Instead of responding, he went to take the steaks out and let them rest. He started plating lunch while I put the salad on the table. I decided not to bring it up again unless he did. He was a grown man who could make his own decisions. We sat down to eat, and Noah changed the subject, telling me the story of the last time he took Magnus with him to a pitch meeting. And how Magnus had peed on the director’s shoe—something he’d never done before.

“Is that why you get a dog sitter when you go to work?”

“Yes,” he said. “I can’t exactly bring him with me anymore. But to be fair to Magnus, the director was later prosecuted for sexual harassment and I’m glad we didn’t work together. This also means that Magnus is obviously a good judge of character. Like how much he loves you.”

“Of course he does. I give him steak,” and I slipped him my last bite, which he started munching on. “Which makes me your favorite person, right, Magnus?” But Magnus just ignored me now that he had his prize.

Noah put down his fork and reached for my hand. He had this thing he did where he would lean toward me and I couldn’t help but be drawn in. He would drop his chin and look up at me, and it was totally disarming.

“Juliet.”

“Noah.”

“Magnus isn’t the only—” Whatever he’d been about to say got cut off by a knock at his front door. He furrowed his eyebrows at me and asked, “Who could that be?”

Why was he asking me? George Lucas could be at his door, for all I knew.

He went to answer the door, and it surprised me when I heard Shelby’s voice.

I got up to join them, and she was standing in the doorway with Allan. She hugged Noah hello and introduced him to Allan. It was weird to remember that she had her own relationship with Noah because of her working on his house. I liked that they knew each other and were friendly. It joined the two big parts of my life together. The men were shaking hands, and she came rushing over to me, her eyes bright and happy.

We’d been in touch mostly via text where I sent her updates as to what was happening with me. Not explicitly detailed updates, but she basically knew what was going on. I wondered what she was doing at Noah’s house.

“What are you guys doing here in the middle of the day?” She could have been there to work, but she had Allan with her, and that seemed odd.