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Sulli looks up from the ground. “They’ll be mega-butthurt if they’re left out, but they’ll get over it.”
“They’re just a lot all together,” I say.
“Oh hey, I know,” Sulli tells me. “Kits would have to be on sister patrol all night, and he wouldn’t have any fun.”
“Same with most of Omega,” Jane says, “and likely, most of Epsilon would have to be there.”
“No,” I say with force.
“Yeah, fuck Epsilon,” Sulli adds.
Jane agrees and says more in French. I’m pretending the translation is fuck them.
I think this over. “Maybe Tom, Eliot, and Beckett can have temp bodyguards for the party,” I tell them, hoping this will be true because three Epsilon bodyguards is three too many. Especially after the run-in with those ones at Calloway Couture headquarters.
“Anyone from college?” Jane wonders.
College. My attendance the last several weeks for Biology 1121: The Molecular Biology of Life is awful. I foresee an F in my future if I don’t actually attend the lectures. And then there’s the labs. The only friend I’ve made is barely a friend and more so just my lab partner.
Still, I like her enough that it’d be nice if she came. “Maybe just Harriet.”
“What about Frog?” Sulli asks and holds my gaze for an extra beat.
“She’ll have to go…she’s my bodyguard.”
Sulli dabs at the wet spot, staring at the carpet. “You’ve sort of been avoiding her, and I didn’t really want to bring it up. But you know, she’s Akara’s cousin…and fuck, it’s not a big deal anyway. I’m sure it’ll work itself out.”
Frog has been upset. I can tell just based off Sulli’s concern, but Sulli is also my friend and she’s trying not to guilt-trip me.
Still, guilt nestles uncomfortably in my stomach. “I’ll fix it,” I mutter, but I’m not sure if she hears.
“What about Quinn and Gabe?” Jane asks.
Words are thicker in my throat, but I manage to say, “They should come.”
And then my phone buzzes.
I check the text.
DAD
It’s what dads do. And I love you more than chicken tacos
Spicy chicken tacos
From the food truck outside S&S
I smile and text:
Those are the best in all galaxies. It is known.
DAD
Known by me. Taco expert.
“Who is that?” Jane asks curiously, and I lift my head, realizing she sees me typing on my phone and my smile.
“Just my dad.” Then my phone rings. “My mom’s calling.” I put it on speaker. “Hi, Mom. You’re on speakerphone. Jane, Sulli, and Baby Maeve are with me.”
“Hi, Aunt Lily,” they say together.
“Hey, girls and baby.” My mom sounds a little out of breath. “Why is this box so heavy?” She makes a grunting noise. “Sorry, I’m at Superheroes & Scones. New merch came in. But I’m actually calling to see if you wanted to go out, Luna.”
Someone told her I’m hermiting.
“Go out?” I mutter.
Dread is a funny feeling. Funny in that it drops your whole stomach like you’re on a theme park ride. I usually love the free-fall ones, but not so much this time.
“It’s just me and Xander,” she says. “I called that new indoor putt-putt place—”
“Putt Palace?”
“You’ve heard of it.” Her excitement is palpable. “Doesn’t it look awesome? Eight holes are supposed to be heroes, the other villains. Golf holes,” she clarifies quickly. “The decorations are hero-villain-esque.”
We all smile, and the sinking dread starts to disappear.
“I did want to go there,” I say.
“What about tonight?”
“Now?”
“Yeah, I can come pick you up. Jane, Sulli, you both should come too if you can.”
“That’s okay, Aunt Lily,” Jane says, studying me in a quick sweep. “I think it sounds like a perfect Hale outing.”
“Yeah, you two go,” Sulli chimes in, and they’re both mouthing go, go to me, and Sulli gives me a thumbs up. Maybe they know the media will be more frenzied and chaotic if they go, and that would be a good excuse for me to bail.
“Xander’s coming?” I ask my mom.
“He said he wanted to go. Putt Palace is letting us play an hour after closing time, so we have the whole place to ourselves. Isn’t that nice?”
No strangers allowed.
“Yeah, it is,” I tell her.
What could go wrong at indoor putt putt? Frog should be fine. I won’t be with Donnelly, so no sneaky paparazzi can snap photos of us. And maybe I can patch things up with my younger brother.
It’s very tempting.
“I’m stopping at the house and getting Xander first,” Mom says. “I’ll pick you up in a half hour. Does that work?”
Jane is miming swinging a golf club, and Sulli is giving me two thumbs up now.
It’s hard not to smile, and it looks like I’m venturing into the earthly world tonight. “Yeah. See you then.”
In the elevator, I text Donnelly that I’m going out with my mom and brother. He responds before I reach the ground floor.
DONNELLY
??
Tell him I say hi. We’ll catch up later tonight?
For sure.
