“I’m sorry,” he says. “I attract all kinds of attention because of the business. And the whole thing with Anna has made things exponentially worse.”

“Has Anna seen this?” Leland asks. “Was that her calling this morning?”

Fray nods.

“I’m the one who’s sorry,” Leland says. “I know who took this picture. There were two women on my plane who asked for a selfie, and then when we were walking out of the terminal they were behind me and I overheard them recognizing you.”

“So they took our picture and sold it to the Post,” Fray says.

“I’m sure they think they won the internet jackpot,” Leland says. She picks up the paper. “Does ‘feminist icon’ make me sound old?”

“Icon is better than mogul,” Fray says. “Mogul is such an ugly, hobbity word.”

“I can’t believe this,” Leland whispers. “I mean, it wouldn’t be funny except it’s true. I am your weekend paramour.”

“Will you get…canceled?” Fray says. “Will you be hounded by trolls? Do your readers think you sleep with women?”

“My sexuality is considered fluid,” Leland says. “It’s 2023. Everyone’s sexuality is considered fluid, Fray.”

“Oh,” Fray says. His sexuality doesn’t feel fluid; it feel very Leland-specific. “So this isn’t necessarily bad for you, then?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Leland says. “I’ve been happier the past twenty-four hours than I’ve been…maybe ever.”

This statement nearly brings Fray to tears. He hasn’t been this happy maybe ever, either. He thinks back to his much younger self, glaring at the pay phone in his freshman dorm after just having hung up on Leland, who was back in her bedroom on Deepdene Road in Baltimore. What had they been arguing about? Who knows—maybe Fray told her he was pledging a fraternity, maybe she told him she and Mallory were going to a party with boys from Gilman. He then pictures himself in the back of Mallory’s Blazer, calling Leland every swear word he knew under his breath after she strolled off to 21 Federal with Kip Sudbury.

He had no idea then that all he needed for things to finally be perfect between him and Leland was patience. A lot of patience.

Bess

Everything about her Friday evening improves all at once. Not only has she traded up in the date department—she bumped into Link Dooley, a boy she has thought about ever since she met him on Nantucket three years earlier—but she is also leaving behind the Drake-and-buffalo-wings scene at Roofers Union for Lapis, her favorite restaurant in the District.