I breathe out a quiet, cynical laugh.
“Glad you can find that amusing,” she scolds in a pretty voice.
My eyes roll up to hers. “I was just pondering the irony.”
“Well, I do love a good dose of irony,” she says perking up with curiosity.
I see I’ve once again opened the door.
What the hell. We’re both commiserating. I don’t have many sympathetic ears in my life.
“I’m recently in the same boat. The woman I used to date in school is back in town, working at the same firm as me in fact. She’s…with someone, but I have the feeling she isn’t happy about it. I can’t help but think that maybe the timing means something.”
“And you want to get back together with her?”
There’s something in her voice that causes a nice little stir in my stomach. Not quite jealousy but maybe a bit of disappointment.
“Well, she’s a fitting partner.”
“A fitting partner?” Honey repeats with amusement. “Are you planning on wooing her or starting a business?”
“There’s nothing wrong with considering all aspects when thinking about marriage,” I say in an irritated voice. “She’s smart an attractive and sophisticated and—”
“And you love her?”
I blink in surprise. “Well, I did. For all intents and purposes. We have the same goals in life. I wanted to marry her after all.”
“That’s a very convincing argument, Jesse Castiglione. You should be an attorney.”
“I am an attorney,” I snap, now feeling angry.
“You are?” Honey asks, perking up again. “How fun!”
Not the descriptor I would use.
“To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books. I must have read it about a dozen times. I have a copy in my bookcase right now. It’s what made me think about becoming an attorney myself.”
I can already see where this is going. Every other person I meet likes to regale me with the fact that they once thought about joining the profession. Either that, or worse, a request for legal advice. It never fails, especially once they find out I went to one of the top law schools in the country.
“I even read One L, if you can believe that,” Honey says with a self-effacing laugh.
That one has me pausing. “Really?”
One L, by Scott Turow, is the quintessential, if antiquated, take on what the first year of law school is like. Most admitted law students have at least heard of it, if not read it prior to their first day of classes. But I’ve never met anyone outside the profession ever mention it before.
Still, no need to encourage this detour.
“Well, Emily is an attorney too, so it makes sense for us to be together.”
“Except you’re not together?”
“Neither are you it seems,” I reply.
“True,” she says falling back onto the couch with a sigh.
I continue the work I’ve paused during this conversation.
In my periphery I see Honey suddenly rise and lean on one elbow. She waits for my attention to turn to her before she speaks. She has an impish smile on her face.
“Wouldn’t it be awfully devilish of us to date each other to remind our beau and belle what they’re missing?”
My brow creases in consternation. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” she asks, one side of her mouth hitching up as she shrugs a shoulder. “I’ve noticed that jealousy is a particularly strong motivator.”
My mind reverses back to yesterday.
That damn pink feather on my collar.
Emily’s expression when she found it.
I instantly dismiss the idea with a shake of the head.
“I don’t need to play games to win Emily back. Eventually she’ll see reason and realize that we’re meant for each other.”
Honey laughs, which irritates me even more. “Boy Jesse, you must be terrible in the courtroom. You have no idea how human nature works.”
“I’m a corporate attorney. I don’t work in the courtroom, I deal with contracts. And I’m damn good at it.”
I grab the tape from the box and viciously rip off a piece. I have enough composure to remain gentle as I apply it to the gauze wrapped around her foot to hold it in place.
“Touchy, touchy,” Honey teases as I angrily throw everything back into the first aid box.
“I’m not touchy,” I say after one calming breath. “I just…
“You’re just hoping that Emily finds her way back to you on her own.” Honey gives me a scrutinizing look. “Well, counselor, what exactly do you plan on doing to win her back?”
“None of your business.”
“True. But call me curious. I could use some tips when it comes to Francis.” She rests her pretty chin on her balled up fist and gives me a pretty pout.
This is ridiculous.
I’m supposed to be in the gym right now.
Instead my entire system is getting a workout from the woman across the hall.
“I’ll just make it clear that I’m still interested and state my case as to why we should be together.”
A slow smile creeps to her face.
“What?” I ask, exasperated. “What’s wrong with that plan?”
“Oh nothing,” she assures me, eyes wide. “But wouldn’t a wingwoman, of sorts, help with that? I can point out what a fantastic boyfriend you’ve been in the years since you two dated. How sweet and charming and romantic you are.”
Honey considers me for a second and laughs. “Okay, maybe not that much embellishment.”
My brow furrows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well,” she says, giving me a pitying look. “Would you use those words to describe yourself?”
Never in a million years, but I won’t point that out. “Aren’t you the one who is supposed to be stating my case?” I challenge.
“So you are keen on the idea,” She says with a smug smile.
“Of course not, I just…”
What the hell am I doing?
At this point, the gym is out of the question.
I should be getting ready for work.
“Okay, this one instead—how virile and strong and masterful you are in bed,” she purrs, her voice pouring out like heated honey. She closes her eyes. “The way you make my body come alive with the things you do to me. My toes curling, my
