Thea chose a reservable glass meeting room inside the student center for Tuesday afternoon. People crossed the corridor outside, while the closed door protected our words without creating the pressure of a private home.
I arrived first wearing a dark green knit shirt, charcoal trousers, plus the watch Nina had helped me select. Looking prepared mattered, though no outfit could make the conversation easier than truthful language.
Nina entered at three fifty-five wearing navy trousers beneath a cream blouse, carrying printed copies of our proposed agreement. She kissed my cheek after asking, then chose the chair beside mine without using proximity as a public claim.
Thea arrived exactly at four wearing a fitted blue skirt, black tights, plus her familiar charcoal cardigan. Her silver earrings caught the ceiling light when she looked between us before selecting the chair across the table.
