Page 30 of Pride & Precedents
Despite having my ear practically inside the receiver, there's only silence.
"What do you mean 'us'?"
"Really? Is that how you're going to play it?"
"I assure you, I am not playing. I am serving in the capacity as your lawyer. Anything further would be unethical and I would need to remove myself from your divorce proceedings."
"Whoa, hold on. Let's not be hasty. I'm not suggesting anything inappropriate. I merely thought we could acknowledge the elephant in the room. Like, 'Hey, remember me? Your friend and occasional hookup from law school? How are things?'"
Another silence. I can hear it's awkward even over the phone.
"Clearly, this isn't coming out right. I didn't mean to ambush you. I was just thinking that over a month with an elephant was long enough. I meant no offense. I'll see myself out."
There's a shuffling of chairs and then footsteps.
"Naomi, wait. Itisgreat to see you. I only wish it weren't under these circumstances."
She lets out a small laugh.
"Yeah, me too. For our daughter's sake, I didn't want it to come to this, but it's been over ten years and it still hasn't clicked, you know?"
"'Clicked'?"
"Oh, come on, Henry. You and I both know Tanner's not really my type. We were just having a bit of fun. Then a condom broke and the next thing you know, my parents are pushing a wedding on me to smooth things over. Tanner's parents were thrilled."
Now I feel bad for her. I can't imagine being trapped in a marriage for a decade.
"I'm sorry, Naomi. I didn't realize the circumstances of your marriage. I promise to do my best to resolve things as quickly as possible, and in your favor."
I hear her feminine laugh faintly.
"You always were a standup guy, even if you're a lot more…formal than I remember. Clearly, I didn't know a good thing when I had it."
Henry clears his throat, and I hear what sounds like someone standing.
"Anyway, like I said. I just wanted to clear the air. I appreciate you still agreeing to represent me. Everyone says you're the best for these sorts of matters."
"Of course. Thank you for coming by. We'll be in touch ahead of the next mediation."
I hear footsteps and quickly hang up the phone.Clear the air, my ass.This bitch definitely wants Henry back. And I'm the idiot who just rolled out the red carpet for her to do it.
Chapter fourteen
Henry
It's been hours, my last meeting has long since finished, and I'm still reeling from my conversation with Naomi. I assumed she sought me out as her attorney—if you want to stick it to your ex, Iamthe best. Now it seems she's had another agenda all along. The way she tossed in that she never loved Tanner? Thay she didn't know a good thing when she had it? What am I supposed to do with that? So far, the answer has been "obsess about it all day until the pages of your brief bleed together and you have no choice but to go home". I'm sure I'll obsess over it some more there, too.
My knight in shining armor instincts kicked into high gear at what sounded like a damsel in distress in my office. A damsel I know intimately, and after months of living like a monk. I almost reached out to hold her, complicated history be damned. Thank God I controlled myself. Taking on Naomi's case was already an ethical gray area; that meeting threatened to send me all the way to black.
All that was on the heels of Mila calling things off, which was…fine. I mean, Ididmasturbate furiously to her last night—and probably will again tonight—but she's right. I have rules for a reason, even if I seem to forget them every time she brushes past me and I catch her scent, or whenever she pouts those luscious lips when she disagrees with me but thinks I don't notice. It's taken all my energy to convince myself we would be nothing but a complete catastrophe.
I allow myself a ten second pity party over my day from hell, but look up in time to see Camila heading toward the elevator. I'm on my feet a moment later.
"Ms. Sanchez!"Am I yelling? I'm not trying to scare her, for God's sake.I take a quick breath and try to compose myself. "Are you heading out?" I ask in a much less desperate tone.
She scowls briefly before schooling her face into a neutral expression.
"Yes, sir. I have an engagement this evening."
