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“You look…comfortable,” she said. “As always.”

Aly laughed, surprised. “What?”

“I don’t know, it’s just… Have you ever put any effort into your appearance at all, or do nepo babies not need to get dressed up?”

“Oh my god, Lola,” Aly said, a scowl gracing her face as she looked around to see if anyone was listening. “Can you just chill out for once?”

“Oh,I’mchill,” Lola shot back.

“Did you bike here?” Aly asked, clearly trying to steer them into more neutral territory.

Lola nodded. “What, are you watching me?”

She couldn’t be absolutely certain, but she felt pretty sure she saw a hint of pink in Aly’s cheeks.

“I literally saw you ride up on your bike,” Aly said. “We all did.”

So maybe she wasn’t blushing. Maybe she wasn’t watching Lola as closely as Lola was watching her.

Unless…

No. Lola shook the thought off.

“What are you doing here?” Lola demanded.

Aly laughed. “What am I doing at a fashion party in the neighborhood where I, a fashion writer, am staying for the summer?”

Lola rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, I feel like you should be drinking an Earl Grey somewhere, thinking about existentialism in Russian literature.”

“I’m covering the event forNylon,” Aly replied tersely. “And you?Why are you here?”

“I’m canceled, notdead,” Lola said. “I am allowed in public still.”

What she wanted to say was that she was afraid if she stopped going to events, she’d be worse than canceled; she’d be forgotten. Showing up was a kind of self-preservation, a floatation device for her social status. But there was no reason to be that honest with Aly, not after everything.

“Oh, were you invited to this?” Aly asked, feigning innocence.

“Well, I…” Lola trailed off. She hadn’t been. She was Ryan’s plus one, and Ryan wasn’t here anymore. How mean of Aly to call it out like that.

“I didn’t think so,” Aly said curtly. “I know the person who did the list. She’s still mad about the lesbian chic thing, my article aside.”

“I guess I will be apologizing for the rest of my life,” Lola said, trying to sound more droll than she felt. Aly didn’t need to know all the ways in which she was still beating herself up. It was more convenient to lay all the blame at Aly’s feet.

“I think we are going to have to get used to running into each other,” Aly said. “Otherwise, it’s going to be a very long summer.”

“I’m used to it,” Lola said, giving her nothing. “This is not a big deal.”

“If you say so,” Aly said. A half smile played across her face. “Nice overalls by the way.”

Any guilt Lola had felt for being too cruel last night was gone. Why did Aly have to besofucking smug?

Her hands tightened into fists.

But then, as Aly walked away, Lola found herself wishing she’d gotten close enough to smell her.

***

After that, the seal had been broken. For the next three weeks, Lola saw Alyeverywhere.