Page 19 of Snap Shot

At the time, I thought Landon was my friend, but he’d chosen Bryce and those jerks over me.

“Indi?” Landon asks again. I blink away the hurt and compose myself. The surprise morphs into joy as he flicks his eyes up and down. “What! I can't believe this.” One hand reaches up to rub the side of his neck, a smile widening through his neat brown beard.

Cooke gapes in the fringe of my sight. “You twoknoweach other?”

“Hell yeah! We gowayback—”

How despicable. Acting all buddy-buddy, casually calling me by my nickname as if he had nothing to do with faking our friendship and participating in cruel jokes.

My belly knots with bitter memories I have no intention of revisiting. Seeing him naked was one excuse. Him pretending like we're long-lost pals is another. Theresa will have to find someone else.

This would’ve been easier to get through if he had forgotten me. IfIcould forget. But some scars never heal. They remain superficial, delicate enough for any passing blade to nick the tender flesh and leave a fresh wound behind.

I haven't gotten to this point in life by walking around with my bare heart on my sleeve. And I'm not starting today.

“I'm sorry. It's Ms. Davé. And you don'tknowme, Mr. Radek. We played on the same teamoneseason, fifteen years ago.” My icy tone slices through the glint in his eyes, their blue spark fading. I almost feel bad. Almost.

“Oh,uh…” Cooke's at a loss again.

“You'll have to excuse me. I've had a long day and it's getting late.” I lift my phone to check for any notifications to pass off as emergencies. No luck there. This is what I get for not having a life. “Ms. Giachetti was adamant on meeting with you, but I'm not sure I'm the right person to represent you. I'll speak to her early next week and advise her to provide a more appropriate counsel.”

I wish them a good night and turn on my heel, pulling the keys from my blazer pocket while searching for the exit.

In the privacy of my car, I drop my forehead against the top rim of the steering wheel. A series of thuds syncs with my chant. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” My hand pushes off the horn too hard and the loud honk startles me.

Knuckles tapping on the glass make me jump again.

A burly security guard lowers to mid-window and squints at me. “Everything okay, ma’am?”

“Uh, yes.” I show him a weak smile. “Everything's perfect. I’m leaving.”

He responds with a single nod and points. “The yellow arrows lead out. Have a good night.”

Itwillbe a good night, once I get home and crawl into a bottle of wine. Hell, I might call it a work-from-home day tomorrow and stay there the whole weekend.

With that exact intention, I switch out my pencil skirt and blazer for my favorite panda bear printed pjs and a ratty t-shirt from my university's debate team. The three days out of the office allow me enough time to practice the spiel I'll give my boss when I turn down Landon's case.

—————

Fueled by double shots of espresso in my iced latte, I give Theresa the update in our Monday morning one-on-one. She stops the constant swiveling in her desk chair with a squeak.

“What do you mean, 'you don't want the case?’”

“I meant exactly what I said. I did what you asked: I met Wagner, I met Radek. I'm not interested.”

My boss studies me through the thin slits of her eyes, pursing her lips until an array of dimples form on her chin. She's sizing me up. Scanning for lies. “Did something happen?”

Yes! I saw his wiener! And it was no regular wiener. It was anextra-largewiener!

“No.” And it’s too embarrassing to admit we played hockey together, considering how our friendship had ended. “I'm not the right person for the job.”

“Oh?” Her brow arches sharpen. “You, with a better record than most lawyers holding twice your experience, arenotthe right person for the job?”

“Come on, Theresa.” My pleading tone has no effect on her.

“And here I thought youwantedpartner,” she says, clicking her tongue. Her head tips back to shake out the loose, walnut brown waves hanging over her shoulders. “Shame, really.”

Damn ambition. Toss the feelings in the trash, Indi. You can do this.

---