“Why is that so hard to believe?” I interrupt. Connor raises his hands in surrender, and I realize we are starting a fight once again, so I quickly try to calm things down. “Maybe I’m trying something new.”
“Sure. You do you, I guess.” She shrugs, crossing her arms.
This whole exchange feels like she wants to be privy to information about me. Like she minded not knowing something about me.
I want that with her. I want us to have inside jokes and private conversations no one else understands. But she shifts her attention to other conversations, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
In two days, we’ll spend the whole working week together, without the distraction of other people in the office. It’s either going to be the best week ever, or an unheard of catastrophe.
15
NATALIE
Ijust need to make it through this week. The project—I’m looking forward to, but spending time with Matt can only lead to more complications.
I’m a hit it and quit it kind of gal. I rarely want a repeat of a sexual encounter. But with Matt, my usual rules don’t apply. Even when I hate him, I’m hot for him. Even after the three times we had sex, I’m craving more.
It’s off the table, of course. Three times is already practically a relationship, and four times would only make it worse.
Too bad my libido didn’t get the note. The bitch is crazy about him. Even reading his project gets her going, especially remembering the last time we worked on it one on one.
The way he fucks is so unlike his everyday persona. It confuses me.
How can this appropriate, polite, according to others, nice man be a dirty talking, dominating lover? It’s not fair. Oh, and now he visits Connor and Rina’s sex club. Who is that man? And why do I care?
So, the goal for the week is simple. Survive without digging myself deeper into the complicated hole.
We’re starting the clinic in a school near the BYC. We’ll spend three days there and two days in a school on the other side of town. The school administration was kind enough to distribute our brochures with the application’s QR code and now there are only a few time slots available.
Matt is waiting for me when I arrive. I brought some coffee and cookies for our today’s clients, so he helps me take everything out of the car. The school’s principal meets us at the entrance.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hernandez. I’m Natalie Barnett, and this is Matt Anderson, from the BYC.” We both shake her hand. She’s a short woman in her fifties, but her pantsuit and ruthlessly tight bun give her an aura of authority.
“So glad to have you here. Our parents are thrilled with the clinic.”
“Glad to be here.” Matt says with a huge smile on his face.
“Right this way.” Mrs. Hernandez leads the way. The school is tidy and clean but there are wear and tear signs visible. Like condensation on the ceiling or pieces of paint falling off periodically. Seattle’s public school system is pretty good compared to the rest of the country, but the schools still have a hard time getting funding for everything they need.
She leads us to the school counselor’s office.
“Our counselor is currently on sick leave, so you’ll be using her office these three days.”
“This is perfect, thank you,” I reply. The office is small and dated, but it’s just what we need. There’s even a tiny waiting room where I’ll set up. She leaves us alone and I get to setting up the treats, while Matt sets up the paperwork he prepared.
The first clients appear and I introduce them to Matt. They are a sweet South-Asian couple in their thirties, in need of some legal help with their work permits. Their wide smiles elicit a hope within me, making me float throughout the rest of the day.
One after the other, his clients leave the office with relief on their faces.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Anderson. You have helped us more than you could know,” the last client tells him as she exits the office, and I have to give him props.
The whole day went without a glitch. He had seven clients who all left the clinic grateful and hopeful. Most of them needed help with work permits, some of them need help with housing, and some will make use of the BYC’s programs for their kids.
“Did you get all their contact info?” he asks. What makes the law clinic even better is he’ll keep consulting most of the clients in the BYC.
“Have it right here.” I wave a stack of papers before inserting them into a folder. He nods, clicking his pen in his hand.
“This was pretty awesome.” A spark appears behind his reading glasses.
