Meet Cute(83)

“No. I don’t. What I need to do is make sure my bitch aunt doesn’t get custody of my sister. And I need to start by cutting the people out of my life who are going to cause more damage than good.”





Chapter Twenty-Three





Bad Judgment


Kailyn



Sometimes the biggest mistakes are made with the best of intentions. I want to follow Dax but I don’t want to make an already terrible situation worse, and I also don’t want to needlessly upset Emme more than she is.

So I let him leave. Because I have no other choice.

The irony is, I planned to speak with Beverly tomorrow morning about the partnership and that I’d prefer to make it on my own merit, not on my ability to persuade Daxton to come to Whitman. And now I’m too late.

I feel ill as I drop into my chair and splay my hands out on my desk. The high of winning yet another case where the right people are granted custody of a child for the right reasons this afternoon is crushed by the weight of my actions. Dax deserves to have Emme, and I feel like everything I’ve done recently compromises that. Dax needed someone and I came in to play savior, only I made an even bigger mess to clean up.

I take several deep breaths, hoping to calm the swell of emotions as they slam into me. I don’t want to cry, not with Beverly still here. But judging by the pricking behind my eyes, I don’t think I’m winning the battle.

A soft knock has me clearing my throat. I want it to be Dax returning to hear me out, but that’s highly unlikely. “Come in.”

Beverly peeks her head in and purses her lips. I have no idea what my expression is. I feel like I’ve come down with the flu. I’m pretty sure the last meal I had is going to come up before this night is over.

“You don’t look very happy for someone who just won her second pro bono custody case.”

“I am.” I give her a weak smile. “I just have other things on my mind.”

“Ah, you mean Daxton.” She leans against the doorjamb and crosses her arms over her chest. “You should’ve told me how involved you are.”

“I think that’s past tense now.” I start to laugh, but it dissolves into a terrible, broken sound. I’ve messed up so badly this time. Worse than I ever could’ve imagined, and not just with Dax but with Emme. What will he to say to her? How much is she going to hate me? I’ve put him in a terrible position, and all for what? A career move? One that no longer means what it once did. Not when it’s going to cause so much unnecessary hurt.

“If I’d known, I would’ve approached my conversation with him differently.”

“I was planning to talk to you about it in the morning. I didn’t want to complicate an opportunity for him to work here.” Which is true. More than the partnership, I worried that being involved with him could affect his chance at the firm. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Beverly.”

She laughs. “No one ever means to fall in love.”

Denying it seems pointless, as if I’m trying to support a position that doesn’t require any defense. “I don’t want my partnership contingent on whether Daxton accepts a job here. I can’t have those two things tied together.”

Beverly is silent for a few moments before she speaks. “I can understand that, considering the circumstances. Regardless of how you get there, Kailyn, you’ve put in the time and dedication for the partnership to be yours. Why don’t we talk about this later, when you’re thinking rationally and not with your heart. You should go home, try to get some rest. I don’t think this aunt of his is going down without a fight based on the shit she’s slinging, so it’s going to be all hands on deck for the next little while.” She moves to leave but pauses. “In case you weren’t aware, in regards to the nonfraternization policy, already established relationships are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Mostly it’s to keep the lawyers from screwing their assistants or bosses. Just something to think about.”

It would be if Dax didn’t hate me.

I make it home before I have a complete breakdown. When I’m semicomposed, I call Holly. It’s after nine on a Monday, we both have to work early, but my craggy voice and sniffles mean she drops everything to come over.

I’m not one for emotional outbursts. I cried when my mom passed and again when my dad went a few years later. I almost cried when I humiliated myself the first time I met Dax, but other than that, tears don’t fall easily for me. I’m pragmatic most of the time. But not when it comes to Dax and Emme.

The possibility of losing them terrifies me.

Half an hour later Holly shows up at my door with an overnight bag. “What happened?”

“I messed up.” My eyes start leaking again.

“Oh, peanut.” She drops her bag and hugs me.

It takes less than fifteen minutes to spill the entire story once I’m composed enough to speak.

“I think the most important question is whether or not you see this thing with Dax as long term.”

“I can.”

Holly tips her head to the side and waits for me to continue.

“We understand each other.”

“You’re sure you’re not just playing rescuer?”

It’s a valid question. If I had more space, I’d probably have ten cats instead of two. Once I saved an entire litter when a feral mother gave birth under the back deck. I was so desperate to keep them I even suggested building them a house in the backyard because both of my parents were allergic. Despite my pleas, they insisted we give them up for adoption. I put up the ad and vetted those families like the lawyer I now am.