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“Lana?” My muscles tense.I won’t like this.

“The whole thing with Rex…we’re really worried about him. The partying. The chaos. He’s losing his grip. We think it’s time for him to see a professional.”

She sighs, her face solemn. “We’re meeting at Maxwell’s later to talk to him. He won’t get help unless we force it on him, and he’s going to be an ass about it. But he wants to be on the cruise. He’s worked hard on it for the past year.” She looks imploringly at me. “We wantyouto help him on board.”

“No way.” The refusal slips out automatically. Being confined on a cruise with him? The man who unnerves me? And he’s an unwilling patient?

Lana’s eyes widen. “Is there something going on I should know? You love helping people.”

My pulse riots and I twist the fabric of my dress. “W-What? Nothing.”Absolutely nothing.Before last week, I barely interacted with him.But you were aware of him, weren’t you?Ah, shut up, Olivia.“I just don’t believe in forcing people into treatment.”

They have to want to do the work.

“Come on, Olivia. You’ve helped Maxwell, and he’s doing so well because of you. Just do a few sessions with Rex and if it doesn’t work out, you’ve tried your best. Please, Olivia. Four therapy sessions in a month. That’s it. I’ll owe you.Forever.I’ll be there too. I mean, I can’t go until the Dubrovnik stop, but you won’t be alone.Please?”

She bats her ridiculously long eyelashes at me again, and I struggle not to smile. The woman can charm a maximum security prison guard into letting her escape.

“Fire Festival in Valencia,” she says, “I saw that spark in your eyes. Youknowyou want to go. Win-win!”

My promise to Mia echoes in my mind. She wanted me to go to Las Fallas. That was the last thing she asked of me.

I didn’t think much of it when Mia mentioned it the night before prom. We were talking about moving to Boston in a few months because I got into Harvard and she, Northeastern. I was excited about living away from home for the first time, and she hoped I’d meet a guy who could make me laugh because I was too serious.

I didn’t notice how she asked me to go to Las Fallasforher, like she wouldn’t be around to do it with me.

I didn’t notice how she didn’t talk about meeting a guy of her very own.

I just responded with, “You’ll change your mind tomorrow. What’s the point in planning twelve years ahead?”

But there was no tomorrow. Not for her.

I didn’t notice until it was too late.

My heart twists and shrivels, the pain sharp in my chest. The air thins and a chilly breeze scrapes across my skin, even though I know the AC isn’t on. It’s winter after all.

Hiding my clammy hands behind my back, I swallow.

“I heard from a little bird you’ve been trying to secure funding for ADAS… What if Fleur throws in a five million dollar contribution and names ADAS as one of our key philanthropic partners?”

My eyes snap to hers, finding her trying her best not to look like the tortoise who just crossed the finish line, glancing back and finding the jaw-slacked hare staring at her in disbelief.

She knows she’s making a good case for herself.

I bite my lip, and her gaze softens.

Lana says quietly, her voice serious, “You can totally say no. I know I can get overly excited about things, but don’t feel like you need to say yes because of me. Only go if you can. I don’t want to cause problems for you either. You and our friendship are more important to me.”

She pats my hand. “And the funding…regardless of your answer, I’ll petition the board for the donation. It’ll be easy to get their approval if you’re part of the cruise, but I’ll try anyway.”

I stare at her, and she smiles at me reassuringly. She means it. I can say no if I want to.

But do I want to?

If I go, not only can I keep the promise I made to Mia, but I can also secure the much-needed funding for ADAS. And the coveted spotlight from a company as big as Fleur will draw in more donations.

Many people can get the mental health treatments they desperately need.

It feels fated. Like it’s the right thing to do.