It wasn’t the first time a male colleague had mistaken confidence for flirtation. It probably wouldn’t be the last. But today, it grated more than usual.
Maybe because it felt so different from how Logan treated me. Although he was gruff and cold at first, I learned that was just the surface of who he was. He’d asked how my court days went, read parenting articles, and checked in with me every night after saying goodnight to his daughter. Although I knew he did it for his little girl and not out of interest in me, there was never any game with him, never any expectations.
I leaned against my desk for a second, rubbing my temple. A faint smile tugged at my lips as my phone buzzed.
Logan:Good luck in
court today, counselor.
Me:Thanks, cowboy.
Me:Karaoke was a disaster,
btw. Harper definitely won.
Logan:She’s ruthless. I
got to head back to work.
Call with Harper once
you guys get home?
Me:Of course.
Logan:Promise?
Me:Yes, I promise… now
I know where Harper
gets that from.
I put my phone down, drawing in a breath before turning my focus fully to the stack of work waiting for me.
Today, I had motions to draft, clients to call, and a system to push against. My first case of the day was critical. Ms. Thompson was facing a severe charge for drug possession. Helping her navigate the bureaucracy was a priority, and the nuances of her case needed my full attention. The stakes were high for her, and getting this right meant the difference between getting the treatment she needed and being tossed into jail and losing everything. As I prepared, I focused on every detail, knowing that these were the moments when a single word could impact lives. For a moment, I saw myself on the other side of the desk: scared, with everything to lose, hoping someone would believe I deserved another chance. It reminded me of why I kept showing up, even on the hard days. I wanted, more than anything, to give people like Ms. Thompson the dignity and fight I often wished for myself.
When I met Ms. Thompson later, her hands trembled as she signed the necessary paperwork for a plea agreement, the pen shaking against the paper.
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
I held her gaze.
“We’re not giving up,” I told her. “We’re choosing the path that gives you a future.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief as I walked her through every step. It was a visceral reminder of all she stood to lose, of the system’s weight resting heavily on her shoulders. But the difference now was both subtle and profound. I wasn’t bracing myself against the world alone anymore.
I had a morning full of laughter behind me. A man who saw me clearly waiting ahead, even if we were still figuring out what it meant.
So when someone mistook my kindness for an invitation, my smile for a signal, my presence for a green light, I didn’t second-guess myself.
I shut it down.
Objection sustained.
Chapter 29
Logan
