Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths, #4)(71)

“No! I mean, I like her. A lot. But . . .” His voice trails off as he stares at his beer.

“But what? And I don’t do relationship talk, so this had better not be deep,” I warn him.

“She’s Reese’s best friend, so . . .” He hesitates, as if he’s reluctant to admit the rest. “I’m waiting to find something majorly wrong with her.”

He doesn’t look too pleased when I burst out laughing at him. “I thought you and Reese were sorting your shit out.” I’ve seen them talking more in the office. Reese even offered to help him proof some legal letters going out to clients the other day.

“I think we are,” he concedes with a shrug. “Slowly.”

“Well, from what Jack says, Reese is not leaving your lives again. Ever. And my money’s on her if you two go to war, just so you know.”

He shrugs and takes another big gulp of his drink. And I smile to myself. Mason’s a lightweight. He’ll be giggling like a little girl by the time he reaches the bottom of that. Speaking of drunk, I need to slow down on these or I’m liable to do something stupid and unprofessional and, well . . . me. Probably not the right place or time for that. Later, at my house, where the guys are throwing a little party for me, is fair game.

“What’s going on between you and Reese?” Mason asks suddenly.

“I already told you. Nothing.”

“Ben.” He leans forward and drops his voice. “I don’t want to see you get fired.” The skin between his eyes pinches together. “I know I don’t really fit in with the rest of the guys, but you’ve always made me feel like one of the group. You’ve always been a good friend to me. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

It’s funny that Mason is saying this to me now. When I started law school, I felt like I didn’t fit in. Going from my undergrad, where I was still seen as the star quarterback even after I wasn’t playing anymore, to a nobody who lacked the scholarly vibes and refinement that everyone else seemed to have was tough. I mean, I had the GPA, the LSAT scores, the letters of recommendation and all that, but for a while there, I thought I’d made a big mistake applying to law school.

I drop a heavy hand on his shoulder as a platinum-blond head catches my attention behind Mason. “Don’t worry. I’m not getting fired.” I watch the crowd shift as Mercy and Hannah make their way toward me, every guy’s head turning to trail them. “Damn,” I mutter. It’s impossible to see those two together without thinking about my farewell party. This is going to be a long-ass night. I really hope Reese shows up soon.

“Are those the two?” Mason’s index finger pushes against the bridge of his nose—where his glasses would be if he were wearing them anymore—as he stares wide-eyed at them.

“Yup,” I grin. Giving Mason the details of that night was almost as fun as experiencing it. The guy hung onto my every word as if I’d been revealing the secret to the Holy Grail.

“Ben!” I barely get my glass down before Mercy is on me, her arms wrapped around my neck tightly, laying a kiss right smack on my mouth. “Congratulations!” I know she’s genuinely happy for me and, hell, I can’t push her away. That would be mean.

Still, I gesture forward, trying to peel her off me politely. “You remember my good friend, Mason.”

“I do.” Her eyes light up as she steps past me. I watch with a grin, knowing what’s coming. The appropriate thing would be to shake his hand and say hello. Given Mercy has already met him once, though, she leans into him and lays a slow kiss on his cheek, setting his face on fire instantly.

“Hey, Ben, it’s okay that we’re here, right?” Hannah’s voice purrs next to me. She’s so much more reserved than Mercy is. “I tried to dress down so I’m not so obvious around your lawyer friends. Do you think they know?”

That earns a loud bark of laughter before I can help it. Hannah’s another girl who could come in here wearing a potato sack and people would still have a good idea what industry she works in. Unlike Mercy, though, she’s self-conscious about what she does and can’t wait to finish nursing school. Those will be some lucky patients.

I throw my arm around her and pull her into a friendly side hug. “Not a clue. You’re good.”

“Okay. We just wanted to say congratulations and we miss you.” She leans in to give me a respectable kiss on the cheek. I know for a fact that that night meant nothing more than friends getting railed on shots of everything and having a good time to her. She’s been in love with the head bartender at Penny’s, Ginger, for years. “Grab yourself a drink,” I suggest with a smirk, nudging her forward as I scan the crowd for Reese.

I’m swarmed with envious looks from every male attorney at Warner. I predict all kinds of phone calls and invitations come Monday. I’m used to it. Kent and the guys are always begging me to get the Penny’s girls over for a private show at our house.

Tonight, I obliged them.

Unlike the smooth shifting for the two strippers, the crowd parts like the Red Sea as Nate’s looming frame makes its way toward me to clasp hands. “Ginger couldn’t make it, but she wanted me to give you a big wet one from her.”

“Tell her to stop trying to turn us, man.”

His face splits into a grin. “I can only stay for a few. I’m running Penny’s tonight, even though it seems like half the dancers are going to some house party for this jackass I know later on.”