Turns out I didn’t have to tell my sister.The internet told her for me.The news breaks minutes before I arrive at Leslie’s house.
By the time I step through Leslie’s door, she already knows everything—and she’s in a state.Her laptop is open on the kitchen counter, headlines screaming, and I feel like I’ve walked straight into a courtroom where I’m both defendant and witness.Leslie’s glare tells me I won’t get to choose which role I play first.
“Is it true?”she asks, her usual steellike composure cracking under the pressure of the situation.
I nod.“It is,” I say.
“You have a thing with Avery?Your client?”
“She’s not my client anymore.I broke that off as soon as…”
“As soon as what?”Leslie does a double-take, as though the news is only hitting her fully just now.“When did—How long?”she mumbles.
I sit her down and tell her everything I can share with a sibling.About how it all ignited at her birthday party.About how Avery and I both tried to ignore our feelings because of the price I would have to pay for them but, despite that, failed miserably at forgetting each other.And about my plan to wind down my practice before coming clean to the Board of Psychology.
Leslie buries her head in her hands.“I can’t believe this,” she whispers.“You’re willing to lose your license over this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”Leslie looks up.“Nic, this is insane.”
“I know it is, and I know how it looks.”I take a breath.“I understand that you’re shocked, but… I think I’m in love with Avery.In fact, I don’t have to think about it anymore.I know it.It’s clear as day.”
“Yeah, but Nic, come on.”The old Leslie is starting to come back.“She was still your client.You’re not like that.You’re my sister.I know you, and I know that much.”
“I’m not like what?”I ask.
“The type of person to have an affair with your client—that is such a serious breach of ethics.That’s not how you are.The number of people I have referred to you.I got Avery her first appointment with you because I trust you with my life.”
“You can still trust me, Les.”I look around for a bottle of something.I could do with a drink.Leslie doesn’t follow my cue.She’s too preoccupied with processing what happened.“And no matter what you say or think, I’ve thought it myself already.”
“Are you saying that you actually thought this through?”
“Not at first, obviously.That was… wrong.I shouldn’t have slept with her while she was still my client.I do see that, but… what can I say?This is life.This is how it goes sometimes.I made a mistake, but I also believe that I made this particular mistake for a very good reason.”
“Are you really in love with her?”Leslie pulls her lips into a pout as though Avery is the opposite of a smoking-hot A-list actor—or maybe that pout is aimed at me, at her own flesh and blood.
“I really am.And it’s mutual,” I add before she can inquire.
“Love does work in mysterious ways.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, Nic.I just thought that… when you finally found love again it wouldn’t be with my superstar client who is also twenty years younger than you.”
“I’m as surprised as you are,” I admit.“But that is exactly what has happened.”
Leslie takes a breath, then pushes herself out of her chair.
“I need to call Avery,” she says.“We need to discuss this.”
I can only nod while Leslie looks around for her phone.
“Her movie just came out.The studio’s not going to be very happy with this.”At last, Leslie walks to her well-stocked liquor cabinet.
“Can’t we just deny the whole thing?Isn’t TMZ’s reputation that they only publish the most flagrant lies?”
“We could if it weren’t true.”Without asking what I want, Leslie pours us each a generous glass of scotch.
