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my face and through my hair. Confused, I dropped the parasol and my hands clawed the wind. My feet pawed in a desperate search for the wire.
    I didn’t stop trying to right myself until I bounced into the net. I hit hard, exhaling in a whoosh, the diamond-shaped pattern of rope biting into my skin.
    I hadn’t fallen since I was four years old. I hadn’t had a net to save me since then either.
    When I went outside, the grounds were deserted, which was a relief.
    I was freaking out. I fell I fell I fell. At least no one had seen. I hugged my arms against a cool breeze and started my walk home. But it was only a few steps before I decided on a detour, past the Garcias’ practice space.
    Remy had acted like he knew everything, so maybe it was time to find out if the Garcias’ side of the story matched up with Nan’s. Maybe he’d be alone again and I could get some answers. After plummeting into the net, I wanted to feel like I was back on solid footing.
    Luck was with me.
    I opened the door to find the same tableau I had when we arrived. The lights were off in the entryway, but shone down on Remy as he practiced solo. Once again, I stood quietly and admired the way he moved through the air, strong and purposeful. I shivered as I remembered how I’d touched those warm, muscled arms the night before, the same arms that were now propelling him high overhead.
    Last night while he was insulting your family, Jules. Get a grip.
    To distract myself, I traced the fading diamond impression the net had left on my skin, touched the rose as if for more luck, and took a few steps forward just as he launched from the swing into the revolutions of a quad attempt. One, two, three, four—
    Holding my breath didn’t help him. His placement coming out of the spin was too fast and a little low. His body rocketed down and down into the net, where he punched it. Swore.
    I squared my shoulders to come forward and announce my presence. But I waited a beat too long. He saw me first, and when I took an involuntary step back, he leapt out of the net, his feet scuffing the mats as he rushed toward me.
    I backed up. “It’s not what you think—” I started.
    But he reached me and his strong arms surrounded me, forming a light circle that my back bumped into before I stopped.
    “You’re not spying? Or here to hex me, maybe?” Remy asked.
    His body wasn’t touching mine, only his arms, but heat radiated from him. I didn’t move. I didn’t even want to.
    He dropped his arms.
    “I’m here to talk.” I was ready to apologize for sneaking in. I’d invaded his privacy.
    He smirked. “If I’d known I had an audience, I would have tried harder.”
    He was the most infuriating boy of all time.
    “I already saw you the other night,” I said. “Just like tonight.”
    His rich brown eyes narrowed. Sweat beaded on his temples. “You saw me do what, exactly?”
    “Try for the quad. What you did was amazing.”
    A corner of his mouth lifted. “So you do know how to spy successfully. But I had no idea you were so easily impressed.” The line of his shoulders was as straight and tight as a string about to snap. “Maybe you don’t know any better, but I didn’t actually do anything, amazing or otherwise. I didn’t do it. I’m trying to do it. Two different things.”
    I should have known better than to offer praise. Performers are never more unpredictable than when they’re full of adrenaline and failure. I didn’t think it was possible for us to be standing any closer together, and I wanted to put distance between us so badly I imagined how to achieve it in seconds. In one second, I could move six inches back. In another second, six more. All I had to do was move two seconds’ worth. Then I could get control of the situation.
    But there was no way I was going to give in and move first.
    “How many people have actually done the quad? Three?” I asked.
    “Four,” he said. “But only one in the last ten years.”
    I shrugged. “Yes,