“I’m fine,” Cali insists. “I just wish I could stop walking around feeling like I’m made of glass.”

“You will,” Gemma says. “Someday it will fade, I promise.”

“I know you’re right,” Cali says, leaning her head on Gemma’s shoulder. “I just wonder where to go from here.”

“That’s what we’re all trying to figure out. It’s what everyone comes to this city for: to forget who they were, become someone new. God knows I can’t stay forever though.”

“Poor Anders,” Cali says, smiling at her.

“Anders? Like Cali’s Anders?” I ask.

“Not exactly. Didn’t you know? We’re strictly forbidden to sleep with our dance partners,” Cali says.

“That seems like a really good way to get everyone to sleep with their dance partners.”

Gemma and Cali laugh.

“Nah,” Cali says, “getting on the outs with G isn’t worth it. I love him, but he can be . . .”

“Mind-bendingly petty,” Gemma finishes.

“Loyalty is important to him,” Cali adds diplomatically. “Besides, it’s just our partners; no one else is verboten.”

“And Gianluca is allowed to sleep with anyone, of course.”

“Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?” I ask.

“Oh, Angelina? Girlfriend is a strong word. Depends on the day,” Cali says.

“You will be surprised to learn that Gianluca is quite lovelorn.”

“You’re right,” I say. “That is surprising. And what about you, Cali? Any on-team dalliances?”

Cali cringes. “Maybe Rodrigo.”

“Oh, he’s so beautiful. Was it amazing?” Gemma asks.

“I’ve seen you two dancing,” I say, thinking of the party that weekend. “Looked hot.”

Cali shakes her head.

“No. Why?!” Gemma asks.

“Well,” Cali says, smiling, glancing inside to make sure Rodrigo isn’t about to walk in on this conversation. “It turns out his dancing skills do not translate as well as I had hoped.”

“Oh nooooo,” Gemma says.

“I mean, he’s so beautiful!” Cali says. “And trust me, it only gets better when the clothes come off.”

“So far, so good,” Gemma says. “Tell us! And when was this?”

“Oh, months ago. We were at the social and we danced until like three a.m., and it was amazing. Just . . . erotic. But then, okay, first weird thing. He lives with his parents, so we obviously can’t go to his house. So instead, he takes me to a telo.”

“A what now?” I ask.

“You haven’t heard of these yet? The ‘love’ hotels?”

I look at her, baffled. Gemma is beside herself with laughter. “A telo!” she squeals. “Oh it’s too good.”

“Let me educate you,” Cali says. “You know people here live with their parents until they’re like thirty, so when they need to go smash their boyfriends or girlfriends, they go to a telo and rent rooms by the hour.”

“Yikes!”