“I’ve known Steph since the sixth grade. When her parents found out she’s queer, they didn’t accept her the way mine accepted me. Steph ended up getting kicked out of her house, and Lisa took her in. Lisa is basically the reason Steph had the chance to do music in the first place.”

I was chagrined. “Oh.”

“I think it’s hard to understand any relationship from the outside.”

We arrived at the Honda and stopped. Mel put her hands in her pockets and rocked back on her heels.

“Sometimes I don’t understand it either,” she said.

“Really?”

“Yeah, but it’s none of my business. If Steph wants to be with Lisa, that’s her choice.”

“Yeah, of course,” I said, although Mel’s conclusion was unsatisfying to me.

“I better go,” Mel said, and hugged me goodbye.

I realized that Steph hadn’t hugged me tonight. She had barely looked at me. I thought about that as I got into the car, wondering if there was any significance to it. I was about to put the key in the ignition when my phone rang, and I pulled it out of my purse. It was Tasha.

I answered because it was after midnight on the East Coast, and she never called this late. “Tasha?” I said.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she said. Her voice was thick, as if she had been crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“Haley and I had a fight.”

“What happened?” For a moment she didn’t say anything, and I heard her breath hitching. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” She sounded miserable. “I don’t know what to do.”

“About what?”

She took a deep breath. “Haley and I have been fighting all summer.”

“You have?” I wasn’t sure if I was surprised. The Fourth of July video and the weird, disconnected texting had felt a little off.

“Yeah.” She paused. “I don’t think I can talk about this over the phone.”

“Okay. Do you want to FaceTime or something?”

“I need a break from Haley. Can I come visit you?”

“In California?”

“Yeah. You’re not doing anything, right? I found a cheap ticket and it leaves on July thirty-first. I’d only be there Wednesday through Sunday.”

That was the weekend of the Queer Music Festival. I gazed out the windshield at the quiet street outside Steph and Lisa’s building. I couldn’t see the apartment from here, but I imagined that I could feel Steph’s presence nearby. If Tasha came to visit, would I have to introduce her to Steph and Lisa and Mel? What would I tell her? The idea was unsettling.

“Don’t sound so excited,” Tasha said as I continued to be silent.

“Sorry, I have to ask Joan,” I said quickly. “But it’s probably fine.” I did want to see Tasha. Didn’t I? “I’ll ask her first thing tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” she said, sounding relieved.