Page 142 of Wait for Him

"Exactly."

I stare into my coffee.

"He chose my justice over his father."

"Yes. Another one."

"He ended the marriage."

"Yes. One more."

"And he turned Wesley in."

"Yes."

He leans back slightly. "So when your mind starts putting the two men in the same column, check the evidence before you let the feeling become a conclusion."

"So your professional recommendation is that I file a motion to dismiss?"

"The argument, maybe." His mouth twitches. "The feeling will probably ignore the ruling and come back anyway."

"Naturally."

"Feelings are terrible clients."

My head falls back with a laugh. "I love it when you talk courtroom to me, doc. Really revs my engines."

He takes another sip of coffee and immediately grimaces. "And you make a shit cup of coffee."

"That's slander."

"It's testimony." He raises the mug an inch. "I have Exhibit A right here."

***

"How was the surprise party?" I ask Jade once I've settled in for the night.

She's the only person I allow myself regular contact with, and even that is minimal. One call a month, the first few minutes always business because I knew she'd need help getting settled as Senior Counsel and because I can flee my entire life but still micromanage a transition plan from an island.

"It was good. It went really good."

Her voice is soft in a way I don't like.

Sad, maybe.

"Are you okay, babes?"

"It was... yeah. I'm okay. Just a rough day." She exhales. "How are you? I miss your face."

"I miss your face too." I pull the blanket higher over my legs. "I'm doing okay, I guess. I'm working on it."

The Jackson-shaped elephant in the room settles squarely between us.

I don't ask.

That was the deal. I don't use Jade to keep tabs on them, and they don't use her to keep tabs on me. It isn't fair to turn one of my best friends into some kind of emotional switchboard just because none of us can manage to speak directly to each other yet.

Still, the question sits right there.