I had a particularly long and arduous call with a client who’d discovered his wife had been cheating on him for years. Fearful that their children weren’t his, he wanted to know if he could force a paternity test and the legality of taking his name off their birth certificates. Add divorce proceedings to the mix, which would entail forensic accounting of their assets, and my brain was a bit fried. As I’d listened to the client, I was sad for the children. Did they know what happened? How would they feel knowing the man they’d always thought of as their father could so nonchalantly walk away from them? That was something I easily related to.
I’d been hoping to escape for a cup of coffee and was at the elevator when Manny stopped me.
“Weston, I was looking for you.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” His behavior at the retreat still rankled, and I was polite but wary. “I was about to step out for a moment.”
“Can we talk?”
The doors to the elevator opened. “We can.” Yes, I was a wise-ass, but he’d pissed me off, and I was a bit of a grudge holder. I walked inside, and he followed me.
We arrived at the lobby, and realizing it would be a dick move to walk away from him, I figured to make peace. He was a friend to Brenner and had offered him his support after the story came out. “I’m getting coffee. Want to join me?”
He nodded, and we went to a little diner I liked to slip into when I needed to escape the hustle and crowds. We ordered, and he fidgeted across from me.
“I think I need to apologize.”
“You think?”
He flushed. “Okay. I’m sorry for the way I acted toward you at the retreat. I didn’t know you and Brenner were together but not out.”
“Not that it’s your business, but we weren’t together then.”
Skeptical brown eyes met mine. “You sure acted like you were.”
It was my turn to get red in the face. “Yeah, well…I was concerned about him.”
Manny’s lips curved, and his eyes warmed. “Or more likely, you liked him even then but didn’t want to. Or didn’t know what was happening and how to handle it. I get it.”
I shrugged. “Nothing to get. We’ve worked out our differences.”
Our coffees came, and I took a sip.
“Brenner’s a great guy,” Manny said after a few minutes.
“The best.”
“You know, sometimes parents can change. I know your father’s probably not supportive now, but maybe—”
“But maybe what? That was rhetorical because frankly, I don’t give a damn what he or anyone else thinks of our relationship.” My patience had worn thin, and I was damn sick and tired of talking about my father and his election. “Being Brenner’s friend, I’m sure you mean well, but I learned a long time ago that my happiness depends on me. I’m tired of people thinking my father and I can somehow magically work thingsout. We had no relationship before Brenner and I got together, and that’s not going to change. Got it?”
“I think he’s got it.” At the amused voice behind me, I turned in my seat. Brenner stood behind me with a smile and eyes dancing.
“Hey. What’re you doing here?”
“I finished with my depositions, and your paralegal told me you went out for coffee. Figured I’d join you.”
Manny gulped his down. “Here. Take my spot. I gotta get back.” He slid out of his seat and held out a hand to me. “I’m sorry if you thought I was out of line. I’m just very protective of my friends.”
“Eh, don’t worry about it.” I shook his hand. “We all need someone looking out for us.”
Manny and Brenner exchanged a fist bump, and then he sat across from me. “You and Manny?”
“He wanted to apologize for acting stupid when you were hurt.” I gazed into his face. “You look tired. And not from me keeping you up half the night.”
“That kind of missed sleep I don’t mind.” He shifted and murmured, “Although I’m gonna have to get used to…you know…” His cheeks turned pink. “Finding a comfortable way to sit afterward.”
“I know. But the discomfort is worth it, don’t you think?” God, I wanted to reach across the table and hold his hand. Was I being a total sap? Yeah. Did I care? Not one damn bit. So I did it. Only briefly, but it was enough.
