CHAPTER 30
TREY
Anthony called Trey at two in the morning.
Trey answered immediately.
“Ava?”
“She’s fine.”
Trey sat up.
Paula stirred beside him.
Trey went for a walk because staying in the room would have turned reflection into performance.
Cold air cleared the heat from his face.
He passed row houses with porch lights on, a couple arguing softly beside a parked car, a delivery cyclist hunched against the wind.
Other people's lives continued without regard for his revelation.
He found that comforting. Love could feel enormous and still require ordinary behavior when he got home.
“What happened?”
Anthony exhaled.
“Camille knows about Danielle.”
Trey rubbed his face.
“Okay.”
“She’s not mad exactly.”
“Anthony.”
“She asked whether Ava knows.”
“Does she?”
“Yes.”
“Because you told her?”
“No.”
Trey closed his eyes.
“Anthony.”
“I know.”
Paula was awake now.
She whispered, “Everything okay?”
Trey nodded.
Anthony continued.
“Ava likes Danielle.”
“That’s not the point.”
“I know.”
“Have you and Danielle even defined what you’re doing?”
Silence.
Trey sighed.
“Go to sleep.”
“Helpful.”
“Talk to Camille tomorrow. Then talk to Danielle. Then talk to your daughter.”
“In that order?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired.”
Anthony laughed weakly.
After the call, Paula said, “Danielle?”
Trey looked at her.
“Not my story.”
She stared.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“But she’s my best friend.”
“Then she can tell you.”
Paula considered it.
“Fine.”
She lay back down.
Ten seconds.
“Trey.”
“Yes?”
“I hate boundaries.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I hate other people’s boundaries.”
He laughed.
The next afternoon Danielle called Paula herself.
Trey heard only Paula’s side.
“You WHAT?”
Pause.
“Anthony?”
Pause.
“Oh my God.”
Pause.
“No, I’m not judging you.”
Pause.
“Does Ava know?”
Trey smiled from the kitchen.
Paula caught him.
“Stop listening!”
“You’re yelling.”
She went into the bedroom and closed the door.
Twenty minutes later she emerged.
“Well.”
Trey waited.
“She likes him.”
“I suspected.”
“She’s scared.”
“Reasonable.”
“Because of Ava.”
“Also reasonable.”
Paula sat beside him.
“This friend thing is messy.”
“Yes.”
“I thought we were supposed to be the messy ones.”
“We’re taking a week off.”
She laughed.
Their friends’ lives were taking on weight beyond Trey and Paula.
Not stories Trey needed to interfere with. Not yet.
But seeds.