“Woody has spoken out.”
“Yeah, in his pajamas. I saw it,” Jeremy cringes. “Oh, and he needs new PJs. Something silk maybe?”
Aaron rolls his eyes good naturedly at his other half. “Legal efforts always hold more weight than just words to a reporter. But think about it.”
“I will. Thanks.” I grab the stack of papers and stand up.
“I can’t represent you, but I already have feelers out. We’re looking for a local lawyer who would handle something like this,” Aaron explains. “Just in case you go down this road.”
I nod and try to give them a confident smile. Truth is I wouldn’t have the money to hire a lawyer anyway. “I’m going to go put this away and thank Harrison for asking you guys to help.”
“Harrison?” Aaron looks completely confused.
“He isn’t who asked you to help?” They both shake their heads in unison. “Autumn?”
“No, my friend Peter asked me to help,” Aaron tells me.
“I work with Peter over at Sprysky and Gentry,” Jeremy explains. “You’ve met him once or twice before. With the gang at game nights.”
Right. Peter Landry. He’s a great guy. I’m trying to figure out why Peter has decided to help when I haven’t talked to him about this, when Jeremy drops the real bomb and almost knocks me over. “It was actually his client Chase Ashton who asked him to find someone who might be able to help you.”
Chase did this? Even after that blow-out fight? Is it because he feels guilty that he blew up my life and he’s trying to make up for it? Or is it because he still cares despite the fact that I accused him of something he didn’t do? I didn’t even bother to return his text message a couple days ago and now I’m getting free legal advice because of him. Am I the asshole or is he? Fuck, I wish I could know for certain. My heart tells me one thing, but my heart is the biggest masochist I’ve ever met so my brain won’t let me listen to it anymore. After all, my heart duped me into believing Trevor had real feelings for me for far too long.
“Bowen?” Jeremy has lifted his hand off his boyfriend’s knee and is waving it in front of me. “You just totally zoned out.”
I give my head a small shake and smile. “Sorry. A lot to process and I’m kind of not good with a lot of processing all at once. Anyway. Thanks. Truly. I appreciate it.”
“When I get the name of a lawyer, I’ll let you or Autumn know,” Aaron promises.
“Cool. Thank you again.” I head back toward the bar, slipping behind it.
Auden looks over. “All good?”
I nod. Tanner walks by as I’m rolling up the paperwork and trying to shove it into my back pocket. It sticks up but it shouldn’t fall out. “The food rush has calmed down. Now I need you bussing some tables.”
“Sure thing,” I say and grab a tray.
My mind revisits all my suspicions that led me to accuse Chase in the first place as I clear dirty dishes and empty wine glasses. Everything seems tenuous now. I spent a good chunk of last night going over the guest list for that party too, like Chase said I should, and it just made me angry. Because I don’t know what I’m looking for. I have no reason to think that the out-going mayor or a member of City Council would sabotage us like that. And all the citizen donors were there because they support Woody as the future mayor. Every single business owner or person had donated before and also come to other events. Heck some of them even canvass their neighborhoods with him and have his posters in the windows of their homes.
I’m debating calling Chase and asking to meet him, but then it dawns on me what day it is. Lacey Baldwin’s fundraiser. The one he’s playing with Imposter Syndrome. Without me. And with that Bennie guy who is probably ready and willing to console Chase if he’s feeling sad about me.
“Whoa there!” Auden says. I realize I slammed the tray down a little too hard on the bar.
“Sorry.”
“Are you mad at the empty cheddar dip bowl or something else?” He lifts an eyebrow and gives me a smirk.
“Something else.”
“Don’t let the cockwaffle behind the smear piece win, Bowen,” Auden says.
“No. I won’t. That’s not what I’m riled up over.” It’s thinking about my ex moving on without me.“I got some legal advice for that, actually. That’s what the lawyer thing was about.”
“Well, if there’s a lawyer giving free advice in the house tonight, send him my way,” Auden replies, which shocks me.
“Everything okay?”
He chuckles. “Yeah I’m joking. Probably.”
