. “Things aren’t going the way I planned.”

“Is that all?” Nishi pushed her laptop aside.

“I’m sorry, but . . . what?”