Spence kept slyly referencing the devil’s threesome, though, as Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went. Sometimes he’d make that devil sign at Trey, waggling his eyebrows. It was a running joke, but private, like everything involving Lexie. The repetition and tone made it seem both impossible and funny, wearing away Trey’s unease.

Right before Christmas break, he ran into Spence and Lexie at their diner. He joined them, though it felt weird to sit in this particular triangle. She smiled at him, eyes extra bright. She actually talked, and what she said felt flirty. He grew awkward, almost shy, though Trey was never shy.

He’d imagined having a threesome in passing, like most guys, but it had been pure fantasy, involving Michelle Pfeiffer and her twin. But Lexie was so pretty. She even looked a little like Pfeiffer. He had to admit to himself the idea made him feel . . . not turned on, exactly. Curious.

Then he messed up with Maura. He’d spent New Year’s with her at her family home in Charleston. She’d expected him to propose. She’d been expecting it all year, actually, tossing hints he hadn’t caught. She was usually so direct, so explicit about what she wanted. He liked that about her. But in Maura’s mind it was obvious he should propose so they could get married immediately after graduation. That would give them the whole summer for a honeymoon. They could wander Europe, see Venice and Paris and Madrid before law school started and they had to become serious adults.

Every week that passed without a ring was one less week she and her mother had to plan the wedding. As January rolled on, Maura got angrier and more sullen. Trey had no idea why. Then she dumped him, and Trey found himself in the middle of the first real heartbreak of his life.

He didn’t handle it well. He started drinking more. His little pot expanded. His grades slipped. He stomped around the house picking petty fights with his frat brothers. A few of them went to Spence, asking him to calm Trey down.

So Spence invited Lexie Pine over on a night when their sister sorority was hosting a winter semiformal downtown. Maura was sure to be there, so Trey planned to sulk and drink at the frat house. He should have clocked that something was up when Spence, who never missed a party, stayed back to commiserate with him. He took it as a sign that Spence was growing up.