Page 12 of Tangled Hearts

I have Natalie’s work phone number. I could have called that, but stalking a girl’s workplace felt more wrong than happening to be on the same public street at the same time she is. It’s a pedantic detail, but what are lawyers if not lovers of pedantic details? Finding small discrepancies in hundred page contracts is what we are paid to do.

The door opens again, and this time it’s Natalie, Frankie, and Luna. I get out of my car and wait for traffic to pass before crossing the street. By the time Natalie and Frankie are at their car, Luna has been whisked away by a Montclair car. The prenuptial agreement hasn’t put her off marriage, just as Michael predicted.

Natalie catches a glimpse of me, but I can tell by the way she leans forward that she doesn’t quite trust her eyesight in the dim light.

I raise my big paw in the air. “Hey, Natalie.”

Frankie scowls. “I thought you said you weren’t stalking us.”

“I wasn’t before, but tonight I am.”

“Stalking can get you disbarred.”

“I think only a reprimand, but since I’m closing my law practice, disbarment isn’t much of a threat.” I turn to Natalie, who hasn’t said anything yet. “You eat too much shrimp at happy hour or can I take you out for dinner?”

“I have a phone,” she says.

“Sure, but that’s work and your personal space, and this is a public street, and somehow that argument worked better in myhead than saying it out loud.” I pluck my phone out of my pocket. “Let’s exchange numbers so that I don’t have to hang outside of bars in the hopes that I can find you on the street.”

Frankie clucks her tongue, but after hesitating a moment, Natalie pulls her own phone out of her purse. “This may be a bad idea, but at least Frankie knows what you look like in case I show up in a body bag.”

“Isn’t it too late if you’re already in a body bag?” I accept the contact drop and put Nat’s number in my faves list.

“Too late for me, but not for you.”

“I’ll be watching you.” Frankie points her fingers at her eyes and then at mine. She says to Natalie, “I’m tracking you. Be careful.”

“I’ll check in later, Mom.” Natalie and Frankie exchange hugs and kisses like one of them is going off on a month-long business trip, not off to dinner.

They’re cute. I text Kaden.

I’m standing ten feet from your girl

He responds immediately.

The fuck?

You should have come with me tonight

Fuck you

I don’t reply, but he follows it up with another text.

Whats she wearing

Wait get me her number

I’ll let you win the next round of poker

Let me win?

I’ll throw a hand

“Frankie, Kaden’s begging for your phone number. If you don’t give it to me, he may start crying, and I’m not equipped to handle that.” When she wrinkles her nose, I say, “Let me give you his number. You can reach out if you want.” I send her the contact, which she accepts, and then I text Kaden.

Gave her your number. Have fun waiting for a text

I may kill you the next time I see you

---