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I’d dated men who explained at length what a key meant. Trier issued one like a parking pass.

It made him easy to want.

We confirmed the afternoon. Anna asked where she should sit for the brushing, and I told her wherever she usually did it.

“Peaches chooses,” Trier said.

“Then we’ll ask her.”

“You’re learning.”

He glanced up from his phone, smiling, and I held his gaze until Anna asked whether we needed the brush photographed separately.

“No,” I said. “Using it will be plenty.”

Trier decided to bring the key to the practice facility the following afternoon. I added a reminder to my phone while Anna made a note on her calendar.

Peaches stretched in the window bed, spreading the toes of one front paw. Nobody spoke while she did it. Then she curled up again, and we returned to the schedule.

Trier came by my office the next afternoon on his way out. He set the key on my desk and put his duffel beside the chair.

“Anna has your number?”

“She sent me a test message this morning. It had a photograph of Peaches ignoring breakfast until she rearranged it.”

“She’s bringing you up to speed.”

He gave me the garage code in case I needed it, though the crew would come through the lobby. The desk staff would have my name. The condo lock turned left to open.

“Left,” I repeated.

“Everyone gets it wrong once.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“I don’t think so. You know which chair is hers.”

“Are there any that are off-limits?”

“No.”

He picked up the key and held it out. His fingers brushed my palm as he gave it to me. The metal was cool against my skin.

I could have left it in my desk drawer with the production notes. Instead, I took my own ring out of my pocket and worked it on between the office key and the one for my building.

The ring resisted. I caught the edge with my thumbnail and turned the key until it slipped into place. Trier waited beside the desk.

“There,” I said.

He picked up his duffel.

“Safe travels,” I told him. “And approve things promptly.”

“Seventy-two hours. It’s in writing.”

He left, and I sat back down. I had another meeting in ten minutes. The crew needed a confirmation email. Through the wall, I heard Leah settling a question about a caption.

I checked that the key was secure before putting the ring in my pocket.