With a snort, Kieran continued. “And then I know you two were up to something in the trailer yesterday. I don’t know what I interrupted, but it was obvious something was going on.”
Reluctantly, I straightened up and met his gaze. “Okay.”
He laughed a little. “Okay?”
Holding my hands wide, palms up, I sighed. “What do you want me to say?”
Kieran drew back a little, frowning. “I just want you to be honest with me. You’re my best friend and my roommate. I think I deserve a little honesty.”
Guilt hit me, sour and hot, and I nodded and exhaled slowly through my nose. “It’s not public knowledge, but yes, we’re…” I gestured vaguely in the air.
Kieran laughed again, his smile back. “Fucking?”
“Close enough.”
“I thought he was straight.”
“So did I. So didhe. I guess things changed.” I paused for a moment. “Look, you and I both know that dating is hard in this business. We never know where the next job is going to take us. Asher and I aren’t interested in long distance. So this is more of a ‘here for a good time, not for a long time,’ kind of thing. Besides, he’s still figuring out his sexuality. I don’t want to complicate that for him by trying to do the relationship thing. So please, just keep this between us.” I took a deep, slow breath, relieved to have someone to talk to about it all.
“Okay,” Kieran said softly, holding his hands up in surrender. “I won’t say anything to anyone.”
“Thank you for asking, though. It’s nice not to have to carry the secret alone.” I glanced at my phone quickly. “Can we head out now? It’s getting late and Max is going to have a coronary if we aren’t on set at leastcloseto on time.”
He nodded and put his hand on the doorknob, and his tone was teasing when he spoke. “What’s taking you so long, then? We’ve got to get going.”
I casually flipped him the bird before standing. “Let’s go.”
The workday went by as slowly as someone pouring molasses in the winter, as my grandma would've said. Between trying to focus on anythingbutAsher and the anxiety creeping back in about Phillip, my scattered brain was screaming for a break by the time Max told us we were done for the day. I’d hoped to catch up with Asher, but when I checked my phone, I had a voicemail from the attorney requesting that I come by his office when I finished work for the day.
I made my way into town and parked nearby before walking the couple of blocks to his office. The day was starting to cool off, but I still found myself sighing in relief as I stepped inside the office building.
The entrance to the building was a wide-open space, looking more like an art gallery than a lawyer’s office, except with a reception desk near the front of the room. The receptionist straightened up when I entered and gave me a friendly smile.
“Can I help you?”
I cleared my throat and nodded. “I’m here to see Mr. Dixon. He was looking over some documents for me. I got a voicemail that I should come by this afternoon to discuss it.”
“Oh, yes,” she said brightly. “Mr. Pollard, right?” When I nodded, she gestured toward a set of empty chairs off to the side. “Go ahead and have a seat. I’ll give Ron a call to let him know you’re here.”
I did as she’d instructed, taking a seat while she picked up the handset of her phone to make a quick call. It wasn’t long until she was hanging up and speaking to me again.
“You’re welcome to head on back. His office is labeled and the door should be open.”
“Thanks,” I murmured before standing and walking down the long corridor until I found the correct office. Mr. Dixon had his head down, scribbling notes in the margins of a document feverishly, as focused as I’d ever seen anyone be. I didn’t want to startle him, so I debated about what to do for a few moments. Before entering, I knocked on the doorframe and waited to be acknowledged.
He looked up and gave me a sincere smile. “Micah, it’s good to see you again. Come in, please. Have a seat.” He gestured at the chairs in front of his desk, dark cherry wood wrapped in leather, and I sat down, anxiety coursing through me.
“So you’ve looked over the contract?”
He frowned and nodded. “I have. Give me just a second to pull everything up.” Ron turned to the side and tapped something into his computer before he rummaged around his desk for the thick envelope I’d given him with Phillip’s proposal for the transfer of the condo. “I’ll be honest with you, Micah. I’ve never seen anything quite like this before, and I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my day.”
Dread settled in my stomach as he spoke. I could only imagine what he meant. Phillip was a deceitful asshole and I wouldn’t put anything past him. “Great,” I muttered. “What’s the news?”
“Well…” He pulled out the papers and spread them on his desk, facing me. Words were scribbled in the margins and there were several sticky notes on every page. “I’ve made some notes on the lines that caused me concern.”
My eyebrows shot up. “This looks like a lot.”
“You’re not wrong. There are a lot of notes here. But this last page, that’s the one that you’re going to want to look at first.”
