He chewed the corner of his lip for a moment, which, truth, was a welcome if fleeting distraction. “I don’t think she hates you for that.”

“You don’t?”

“No. Probably more resentment, I should think. Not hate.”

“Oh, much better.” I frowned. “Wait. She told you she resented me?”

His eyes widened. “No! Not at all. It was more how her upper lip would curl when she said your name.” He demonstrated.

It was familiar.

But, more to the point, “You guys were talking about me?” Then another, deeply unnerving thought occurred. “Did she invite you to Brody’s party? Are you two going together?”

“What? No! I only referenced you on the day we met, about our school connection. Which in hindsight could also explain the lip curl.” He refocused on me. “And what’s this about Brody’s party?”

Arthur’s own lip curled as he said Brody’s name.

“Brody has a party tomorrow night and I thought Ayisha was going to invite you to go with her.”

“Oh.” He pulled a face. “I know I initially said I wanted to go to a party, but all things considered, I’d rather not go to that one.”

“Thank God.”

He grew thoughtful again. “Was Ayisha’s withdrawal from school temporary or permanent?”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Because if it’s temporary, she could possibly still be admitted. And I’m proof that one can be admitted midway through the year. Most people don’t take that into consideration, but there are often openings that pop up each semester. People drop out for all sorts of reasons.”

Another stab of guilt hit me. This was Segue City right here. An open invitation from the Universe. Speaking of that . . . , was what I could have interjected here. Or Interesting you should mention people dropping out . . .

But I didn’t.

Instead, I cleared my newly dry throat. “True.”

Arthur, oblivious to my personal tumult, continued blithely. “For instance, you’ll soon be getting a new roommate,” he said.

It took a second for his meaning to compute, then my eyes widened. “What?”

“With Thea leaving.”

I shook my head, probably too dramatically, but I was feeling dramatic. “Why is Thea leaving?”

He cocked his head at me. “I gather the two of you aren’t close.”

“She treats our dorm like a drive-by closet and she spends almost all of her time with Beaux.”

“A bond that will likely continue for many years to come.”

“You’re talking in Arthur-speak again. Why is Thea leaving Barrington?”

He stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. “This feels dangerously close to gossip.”

“Which I’m a hundred percent okay with.”

“I’m not.”

Great. He drops broad hints then decides to establish moral boundaries.

I took a breath. “Okay, so. Not gossip? But instead think of it like you’re providing me with much-needed information about my living situation.”

He struck a philosophical pose. “But is it truly ‘much-needed’—?”

“Arthur!”