Page 214 of Ruthless Court

Lila hugs her takeout box to her chest.

“We’re going to eat in Maeve’s room. I our delivery guy is by the door.”

Hannah looks at her.

“You were staying here.”

“We changed our minds.”

“Five seconds ago?”

“We’re spontaneous.”

Noor loops her arm through Lila’s.

“Have fun.”

“We aren’t having fun.”

“Then you’re doing it wrong.”

Their giggles float back through the stairwell.

Hannah watches them go.

“Traitors.”

The RA slides a guest sheet toward me.

“Sign in.”

I sign my name.

She sighs and leads me up.

Her room feels like her.

Books line the windowsill and spill from the shelves. Notes are pinned above her desk beside photographs of Chicago, the youth team, and her roommates.

The radiator knocks inside the wall.

A faucet drips in the small sink.

Her bed is neatly made, though one corner of the blanket has been folded back. A paperback lies facedown across the pillow.

“You ironed your sheets,” I say.

Hannah squints at me.

“How can you tell?”

“They look formal.”

“I was distracted.”

“By me?”

“By household maintenance.”