Her head tilts, a small, sad smile returning. “So. . .will you still be my friend? Will you tell me if I have food in my teeth? I mean, only a true friend will do that. Or a booger in my nose?”
I need her to quit clarifying so much with that platonic-sounding word. “You want me to tell you if you have a bat in the cave?”
She laughs a little, and her smile sends rays of sunlight through me, warming everything that’s been frozen for so long. “Yes.”
She glances at her shoes, tipping one back onto its heel. “It’s gotta go both ways, you know.” Her eyes lift to mine, peeking at me from under her long, dark lashes. “I won’t be the friend who takes all the time. I hope maybe someday, you’ll be willing to let me help you, too.”
I want that. I’m just not sure how to do it—be that vulnerable.
Her eyes, one blue and one brown, hold mine almost as if she can see my struggle. The corner of her mouth lifts as if she wants me to know everything is ok. She turns but stops in my doorway.
She pulls that bottom lip between her teeth, and my stomach dips and swoops. “You know, Thunder Cat, at some point, you’re just going to have to trust me.” I see that smirk before she disappears.
I listen to her heels clicking down the hallway.
I rest my arms on the desk, wanting this woman like I’ve never wanted another. That is exactly the problem. I’m thinking about trusting her. But I am scared shitless, and she’s only looking for a friend.
Chapter 33
SARAH
“Come on, girls. We’ve got to get there before he does.” Marcie leans around the doorway. “Robyn and I are picking up the balloons and cake.”
“Ok. We’ll meet you there,” I say, and they disappear around the corner.
Kat slumps down a little further. “I want to go home, take a hot bubble bath, and reconsider my life decisions.”
She just returned from two days of court proceedings regarding the rights to frozen embryos.
“This job is not what it once was and has evolved into something I’m not even sure I understand anymore.” She sounds defeated. “Are you sure this is the career path you want to take?”
I think she’s joking, but her face tells me her question is legit. With my courses wrapping up, I’ve had time to think. I switched my major to business and enrolled in an accounting class. Since I can only take a course or two each semester, I’ve surrendered to exploring my interests and options. I need to sort out what I want for myself and what is realistic while raising two kids.
“Sarah, you’re incredibly smart, young, and beautiful. This job can make you callous and view the world and people with skepticism and negativity.”
I think about telling her that marrying a narcissistic cheater does that, too.
She groans. “It’s making me bitter and jaded.”
So many things have tempted me to fall into a pit of resentment that churns with a vengeance. One so deep I’d never climb my way out of, but so far, I’ve been held to the ledge by hope. Hope that someday, things will be different.
“Have you ever considered taking a break or practicing a different type of law?” I ask carefully, knowing she’s poured her life into this firm.
She peeks at me from under her long black eyelashes. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself without this.” She slumps down in the chair further. “How pathetic is that? I need to get a life that doesn’t involve couples trying to separate theirs.”
She runs a hand over her face. “On second thought, let’s go. I need a drink. We can ride together. That way, I’ll have an excuse to leave early.” She stands. “If we hurry, we can change and drop your car off at home.”
I glance at my dress pants and sweater.
“Oh, please.” She waves a hand at me. “If we’re going out, we aren’t looking like we are locked up in cubicles and courtrooms all day.” She nods toward the front. “I have a dress in my car. We’ll find something at your house.”
She disappears, and I shut down my computer. It’s only two weeks until Christmas, so I’ll be spending the weekend surfing Facebook Marketplace and getting creative with the kids’ gifts, hoping to find something similar to the massive train set Ollie has been asking for. I’m looking at it as an exciting challenge rather than a depressing reality.
Kat follows me home, and I quickly change into the velvety cocktail dress my mom found. The long-sleeved black dress is tight-fitting with a short, flowy skirt. It’s a good mix of fun and casual.
“Dang, look at you,” Kat says, standing in the living room as beautiful as ever.
“You’re one to talk.” She’s wearing a bright redsatin dress.
