CHAPTER 33
TREY
The question of marriage arrived through Danielle.
Not Trey.
Not Paula.
Danielle.
The women were having dinner when Danielle apparently asked, “So are you marrying that man or just terrorizing him indefinitely?”
Paula told Trey this later.
When Paula finally picked up the key, she did not smile immediately. She turned it between two fingers, studying the teeth, the small ring, the ordinary object that had caused an extraordinary amount of conversation. Trey stayed quiet. Her choice mattered more if he did not decorate it with relief.
He nearly choked on water.
“What did you say?”
“That she should mind her business.”
“What did you actually say?”
Paula smiled.
They were in bed, laptops open, both pretending to work.
“I said I don’t know.”
Trey’s fingers stopped over the keyboard.
Paula saw.
“That bothered you.”
“No.”
“Liar.”
He closed the laptop.
“I know what I want.”
She became still.
“What do you want?”
Trey looked at her.
Marriage was not a casual subject for him.
Neither was Paula.
“I want a life with you.”
“That’s not exactly an answer.”
“I know.”
He took her hand.
“I can see marriage.”
Paula swallowed.
“Soon?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’ve thought about it.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Trey smiled faintly.
“Do you want honesty?”
“No, lie to me.”
“Gala.”
Her mouth fell open.
“Trey.”
“I didn’t think I would marry you at the gala.”
“Good.”
“I thought you were the kind of woman a man could build with.”
Paula stared.
“You didn’t even know me.”
“I heard you think.”
“That is the most professor-ass answer.”
He laughed.
Then became serious.
“I’m not proposing tonight.”
“Thank God.”
“Rude.”
“I’m not ready tonight.”
“I know.”
“Does that disappoint you?”
“Yes.”
Paula blinked.
Trey continued before she could react.
“And that disappointment belongs to me. It is not a debt you owe.”
Her eyes softened.
“That was annoyingly mature.”
“Therapy.”
She laughed.
Then rested her head on his shoulder.
“I can see it too.”
Trey did not move.
“Marriage?”
“Yes.”
He exhaled slowly.
“But not because it’s next,” she said.
“Agreed.”
“Not because we’re in our thirties.”
“Agreed.”
“Not because everybody expects it.”
“Agreed.”
“Because we choose it.”
Trey kissed her forehead.
“Terms.”
Paula smiled.
“And conditions.”
The possibility became language.
Not a plan.
Yet.