Realization dawned on me and I gasped. “Oh. Officer Paxton is your partner?”
River inclined his head. “Correct, but we’re professional. If it had come to the situation of our relationship being a conflict of interest, my firm and Jayce have ways to handle it. Either I would’ve stepped back and replaced myself with another one of my lawyers, or Jayce would have bowed out.”
I shook my head. “I’m not questioning that at all. I was just surprised. I’m also gay.”
River blinked at me. “Yes, I assumed as much when you said your boyfriend was part of the BS.”
“Oh.” I flinched in embarrassment and laughed awkwardly. Clutching my fingers together tightly to stop them from twitching, I flashed him a smile. “Right. Of course. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He pursed his lips and crossed his arms, staring at the man who’d been yelling earlier. He’d settled down, but he was slouched forward with cuffs locked around his wrists at his back.
Now that I was calm enough to stare at him, I noticed the suit the drunk man was wearing, which wasn’t cheap by any standards. I wasn’t knowledgeable about clothing, but his tie was made of shiny purple silk and the pin in it flashed. Maybe it was a real diamond. His shoes were black and appeared new.
“Excuse me. I believe I’ve found a new client.” River flashed us a sly smile before he strode over to the drunk like a shark sensing blood in the water. I had to appreciate the zest he had for his work. He clearly smelled cash. Which brought the issue of money to my brain.
I winced and tugged my wallet from my jeans. “I don’t have much on me. How much is it for your services?” I glanced up at Brandt’s friend. It took me a moment to remember his name—Flynn.
Flynn shook his head and went to pat me, but Brandt grabbed his wrist, stopping him. Flynn’s hand dropped, but he kept smiling. “It’s nothing. We didn’t really help anyway.”
“You’re not a good lawyer.” I frowned when Flynn gave me a startled stare. “Good lawyers charge their clients for the smallest things. You came, so you should charge me.”
Brandt chuckled behind his palm, and I noticed a small old white scar between his thumb and forefinger, like he’d cut it at some point in his past. “Micah, take a freebie when you’re offered one. Trust me. You don’t want to know what River’s firm charges for a call-out fee.”
“And River seems to have found a client.” Flynn waved his hand at the drunk, who was nodding eagerly at whatever a crouched River was telling him.
River slipped a business card into the front pocket of the fancy shirt that went along with the tie, and I assumed he was telling the drunk to call him when he sobered up.
“You’re an instructor at the university, too, so I’m happy to help. I used to teach at the law school.” Flynn winked at me.
“Why did you leave?” I asked, realizing after I’d said it that maybe that wasn’t my business.
Flynn seemed nice, though, and he chuckled. “I fell in love.”
“Why does that mean you had to leave?” I cocked my head curiously.
“Judge was my student, and my boss wasn’t a fan of me dating a student, especially one from an affluent family whose parents donated to the law school. I’ve basically decided that last part was the thing that did me in. There is no specifically outlined policy against dating students, but she said she would argue it went against the ethics clause in my contract.” He crossed his arms and sighed. “But I don’t regret it. Judge is the love of my life, and I have a job with River now. I miss teaching, but it is what it is.”
I nodded, my heart hurting. I couldn’t hear that phrase without thinking about Yukio’s tattoo. Flynn had been dating a student like I was. “So, you can get fired for dating a student? What about one not in any of your classes?”
Flynn scrutinized me carefully, a knowing look in his warm brown eyes. “I was Judge’s instructor, but I’m sure dating someone who isn’t in your class would be fine. Is your boyfriend a student?”
Brandt shot me a surprised stare when I nodded.
“Yes. He attends the college, but he studies accounting. I’m a history professor. I never taught him.”
Flynn stroked his chin. “Then I’m sure you’ll be okay. If you have any issues with the school, you can contact me, and I’ll help. With him not being in any of your classes, there’s no reason for them to have a problem.”
I nodded and gave him a small smile. “I appreciate it. Thank you. Aside from Brandt, I don’t know any other gay men except me. And Yukio. That’s my boyfriend. I don’t go out much.”
Flynn chuckled. “Well, I’m gay. Your tally is getting higher.”
I laughed loudly and the anxiety twisting at my insides settled. The tapping of my foot decreased and I didn’t need to hold my fingers tightly to stop myself from wringing them together.
“You also know River and Jayce now, too.” Flynn pulled out his phone and showed it to me. “How about you put your phone number in here, and we can have dinner sometime? Me, Judge, you, and your boyfriend. And maybe we can convince River and Jayce to come. River’s always on the go with work, but Jayce makes him take time out every so often.”
I took the phone from Flynn and created a new contact with my name, number, and email before I passed it back. “I would really like that.”
“Great.” Flynn played on the screen for a short moment, and my phone buzzed in my pocket. “I sent you a message, so you know my cell, too.”
