“Oh my God, Brenda, you wouldn’t even believe what happened today,” Maya said breathlessly as she sat on her bed, excitement buzzing through her voice. She had just seen Bruce off—after exchanging contacts with him, of course—while Meret was still upstairs, moody and withdrawn.

“Tell me. I’m curious,” Brenda replied on the other end of the call.

“I think I know how to get Meret now,” Maya said with a sly smile. “You should have seen the way she behaved today. I think she ...