CHAPTER 37
TREY
Nia landed a congressional campaign.
Not a huge one.
Not presidential.
A competitive House race with enough money to terrify her.
She called Paula first.
Then Marcus.
Afterward, the room changed function. Water. A blanket. A ridiculous argument about which snack counted as proper aftercare. Paula wanted something salty. Trey had three options because of course he did. She accused him of running a boutique recovery program. He accepted the charge.
Then, for reasons nobody understood, Anthony.
By Friday the whole group was at dinner celebrating.
“To Nia,” Paula said, lifting her glass.
Nia looked around the table.
“I’m going to throw up.”
Danielle laughed. “After the toast.”
They drank.
Trey watched Paula watch Nia.
Pride was written all over her.
“You helped me,” Nia said.
Paula shook her head. “You built it.”
“You introduced me to Marcus.”
“Networking is not building.”
Marcus nodded. “She’s right.”
Nia smiled.
Across the table Anthony leaned toward Danielle.
“You taking notes?”
“For what?”
“When I start my firm.”
“You have a firm.”
“A better firm.”
“You are exhausting.”
“You like me.”
Danielle drank her wine.
Ava was with Camille that weekend, and Anthony had been more relaxed lately. He and Danielle were not pretending quite as hard anymore.
Malcolm leaned toward Trey.
“Trouble.”
Trey frowned. “What?”
“Nothing.”
Trey ignored him.
Later, outside the restaurant, Nia pulled Paula aside.
Trey could not hear the conversation.
He did not try.
When Paula returned, her expression was thoughtful.
“What?”
“Nia wants me to advise the campaign.”
“Legally?”
“Crisis strategy.”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes.”
“Then why the face?”
“Because I’m already stretched.”
Trey nodded.
Paula waited.
He said nothing.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re not going to tell me what to do?”
“No.”
“This growth is irritating.”
“I’m proud of myself.”
She laughed.
Then became serious.
“I think I’m going to say no.”
“Okay.”
“I want it.”
“I know.”
“But wanting an opportunity doesn’t mean I have capacity for it.”
Trey smiled.
“What?”
“That sounded healthy.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
He kissed her forehead.
The next morning Paula declined the work and referred another strategist.
She hated it for exactly six hours.
Then she slept for ten.
Sometimes ambition matured by learning what not to take.