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I snorted. “Is that really what it’s called?”

“Yeah.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“Nothing. It’s just a really terrible name, is all.”

“You think everything is terrible.”

Alicia glanced between us, then shook her head and started toward the stairs. “I actually have a few emails to catch up on tonight, but I’ll be down shortly.”

Once she disappeared upstairs, my heart rate slowly returned to normal, even if I was still completely bowled over about the fact that I was standing in the house Ramen Girl lived in. “She doesn’t seem to be as big a fan of the show as you are.”

Tasha sighed. “She’s just a little shy around new people.”

That sort of figures. After the way she’d taken off that night, I had wondered if she was just flat-out rude or if there was another explanation, but obviously, I’d thought I would never find out. Plus, there’s the fact that I shouldn’t have wondered about her at all.

“Does being shy mean she’s only going to come downstairs once I leave?” I asked, even though it had nothing to do with me. “Either way, I’m not staying to watch reality TV with you. All I need is my folder.”

She nodded and reopened the backpack. “You should stay. I think you’d like the show. It’s ridiculously cheesy, and horrible, and perfect. I also think it’d be good for Alicia if you stayed too.”

I grimaced. “Why? You just said she was shy. Maybe having a stranger in her space is the last thing she needs after a day at work.”

“If she had any other job, I might agree, but Alicia works with kids,” she said. “At the library. Those aren’t really known for being loud and busy.”

“I think the kids’ section anywhere is known for being loud and busy.”

Tasha shot me an amused look. “Wait, are you actually defending her, Holden Thayer?”

“No.” I scowled. “It’s called logic, Tasha.”

She laughed. “Uh-huh. Okay, if you say so, but anyway, the point is that she’s one of those quiet, bookish people who sometimes needs a little nudge to interact with actual grownups on occasion.”

“Who said I was a grownup?” I asked dryly, and despite hating the fact that I was curious about her, I finally just decided to indulge myself. “Isn’t she the same person you mentioned earlier? The roommate who was having dinner with a Thayer?”

“She is.” Tasha glanced at me. “Jane Thayer. Do you know her? There was a—” She suddenly snapped her fingers and raced around the kitchen counter into what I was pretty sure was a pantry. “Aha! As soon as I thought about dinner, I remembered where I put it!”

When she reappeared, she had my folder in her hands and I breathed an internal sigh of relief. But instead of handing it over, she gave me a smile that immediately made me suspicious. A second later, she confirmed that my gut feeling had been right.

“I’ll give it to you on one condition,” she said. “Tell me if you’re related to the Royal Thayers.”

“It’s mine and you took it. I shouldn’t have to meet any conditions to get it back.”

She shrugged. “All’s fair in love and war.”

“I wasn’t aware this was either of those things.”

“And yet, I’m the one holding the folder.” She cocked her hip against the counter, her smile turning downright smug. “Are you, or are you not, a Thayer?”

I rolled my eyes. “You already know that’s my last name.”

As the mistake she’d made registered on her features, I used the distraction to pluck my folder from her hand. She instantly refocused on me, scowling as she crossed her arms. “You know I wasn’t just talking about your last name. I was asking if you were one of them. The Royal Thayers.”

“I hate to break it to you, but there’s no royalty in Chicago.” I set the full glass of battery acid down on the table and lifted the folder a little higher. “Thanks for this.”

As I said it, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Alicia paused but then descended further. She’d changed into light pink sweats and an oversized t-shirt, her golden hair pulled into a messy bun I wanted nothing more than to tug on. Just so I could watch those long locks tumble back down.

Okay. Yeah. That’s my cue. I need to get out of here.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pretended to check it. It wasn’t ringing, but I glanced at Tasha anyway and started backing toward the door. “I have to take this, but I’ll see you in class.”