The entire room held its breath.
Vivienne had gone perfectly still, her tablet dark on the table in front of her. Harlow's hands covered her mouth, her eyes wide and wet. Sabrina had set down her book, which should have been my first warning that this moment actually mattered.
Iris was recording on her phone because of course she was.
"Put the phone down," I said without looking at her.
"But this is PEAK—"
"Iris."
The phone disappeared with a dramatic sigh.
I looked at Cassidy first. Really looked at her. The girl who'd threatened to ruin my life on day one and had instead taught me that stubborn and smart weren't mutually exclusive. Who colored her homework in rainbow highlighters and bit her lip when she concentrated. Who'd sat on my lap and asked me to make her my pet like it was the most natural request in the world.
