David met with his three partners the evening after his second date with Jessica. They were inside a small hotel room; halfway across the city from the one David was staying in.

David had arrived first. As soon as he walked in, he turned the television on, so that the conversations from it would mask the noise of them talking.

Quinn arrived next. He carried a bundle of plans in both arms, more dropping them on the bed than putting them down. “Hey,” he ...