“I’ve tried in front of juries before.”
“In a felony case?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Are you ready?”
Colin leaned toward her, no hint of a smile on his face. “Yes, ma’am. Iam.”
* * *
“I’d forgotten,”Colin said to Joshua that evening.
“You’d forgotten what?”
“I’d forgotten about the politics of a job like mine.” He turned on the couch to face his husband. “I had to deal with university politics as a campus cop, and it’s becoming clear to me that being a Commonwealth’s Attorney will plunge me right back into those same murky waters.” He let out a squeaky whine and tipped forward until his forehead pressed against Joshua’s shoulder. “I hate politics!” he whimpered.
Joshua laughed and wrapped both arms around his neck. “You’ll just have to suck it up and cope, ACA Campbell-Abrams.”
A noisy breath escaped Colin’s throat, and his face twisted in a disgusted smirk. “Evidently.”
Chapter 5
The Forensic Psychologist
During the months when Colin was passing the bar, being sworn in, and beginning his career as an attorney, Joshua was completing his forensic psychology fellowship at the University of Virginia. He was awarded his certificate with—by his own choosing—little fanfare and no acknowledgment.
Colin had no idea that his husband had added a second PhD to his resume until the certificate arrived in a special delivery envelope way too big to go unnoticed. “Josh!” he called, carrying the packet into the house. “I signed for this, but it’s yours. Do you know what it is?”
Joshua shrugged and reached to take the envelope from Colin’s hand. “It’s probably my certificate,” he said. “It’s no big deal.”
“You finished your fellowship?” Colin asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Yeah, last month.”
“And you didn’ttellme?”
“You were busy. You were preoccupied. You’d just started a new job!”
“So fuckingwhat!Jesus, Josh! It’s a second PhD! It deserves recognition! It deserves a celebration!”
Joshua’s nose wrinkled in a self-deprecating smirk. “I just...I mean I didn’t want to turn it into...”
“It’s a big fuckingdeal, Josh,” Colin said, his voice soft with sadness. “How could you nottellme?”
Colin’s brow was furrowed, and his beautiful honeyed-green eyes were dark with pain. Joshua winced with regret and reached to touch his cheek. “God, I’m so sorry, myyedid,” he murmured feeling his heart melt with love. “You’re right. I should have told you. I should have given you the chance to support me.”
“Damn right,” Colin said. “Just like you’ve always supported me!” He drew Joshua into his arms and kissed his cheek. “Congratulations, my love,” he whispered. “I’m so proud of you.” He leaned back. “And, hey! Can you be my expert witness now?”
“Well,” Joshua said, grinning, “my lack of practical experience might put off any attorney who was looking for an actual um...‘expert’.”
“Notthisattorney,” Colin said, nuzzling under Joshua’s ear.
Joshua laughed. “Sweetie, I doubt I’ll ever testify in any case you’re prosecuting. As much fun as that would be, the ethics committee would skin us both alive.” He laid a hand on Colin’s shoulder. “I do expect to testify in a competency hearing or two though. Possibly fairly soon. It’s part of the reason that the clinic paid for my training, so they could be included in the Commonwealth’s bullpen of expert witnesses.”
“And get that extra city funding?” Colin asked with a grin.
Joshua shot him a look and wrinkled his nose.
