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Bea’s smile this time looks real. “Actually, we all had to sign something saying that whoever submits gives them permission to use their song, so they could still use mine.”

“That’s crap,” I say. “If they use yours, you should sue them.”

Jake arches one eyebrow. “I bet they do use yours, though. It was catchier, and I’m not just saying that because I stayed up half the night working on it with you.”

I really hate that guy. It’s like he takes every opportunity to. . .wait. “You were up half the night with her?”

“I mean, that’s normal, though.” Jake’s smile is smug. “We live together. You did know that, right?” He drags Bea just a little closer. “Hornet’s a pretty decent cook, so when Emerson got married, I told her if she kept cooking, I’d pay Emerson’s share of the rent and mine.”

“You also kind of made his room your second closet.”Bea shoves his arm off. “So, you know. I don’t feel guilty about it.”

“I do help her with her stuff when she needs it,” Jake says. “And this jingle was really good.” He shrugs. “Maybe you should have had me sing it.”

“Speaking of singing, you said you don’t sing well,” I say. “But you sounded great.”

“I tell her that all the time,” Emerson says. “She’s not an opera singer like that other lady, but she has a great voice.”

“I’m really fine,” Bea says. “I got five hundred bucks, which is the most money my songs have ever made.”

“How much of that do I get?” Jake asks. “Like, a third?” He bites his lip, his expression boyishly impudent. I can see why all the girls gush about him, but I don’t have to like it.

“Stop badgering her,” Emerson says. “As if you’d take any of her money.”

“Beatrice, right?” The guy who won swaggers by. “There’s a big party in the room next door. You should stay and celebrate, too. Your song was really great.”

“Better than yours,” Jake says. “Must be nice to have people on the inside.”

“Wait,” the guy says, his jaw dangling for a moment. “Are you—JakePriest?”

Jake frowns.

“What’re you doing here?” The guy beams. “You shoulddefinitelycome to the party.”

Jake rolls his eyes. “My girl, Bea wouldn’t?—”

Bea jabs him with her elbow. “Thanks for letting us know. We’ll definitely head over. And huge congratulations to you.”

“Wait, is Jake Priest your boyfriend?” the guy asks. “That’sinsane.”

“He’s my brother,” Bea says.

“Fosterbrother,” Jake says, slinging his arm around her shoulders again. “And roommate.”

Bea rolls her eyes, but doesn’t shove him away again. “We’ll be there in just a minute. Congrats again.”

The guy’s still staring at Jake, but he does finally walk away.

“That must get annoying,” I say. “Having people recognize you everywhere.”

“It’s even worse when it’s a gaggle of girls,” Bea says. “They cling.”

“Can you believe her? We evenlivetogether, and she could just tell people she’s my girlfriend so they’d leave me alone, but she refuses to help me out.”

“One day you’ll have a real girlfriend,” Bea says. “And she wouldn’t appreciate me pretending that you have one now.”

“Doubtful,” Jake says.

She ducks under his arm and heads for the side door the guy just disappeared through. I take my chance to circle around Emerson and Jake and take a spot at her side. “You seem to handle disappointment pretty well.”

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