I Was Told It Would Get Easier(59)

There was silence for a while as we wandered around the campus. It was gorgeous; they should be filming a promotional video right now. We walked under a tree that confetti’d us with blossoms, and the light was gorgeous and there was a warm breeze, and I said, “Well, I think you’re pretty suave.”

Will stopped. “And now that word sounds funny.”

“Suave,” I said, nodding. “Yup, no longer sounds like a word at all.”

Will smiled at me. “You’re very pretty.” He paused. “I realize I didn’t ask for consent there, but I was making a factual observation.”

“Can a compliment be a trigger warning?”

Will shrugged. “So many things can be, I lose count.” He stepped towards me. “Can I kiss you?”

I said nothing for a moment, because right at the worst moment, I’d lost the power of speech, then he went on. “I’d like to place my hands on your shoulders and lean in and put my mouth gently on your mouth, and then maybe touch your hair, which has been driving me crazy for the last few days.”

I nodded. “You’re good.”

And it was.





18





JESSICA


And it’s . . . back on the bus! Chris and I sat next to each other, and I’m not even exaggerating, we had the best conversation I’ve had with a man in years. I had forgotten how intoxicating it can be, meeting someone you have chemistry with. I felt giddy.

Not that the subject of the conversation was all giggles. At one point we ended up talking about his wife.

“Is she your ex, actually?” I realized that sounded pushy and tried to backtrack. “I mean, you know, legally?”

“Looking for a fee?” Chris said, but he was smiling. “Yes, she’s my ex. She got overwhelmed, she had her own thing, you know, she was an actress.” He managed to say it without sounding judgmental, which was impressive. “She got offered something good and went off to Vancouver for three months to shoot it. It got picked up, so she stayed in Vancouver for a while and . . .” He stared out the window for a moment, then back at me. “You know the story, everyone does.”

“I guess. Are you still friends?”

“Sure, for the kids. They were fourteen, ten, and six when she left. My eldest daughter went and spent time with her mom and got her head turned, unfortunately. She’s twenty now, we don’t see her all that much.” He sighed. “She wants to hang out with her cool parent, right, the one with the parties and the stylists.”

“That’s tough.”

“Sure, but when I was twenty, I didn’t hang out with my parents at all, so, you know. She texts. I know more or less what she’s doing.”

“Is she at college?”

He shook his head. “She takes acting lessons and models and vlogs, or whatever you call that.” He nodded over at Alice’s mom, Dani, who was sitting a little way ahead of us. “Like her daughter.”

“Alice. She’s at school with Emily.”

“Are they friends?”

“I don’t think so, it’s hard to tell. Teen girls are like their mothers, friendly in person and vipers in private.”

Chris laughed. “Yeah, having had teenagers of both genders, I can confirm the common wisdom that boys are less painful. They’re as touchy, and they’re bigger, so it’s like having a dark version of Big Bird hanging out in the kitchen, staring angrily into the fridge, but there’s less high-pitched door slamming.”

“Emily never slams her door. She closes it firmly. At least, that’s her claim.”

My phone rang. It was work. I turned to Chris. “I’m so sorry, I have to take this.”

“Of course.” He politely turned away, and I answered the call.

“Hi, this is Jessica.”

“Jessica, what did you say to Ostergren?” It was John, and it was hard to tell if I’d messed up or won a medal. I felt my stomach drop a little, even though I hadn’t really entertained Ostergren’s offer.

“I already told you. I suggested he ask for Valentina to be put on his account.”

“Well, you clearly made an impression, because he actually asked for you.”

“Huh. That’s surprising.” It wasn’t surprising, of course. I lowered my voice. “What a pity I don’t work for you anymore. Did you talk to the board?”

“Not yet. But you’re not really going to quit.”

“Yes, I am.”

He laughed. “You’re looking at colleges, right? You’ve done the math, you need this job.”

I frowned. “Make Valentina a partner and put her on Ostergren’s account, John.”

“He wants you.”

“I’m not available, John. Unless you don’t persuade the board, in which case I can always leave and contact Ostergren from my new job.”

“You’re too honorable to do that, Jess, it’s your Achilles’ heel. It’s what prevents you from being a truly great lawyer.”

I rolled my eyes, a habit I’ve apparently learned from my daughter. “John, you’re not helping yourself here. Don’t call me again until you’ve spoken to the board.”

He ignored me. “I’ve asked Eloise to send you the last five years of business for the account, so you can get up to speed.”