Then again, who didn’t? Some people’s gaps were just much wider than others.

Which became clear when they entered Ryan’s “Be VIP or Be RIP” room. An entire room of Ryan. Photos with every A-list female actor, model, and pop star, and in each and every one, a hand hidden from view, sometimes in seemingly innocuous places, most times not. Not enough to notice, unless you were looking for it, unless you were trying to discern a pattern. A pattern that continued with the photos of Ryan with tech movers and shakers. All men. Not a single female founder, CEO, CIO, CTO, VP, VC, or otherwise in the frames.

As they lined up to exit the room, Maddie and Delia huddled together, whispering, but Lucy hung back, taking a final look at the only photo of Ryan by himself, circa age five, a grin as wide as his current ego, filled with pride as he leaned over a homespun-looking computer.

Sadness for him, for her, for everyone in the photos hanging on the walls and for everyone behind the desks contained within this building with its nap pods and wellness center and executive chef. Sadness for what Pulse could have been, for what Ryan Thompson could have done, and for what he chose to do instead.

When she finally exited the room, he was there. Shaking every ValleyStart student’s hand, personally welcoming them to his home away from home. She couldn’t avoid him.

She waited until the end, watching his fake smiles, head bobs, and words of encouragement. Gavin was up next. He donned a conspiratorial grin, broadened his chest, and put his hand up for a high five. But it stayed there. Because Ryan barely glanced at him before moving on to the next student in line. Gavin shrank before her.

As he continued past Ryan, Gavin turned and caught Lucy’s eye. They held each other’s gaze. She wasn’t sure what he saw in her, but she saw everything Gavin was—arrogant enough to do what Ryan asked and naïve enough to think it meant something more. Because he wanted—needed—it to mean more.

Lucy was the last in line. She pushed herself forward and stood before Ryan.

His face exuded warmth, but the tilt of his head and the slow travel of his eyes scanning every inch of her iced Lucy to the bone. She refused to let him know.

“Miss Katz? I’m surprised to see you here,” he said. “I heard you were having some trouble with Lit.”

“We were,” Lucy said breezily despite the clawing beneath her skin. “Which is why we switched apps. Fortunate to not be a one-hit wonder when it comes to ideas, don’t you think?”

Ryan’s face fell but recovered quickly. “But that must go against the rules. To switch just because you hit a road bump?”