The art-award dinner occupied the old municipal gallery, where white columns made every whisper feel institutionally approved. I arrived with Nina on my left and Thea on my right without holding either woman for symmetrical photographs. Their chosen positions changed twice through ordinary movement before our group finally reached the registration desk.
Nina wore a midnight-blue wrap dress beneath a cream coat, while gold earrings moved beside her jaw. Thea's black suit carried no blouse beneath its structured jacket, although careful tailoring kept the effect sharp rather than careless.
"If you compare our outfits aloud, I will donate you toward the silent auction," Nina said, catching my attention moving between them.
"I was appreciating two separate decisions without attempting a ranking system," I replied, surrendering our coats toward the attendant.
