“He’s so big,” Stella said, eyes wide. “Look. At. Him. Oh my God. I need him.” At 8:20 A.M., when Jewel still hadn’t arrived yet, she said, “I call dibs on chastising her for being late to her own party,” as Ethan and Olive strode into the room, heading straight for the table. The usual army of staff was behind them, wheeling in covered trays of food.

“Good morning. We have some news,” Olive said, worrying at her hands. “There was an emergency meeting this morning.”

“Insurance,” Ethan said quickly.

Stella assumed it was because of Luna’s arm. Her fall had probably sent the insurance agents into a capitalist tizzy. Voyeurs got to witness the accident firsthand. A cover-up wasn’t going to save them.

“Jewel isn’t, uh, she won’t be joining you for breakfast,” Olive said. “Everything else should be according to plan.”

Ethan added, “Unfortunately, we won’t be joining you either. There’s some things we have to take care of.”

“Everything okay?” Francis asked.

“Still figuring that part out,” Ethan said.

“Have a good breakfast,” Olive said.

“There goes my morning,” Stella said after they’d gone. “I hate when I look forward to things. It only ever ends in disappointment for me.”

“I’m sure you’ll see her later,” Nicole said.

“You think?”

“It’s her house. Odds are good.”

“I was hoping to see her too,” Luna said.

“You’re not missing much,” Harlow muttered around a cheek full of eggs. That was the first time she’d spoken all morning. She was wearing her giant sunnies again, her clothes didn’t match, and it didn’t look like she’d brushed her hair. Things were rough for the newly liberated.

“That didn’t take long,” Francis mused.

“I’ve always been an overachiever,” Harlow said.

“Did something happen?” Luna asked.

Silence. As if everyone at the table agreed to let Harlow decide how much was said next.

“You could say that.”

“You weren’t the only one who got—hurt yesterday,” Nicole said.

“I’m fine.”

Stella’s eardrums said differently, but millions had probably seen Harlow’s extended meltdown. She wouldn’t out her in front of the few who didn’t know yet. “You know who else is fine?” Stella said, purposefully trying to draw attention away from Harlow. “Jewel. I can’t believe my luck. First trip out of my house and boom—romance. I’ve always heard it happens when someone least expects it, but I never thought it would just slap me in the face like this.”

Francis dropped his fork and covered his face with his hand. “Why is this happening to me?”

“We’re a classic love story in the making,” Stella said. “A digital queen running out of territories to conquer. And there I was, a surprise and a delight to light up her life.”