Chasing Forever (The Forever Series #1)(10)

“You’re late,” Drew said, eyeing him over the rim of his frosty mug of beer. “The game already started.”

“I know. Work was tough today. I couldn’t get away any sooner.” Lucas slid into the chair next to Drew so he could see the T.V.

Within a couple minutes, their regular waitress placed a beer in front of him. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

“So I read a press release that you settled that fraud case for an undisclosed sum. It must have been one hell of an offer.”

“Yep, something like that,” he responded evasively, taking a sip of his beer. The settlement included a confidentiality agreement. He couldn’t say more without jeopardizing the deal.

“Congratulations. I’m sure that means a partnership offer is in your near future.”

“Maybe in the next few years, but who knows? I have to put in the time and the hours before they’ll offer me anything.” Lucas stared at the game on the T.V., not wanting to make small talk with Drew, something he normally looked forward to all week.

After thirty minutes of monosyllable answers, Drew slammed his beer on the table.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Lucas regarded him guardedly. “Huh? What you mean?”

“You’re shit company tonight, and this has nothing to do with your overwhelming workload.”

Lucas ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn’t sure he should talk to Drew about Regan’s sudden reappearance in his life. He knew Drew remembered her and other than Drew and Olivia, he didn’t talk to many people from college anymore so if anyone could give him counsel on the situation, it would be Drew. He sure as hell wouldn’t breathe a word about Regan to Olivia.

Lucas tapped the round cardboard coaster on the heavy wood table. “So,” he said. “My summer associate started today.”

“Is he already causing problems or something?” Drew jumped up and clapped. The Giants scored.

“She. My summer associate is a woman.”

“Ah,” Drew said as if all the pieces of the puzzles finally came together. “So what’s wrong with that?”

Lucas exhaled loudly and leaned back in his chair, resting his hands behind his head. “My summer associate is none other than Regan Pierce.”

Drew’s mouth dropped open momentarily and then he burst out laughing. “You’re f*cking kidding me, right?”

“Unfortunately, I’m not.”

Drew continued to laugh. “This should be an interesting summer.”

“Right,” Lucas said, drawing out the word, letting his irritation with Drew show. “You can stop laughing now. It’s not funny. Seriously. What am I going to do? I’m this close to making partner.” He held up his thumb and index finger a few inches apart. “Any fallout generated from the Regan situation could jeopardize my future at Martin and Black.”

“Yep. It looks as though life is trying to kick your ass with some poor timing.”

“Thanks for the thoughtful reflection,” Lucas said sarcastically. “But I was kind of thinking you might have some constructive advice. What would you do?”

Drew leaned back in his chair and crossed one ankle over his other leg. “What was her reaction?”

He shook his head. “Not favorable.”

“Do you think she realized you worked there and that’s why she applied?”

“No,” Lucas responded immediately. “She was totally blindsided.” Lucas tapped his fingers on the table. “And she didn’t look happy about it either. She actually asked if she could have a different mentor.” Hard to believe it had been over six years since he had seen Regan. He spent every day of the next year after the night their relationship exploded, resisting the overwhelming urge to find her and apologize. When that first year passed, he focused on law school and later his job at Martin and Black and now…he rarely thought of her. Maybe someone would be wearing the peach lotion she loved, or he would see someone in a crowd with her unique color of hair, and the memories would surface. But for the most part, he’d succeeded in erasing her from his mind.

“That’s perfect! Encourage her to request a reassignment and then she won’t be a problem. There’s what, two hundred attorneys at Martin and Black spread over three floors?”

Lucas took a sip of his beer. “Something like that.”

“Have her reassigned to a different senior associate, preferably on another floor. You could probably go the entire summer and only see her once or twice.”

Lucas looked skeptical. “Maybe. The partners would have to approve the switch and I’m not comfortable disclosing my history with Regan.”

Drew snorted. “Yeah. I can’t imagine you would maintain your squeaky clean, golden boy image after that type of disclosure.” Drew tilted his head to the side. “Well, who knows? Maybe they’d be impressed with your ability to blur ethical lines.”

Guilt twisting in his gut, Lucas looked at the ceiling. “Fuck you, Drew. I had my reasons. You know that. I don’t want to talk about it. It can’t be undone.”

Drew stared at Lucas. Then, he sighed. “Fine. We won’t talk about that night, but for the record, I warned you not to do it. I told you to make Olivia deal with her own mess instead of letting her drag you down into the mud with her.”