Page 70 of Catching Feels

I stand when I see CeCe and Fawna’s friend, Francesca, walk into the hospital cafeteria. “Thanks for meeting me.”

“Not a problem at all.” She gives me a hug then sits down.

I push Lena’s file across the table. “These are the originals.”

When she doesn’t reach for them, I feel all hope dwindle.

“No, no, no, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help. I need you to hand me ten or twenty bucks.”

“Okay?” I reach into my bag, pull out my wallet, and grab a twenty, setting it on the table.

She looks up from her tablet and smiles then pushes it across the table toward me. “As soon as you sign, you have retained me as a lawyer.” She holds up the twenty. “And this acts as a retainer.”

I sign with my finger then push it back to her.

She flips through a screen and pushes it back to me. “Gabrielle Steel just had a baby, but she’s agreed to look at Lena’s case. She doesn’t know it’s you who has brought this to me, but you sign this, and she’s all yours. Immigration law is her specialty and her passion. Trust me when I tell you that she’s the best. And she’s going to take it on pro bono.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.” She cringes. “Poor comparison given the reason we’re here.”

“You think it’s possible?”

“If he’s going to let it go to auction so he doesn’t have to deal with it, I guarantee he’ll agree to hold the mortgage long enough for you to show equity if it’s all wrapped up in a pretty little package.” She reaches into her bag and pulls a file out, setting it in front of me. “Which I happen to have right here.”

“In one night?”

“Not my specialty, but it’s a simple contract. A phone call to a realtor friend and getting comps only took a few keystrokes. Just make sure he understands it’s pending an inspection.”

“To make sure it’s structurally sound?”

“Exactly. And if it is, and you’re willing to do the work, you’re going to have a ton of equity and will not have a problem getting a loan. Which, again, as a friend and lawyer, I think you’re nuts not to ask your brothers, but I know it’s a sticking point for you.”

“It is.”

“Stubborn and independent. I like it.”

***

After leaving the hospital where I left the contract with Burt and told him to take his time considering it and that I was in no hurry, I went straight to Etta’s to help Lena with whatever she needed. I didn’t tell her I was considering buying the place, because getting her hopes up and not being able to deliver was not an option. I would have told her that Gabrielle Steel was looking into her case, but running late to start the day messed that up. I want to be able to take time with her to do that, and because I agreed to meet Brady Masters for lunch, I decided to wait.

Brady Masters is a ten—black hair, blue eyes, perfect smile, and a hot body. But the entire time I sat across from him, all I could think about was his small dick. It’s awful, I know it is, but it’s the truth.

Halfway through my chicken club sandwich, Nour, AJ, and Bennett walk into the bar. Passing by, they all say a cordial hello and proceed to sit at a table behind ours, where I have a clear view of all of them, but Nour specifically.

Brady is completely unbothered, which I give him props for, but when the table is clear, he begins telling me how he can’t wait to get married and have a bunch of kids so he has something to look up in the stands to. “You know, my people, my reason.”

Someone coughs out the name, “Turner,” and I manage to shoot daggers at them without getting seen by Brady. They all titter like teenage boys. Well, Nour doesn’t. He looks to be standing on the line between angry and annoyed, like a small breeze could send him in either direction.

“Imagine how I felt when this gorgeous brunette turned my head a few weeks ago, only to find out she’s a teammate’s sister.”

“Imagine.” I smile politely, wanting to crawl under the table and out the door.

“But then I saw you on the side of the road, and I reminded myself I was the Master”—he winks—“of my own destiny, and I had to shoot my shot.” He reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “I am so glad I did.”

Thankfully, I get a text.

“Oh, shoot, excuse me for a minute.” I pull my phone from my pocket and look at the screen. It’s a group text, and the name of the group is “We Got Your Back.”

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