After my parents passed, when Eli became an overnight single dad, Minami and Conor helped him immensely. I’m not certain that I would be here if it weren’t for Minami telling my brother that maybe a temperature of 105 degrees did warrant a visit to the ER, or for Conor taking over Eli’s duties as Eli drove me to said ER—and, most likely, for covering the ER bill.

After that, a bunch of stuff happened. There is a story here, one with more perspectives than a prism. It has shifted over the years, and somehow involved Rue long before she and Eli met on a dating app. Unfortunately, no one will give it to me straight, and I’ve quit asking. The bullet points include, in no particular order: Eli, Conor, and Minami being kicked out of UT in disgrace; Conor and Minami falling in love—although Minami later fell out of love and married someone else. (Is that why Conor is a jackass? No. I refuse to blame women for a dude’s worst behaviors—although I will blame myself for still being attracted to him, even when I should know better.); Eli, Conor, and Minami starting Harkness, a biotech equity firm; profit.

There was a lot of financial whiplash, as the firm expanded and grew. I went from being a We might be able to swing a Disney trip if we save for a couple of years child, to a The bank is repossessing the house, I can’t afford to give you lunch money today, but here, have this sandwich I made tween, to a Yup, I can afford your college tuition, yes, wherever you choose to go teenager.

Harkness is doing well. For the first decade or so, the managing partners were Eli, Conor, Minami, and her husband, Sul. Then, about two years ago, Eli met Rue and decided to cut his work hours in favor of…staring at her, I believe? Then Minami and Sul had Kaede, the most adorable baby girl in the universe. That’s when Avery’s name started popping up.

She has the perfect background. Longtime friend of Minami. Former MBB consultant—we’ve worked with her for years, and like her style. Recently ended a long-term relationship, would love a change of scenery. Tired of the East Coast, thinking of relocating to California.

Or Austin.

Avery took over Minami and Sul’s workload while they were on parental leave. A few months later, though, when it was time for them to return, they announced that after producing the “cutest fucking kid in the whole universe” (I wholeheartedly agree), they wanted to hang out with her “a lot. Like, a lot a lot.” And since they now knew with certainty that their combined genes were “cutest fucking kid in the whole universe” material, they were thinking of having another baby soon. They were both equally involved in parenting, and weren’t sure whether they’d return to Harkness full-time.

That’s when Avery’s position became permanent.

Then, a few months later, Conor, whom at the time I considered my closest friend, told me that he was going to start seeing someone. Could I please go fuck off somewhere away from his life?