“I know everything feels terrible, but we can’t leave. Not yet.” Luna chewed on her lip, trying to decide what to do. She was sure he knew some of what happened with her mom—there’s no way his mom didn’t tell him what Tasha had probably told her. “And I’m not saying that because of Jewel, I promise. She doesn’t mean more to me than you or anything like that.”

“I’d hope so,” he said with a sardonic laugh. “You just met her, and no offense, she really doesn’t seem all that great to me.”

Luna decided to let him have that. He was upset, not trying to hurt her feelings. “I want to win for Tasha. I really mean that,” she said. “My mom doesn’t give Tasha any money for me. Last year, Tasha asked if she could claim me on her taxes and my mom said no because she was going to do it. Tasha got so mad, I thought she was going to kick me out, but she didn’t. She just got another job. Winning is the only way I’ll ever be able to pay her back for taking care of me.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Alex looked alarmed, but his voice was so, so soft. “Tasha would never ask you to do that.”

“She doesn’t have to. I owe her my life. I don’t know where I’d be if she didn’t agree to be my guardian,” Luna said. “Being here was supposed to be my dream come true. I love Jewel, like, I know I’m obsessed. And I thought that if I could make everyone else think that was all I cared about, they wouldn’t take me seriously, you know, like as a strategy. I’m naive and starstruck so nobody would watch me too closely. They wouldn’t see me as a threat so I could do anything to win and they wouldn’t know about it until it was too late. I didn’t want anyone to know how badly I need that money. Including you.”

Alex was quiet for a long time. “First of all, you should’ve told me that earlier. Partners don’t keep secrets from each other. But I understand why you did it. Second, your plan is ingenious. I had no idea you were that devious.”

“I wouldn’t say devious.”

“I would and am because it’s working. Francis told me Nicole and Stella practically turned into Mama Bears when they found out you got hurt.”

“Really?”

“I’m still on the fence about Stella—she’s slippery, you know? But I think Nicole is good.”

“Me too! Last night, she helped me change and did my hair.” She showed him the twists Nicole took the time to do for her.