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Part of Sullivan wanted to point out that sorry barely began to touch on how bad Kia should feel, but that felt like kicking a puppy, because Kia looked devastated.

The way she looked at Sullivan, it almost seemed like she felt worse about Sullivan’s predicament than her own.

Despite the impending inconvenience (e.g.

, earthquake, prison sentence, murder hornets), Sullivan felt comforted by the thought that Kia cared.

“I thought I was doing the right thing.” Kia’s lip quivered.

“Move over, Nespresso; is it time for gin?” Nina asked. “I can make you a martini.”

That was the extent of Nina’s culinary abilities.

Kia shook her head.

“Here’s how it’s going to go. First, Kia, you’ll have to stop any work you’ve got planned for the Bois.

The judge has granted an injunction. That basically means no one can do anything until we’ve got this settled.

Then we’ll have some depos, collect some evidence for what’s called a hearing for summary judgment.

That means we’ll all show up in court. Mega Eats will say what they say.

I’ll point out that there’s no law against a self-serving marriage, and—Sullivan, don’t look that way.

You’re getting something out of this too even if it’s not exactly what you want. ”

“It’s not at all what I want.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Sullivan saw Kia hang her head. Why couldn’t Kia have bought a defunct car dealership lot on Eighty-Second Avenue? They could be celebrating together. It really would have been nice to have Kia back in her life, but not like this.

Nina waved away Sullivan’s comment.

“The summary judgment is when we tell the judge that Mega Eats’ lawsuit is bullshit, and the judge ends it because the law is on your side one hundred percent.”

“You mean they just say Mega Eats can’t sue us?” Kia looked up.

“Exactly. There’s no judge on the Oregon bench who’s going to say marriage has to be for love.

And there’s no judge who’s going to say Kia can’t take advantage of the legacy clause in the Oakwood charter.

It’s crystal clear. You can marry whomever you want—with a few obvious exceptions—for whatever reason you want and do whatever you want with your money provided you’re not embezzling or hiring assassins. ”

“As one does,” Sullivan said.

Kia gave a wan laugh. Sullivan had always liked Kia’s laugh. It was best when Sullivan had beat Kia at some cooking challenge and gloated about it so extravagantly that Kia had to laugh.

“I know it’s stressful, but this is paperwork.

” Nina’s matter-of-factness was comforting.

“Businesses fight with each other. Rich people go after rich people. You’re Rich People now, Kia.

Give this a month and it’ll all be over, but in the meantime…

” The way Nina trailed off was not comforting.

She got up and made herself another Nespresso. “I think you two should live together.”

Oh, hell no.

“Why?” Kia asked.

“This is not the big deal you two will think it is, but I got these.”

Sullivan hadn’t noticed the manila envelope on the end table. Sullivan was starting to hate manila envelopes. Nina took out a stack of photos.

Nina handed half the stack to Kia and half to Sullivan.

Sullivan looked at the picture on top. It was a nighttime photo, taken at a distance, of someone sitting in an RV, the window a bright square of light against the darkness. A person with an Afro bent over a table.

“Is this the inconvenience?” Sullivan’s voice squeaked. “Wait, is someone stalking you?” She looked at Kia.

Kia was an influencer. Someone’s parasocial relationship with the online Kia could have gotten out of hand. It happened. Kia might be in the process of ruining Sullivan’s life, but Sullivan didn’t want anyone to hurt her!

“Trade,” Nina said mildly.

The next stack of photos showed Sullivan silhouetted in her bedroom alone.

“Mega Eats hired an investigator to prove you’re not living together, hence it’s a fake marriage, and they should get everything they want.”

“You said it didn’t matter if we loved each other,” Sullivan said.

“Yes. And if living together equaled love, I’d be out of a job. The judge will take one look at the claim and throw it out. Don’t worry. But why give them any ammunition? Plus”—Nina turned to Kia—“Sullivan is lonely, and she could use the company.”

“I am not.” She often felt lonely sitting in her living room listening to an audiobook in the evening or crawling between cold sheets at night, but that wasn’t the kind of lonely living with Kia Jackson was going to fix.

“She doesn’t get out.” Nina continued as though Sullivan hadn’t spoken. “Maybe you can get her to go to a bar, chat someone up. Discreetly. Because you are married. And you’re in a bit of a situationship.”

“I do not—”

“Maybe just get her tipsy. Opal and I try, but she’s all I go out. I go to the Oakwood Neighborhood Association Meetings. ”

“I am right here . And I do not need to get tipsy.”

She thought about Kia and her Rice Krispies treat.

Kia was nothing if not optimistic. How could she possibly have thought that ridiculous marriage proposal would work?

And yet, here Sullivan was, getting sued for marrying Point Six Percent Kia Jackson.

Oddly, a tiny part of her wished they could have fun the way they used to.

At the time, Sullivan had always focused on Kia as competition, but Kia had been fun too.

Sullivan had missed Kia’s energy when Sullivan moved to Osaka, with its serious-minded, hierarchical kitchens.

“Kia, Sullivan’s house is gorgeous. Plus living together could look good if we sue Mega Eats for emotional distress.” Nina eyed Kia and Sullivan. “How distressed are you feeling?”

“Sullivan?” Kia said, ignoring Nina the way Nina had ignored Sullivan (which was satisfying). “Can I move in with you?”