“I’m sorry, too,” Ethan said. “I mean, I was pissed at Diya at first. But Jude got over it, so I don’t know why I didn’t. I never really thought about it, I guess.”

“Me neither.” Margot shrugged. “Hating her was just automatic after a while.” She raised her eyebrows. “Maybe we’re the Robobitches. Anyway, we’re going to apologize to Diya, too, and call out anyone who keeps calling her Robobitch. Like you did with us.” She smiled.

“Exactly. Jude’s also sorry,” Ethan said, “but he’s, you know.” He pointed to the stage. Jude was probably stage-kissing Diya right now before doing his “Singin’ in the Rain” solo.

I sighed in a way I hoped didn’t sound wistful but definitely did.

“Okay,” Ethan said, crossing his legs and facing me. “We really did come here to tell you that you were right and we were wrong. That was our goal, yes?” He turned to Margot.

“Yes.” She nodded solemnly.

“We’ve done that, so now we’re going to tell you what we’re right and you’re wrong about. Ready?”

“What? No. What am I wrong about?”

“You’re wrong about the person you just sighed pathetically over,” Margot said.

“Wrong about him. Not wrong for him, that’s an important difference,” Ethan added.

I fidgeted with my costume. “How am I wrong about Jude?”

“You haven’t declared your undying love for him!” Ethan yelled. Before I could shush him, he said, “And you haven’t declared your undying love because you think he doesn’t want you to. That’s where you’re wrong.”

“Look,” I said. “I know he liked me before. But then he realized it wouldn’t work. I mean, he told me that. He said he wasn’t ready for a relationship.”

Margot waved a hand at me. “But did you tell him you were? Because that could change things.”

Ethan took off his hat and spun it around. “It’s embarrassingly clear to everyone that Jude had, has, and forever will have a thing for you. And vice versa. All we want you to do is act on it. Preferably somewhere with good lighting, so I can get a good shot.”

Margot pushed him. “Stop, this is a serious moment.”

“Okay, fine. You can be boring and do it in private, if you want.”

I stared hard at both of them. “Have you talked to him about this? Do you know for sure it’s what he wants?”

“Well, no,” Ethan said reluctantly. “He’s been pretty silent on the Alina topic since the rink.”

My shoulders sagged. It was all just speculation. Could I risk throwing all my heart into something only to have it broken again?

Yes. I could.