Chapter 9: Three on the Couch

The semifinal was Monday night, and my mother's flight was due in at eleven.

By six I had stopped being able to stand still.

I kept seeing the two photos on Nico's laptop, and I kept telling myself there was an answer for the seat that was not her.

I did not have the answer, so I decided to do something else with the night.

I called Nico.

"Come over," I said. "Bring the wine."

"Does Gabe know you are calling?"

"He will in a minute."

He arrived at seven in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled, and Gabriel opened the door with his jaw set.

"Lainey," Gabriel said.

"You made a rule," I said. "Nobody sees."

"Yes."

"Nico already did. He's the one person who can't un-see it, and he's the one person who is on our side."

Nico stood in the hall with the wine, politely looking at the wall.

"I want to throw your rule back at you," I said to Gabriel. "You said Nico was the last. He's the last. So I want him here."

"Here for what?"

I turned and looked at Nico.

"For the match," I said. "And whatever else we decide."

The silence went on for a while.

Nico set the bottle on the hall table slowly.

"I do not do this if Gabe says no," he said. "I want that said, in front of both of you."

Gabriel looked at me.

I looked back and did not look away.

His hands flexed at his sides.

"Is this what you want?" he said.

"Yes."

"You'd have to say it again."

"I'm saying it. I want both of you."

A muscle moved in his jaw.

Then he stepped aside from the door, and his voice came out low and rough.

"Come in, Nico."

The match began at eight.

I sat in the middle of the leather couch with Gabriel on my left and Nico on my right, and for the first twenty minutes nobody touched anybody.

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