“Makes sense to me,” Jennie says, and for the next few minutes, we discuss the pros and cons of living with boyfriends versus roommates.

“What about you, Jennie?” I ask after the waiter brings our appetizers. “Any boyfriends on the horizon for you?”

“Ugh, no.” Jennie makes a disgusted face. “There are barely a dozen okay-looking guys at Grinnell, and they’re all taken. The two of you should’ve talked some sense into me when I decided to go to college in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, it’s worse than being in high school.”

“No!” I widen my eyes in mock horror. “Worse than being in high school?”

“Nothing’s worse than being in high school,” Leah says, and the two of them begin to argue about the comparative availability of guys in a suburban high school versus a tiny liberal arts college.

As the meal proceeds, we talk about anything and everything except my relationship with Julian. Leah tells us about an internship she got at a Chicago law firm, and Jennie shares amusing stories about her recent vacation in Curaçao. “They had an oil-processing plant right next to our hotel. Can you believe it?” she complains, and Leah and I agree that even a salt-water infinity pool—a cool feature of Jennie’s hotel—can’t make up for something as atrocious as an oil refinery in a vacation spot.

Eventually, the conversation turns to my life on the estate, and I tell them all about my online classes at Stanford, the art lessons I’m getting from Monsieur Bernard, and my growing friendship with Rosa. “I wanted her to join us today, but she couldn’t,” I explain, feeling slightly guilty about that. “My parents are coming over for dinner, and Julian asked Rosa to help with the meal.” As I say that, I realize how spoiled I sound—and from the envious looks on Jennie and Leah’s faces, they realize it too.

“Wow,” Jennie says, shaking her head. “No wonder you’re happy with this guy. He treats you like a freaking princess. If someone gave me Stanford, servants, and a huge estate, I wouldn’t mind getting kidnapped either.”

“Jennie!” Leah gives her an appalled look. “You don’t mean that.”

“No, I probably don’t,” Jennie agrees, grinning. “Still, Nora, you have to admit, the whole thing is kind of cool.”

I shrug, smiling. “Kind of cool” is one way to describe it. Messed up and complicated is another—but I’m happy to stick with Jennie’s description for now.

“Wait, did you say your parents are coming over for dinner?” Leah asks, as if just now processing that part of my statement. “Like, to have dinner with you and him?”

“Yes,” I say, enjoying the expressions on both of my friends’ faces. “We had dinner at my parents’ house last night, so today they’re coming over to our place.” And as Leah and Jennie continue to stare at me in shock, I explain that Julian purchased a house in Palos Park, so we’d have someplace secure to stay during our visits.