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said. “It looks like she’s eating your eyeball or something. It’s disgusting.”
    “You’re sick,” said David.
    The phone rang. “Hold still,” said Heath. “I’ll get it.” He went into the kitchen and answered the phone. “Hello,” he said.
    “Hi,” Loren said. “David?”
    “No,” said Heath. “Just a minute.”
    David stood up, removing the noodles from his eyes. Ms. Mouse licked her tiny lips. David took the phone from Heath. “Hello,” he said.
    “Hi,” said Loren. “Am I interrupting something? Do you have company?”
    “No,” said David. “That was Heath.”
    “He’s screening your calls?”
    “No. I was just indisposed.”
    “Ah,” said Loren. “I can only imagine…”
    “We were watching TV. And eating Chinese food.”
    “We used to eat TV and watch Chinese food,” Loren said. “Or something like that.”
    “Did you call me to talk nostalgia?”
    “God, no,” said Loren. “ ‘Never look back’ is my motto. I was looking forward. I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner some night this week. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
    “What?” asked David.
    “I can’t go into it now. How about Friday? Or is that a date night?”
    “Friday would be fine,” said David.
    “Good, then, I’ll talk to you Friday. Don’t hang up. Kate wants to talk to you.”
    “Okay,” said David. “Good night.” He waited a moment for Kate to assume the line. He looked at Heath. He was studiously watching the fish on the TV, trying to appear as if he weren’t listening to David’s conversation.
    “What are they doing?” David asked him.
    “Spawning,” said Heath.
    “I’m sorry,” said Loren. “Kate’s changed her mind. She doesn’t want to talk to you.”
    “Why not?” asked David.
    “She’s watching something on TV. Something about fish.”
    “So are we,” said David.
    “Well, then, we’re just one big happy family.”
    “Have you talked to Lillian recently?” asked David.
    “No,” said Loren. “Why?”
    “It’s just that I saw her the other night, and she seemed kind of sad.”
    “I think she feels left out,” said Loren.
    “What do you mean?” asked David.
    “Forget it,” said Loren. “It’s just hormones. I’ll give her a call.”
    “Okay,” said David. “Good night.”
    When he reentered the living room, Heath had put his jacket on.
    “Where are you going?” David asked.
    “Home,” said Heath.
    “Why? What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t know,” said Heath. “I just don’t feel like staying over.”
    “Why not?”
    Heath shrugged. He knew David had a perfect right to talk to his ex-wife on the phone, but it bugged him. He had this feeling lately that maybe he should play it cool with David, so he wouldn’t get hurt. He had to figure it out. “It’s no big deal. I don’t feel like talking about it.”
    “That’s real helpful,” said David.
    “I’m sorry,” said Heath. “I know I’m being a jerk. I’m just in a bad mood. I just want to go home.”
    “But you were in a good mood just a minute ago,” David said. “Was it something I said to Loren?”
    “No,” said Heath.
    “Then I don’t get it,” said David.
    “I know,” said Heath. “I mean, neither do I.”

CHAPTER 7
    T HROUGH THE CRAZED horizontal windowpanes of the NoHo Star, Loren was watching people walk to work. It didn’t seem to be raining out, yet everyone was carrying umbrellas. They all must have been a little asleep still and had not noticed the rain abate. Her waiter approached with the coffee pot, offering refills, and Loren accepted even though her mug was three-quarters full. She accepted for the luxury of it, for what it implied: She was in no rush, she was a free woman, free to linger over coffee. So she would be late for work. So she would miss the Tuesday Morning Management Meeting. Ever since Gregory had implanted the notion of Los Angeles in her mind, it had blossomed there, a sunny oasis, and she had spent her recent