CHAPTER 41
TREY
April brought an unexpected offer.
A national crisis-management firm wanted Paula to lead a new legal-strategy practice.
New York based.
Washington clients.
Significant money.
Equity track.
They began using calendars without making the calendars romantic.
Court dates. Faculty obligations. Client travel.
Birthdays. A weekend blocked off in two colors.
Trey discovered that commitment sometimes looked like comparing schedules at a kitchen island while eating leftovers directly from containers.
Paula read the offer three times.
Then called Marcus.
Then Danielle.
Then Nia.
Trey was fourth.
He noticed.
He was proud of himself for noticing without being offended.
“Tell me.”
She did.
He listened.
“That’s substantial.”
“Yes.”
“You want it?”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s the hesitation?”
“Freedom.”
Her current practice gave her control.
The firm gave infrastructure, reach and money.
“And us,” she said.
Trey’s expression changed.
“What about us?”
“New York.”
“You already work in New York.”
“More.”
“Okay.”
Paula frowned.
“That doesn’t scare you?”
“Yes.”
She blinked.
“But fear is not a veto.”
Paula stared.
Trey continued.
“If you want it, we figure out geography.”
“What if geography becomes impossible?”
“Then we figure out what that means too.”
She looked unhappy.
“You’re supposed to tell me love conquers Amtrak.”
“It does not.”
Paula laughed despite herself.
“Terrible romance hero.”
“I’m a practical one.”
She sat back.
“What would you do?”
“If it were my offer?”
“No. If you were me.”
“I’m not.”
“Trey.”
“You don’t want my answer. You want permission.”
Paula went quiet.
He softened.
“You don’t need it.”
Her eyes filled unexpectedly.
“Damn you.”
“I know.”
She accepted the offer two weeks later.
The geography problem got harder.
The relationship did not immediately collapse.
Both facts were true.