Page 89 of Legal

“Have you lost your fucking mind?”

I was in the process of updating my files, categorizing all my clients by asset ratios and length of service. One of those tedious grunt tasks I’d been procrastinating on forever. I’d been at it all morning and would soon need to find more drudge work to tackle.

Oh, yeah, and I also just casually mentioned to Perry about Mike moving back in. Temporarily.

“No, actually, my mind is pretty well with me lately,” I said. I was good. I was getting shit done.

“It’s only been two days, Jills. Two days. How are you supposed to grieve properly when your ex is hanging around? I’m sure he doesn’t know the story, so he’s going to be questioning your every breakdown. That could get annoying as hell. I agree that you shouldn’t be alone, but Mike’s not the one who should be there. Maybe I should move in for a while instead.”

I started laughing. “I told you, I’m helping him out. He’s not here to babysit me. I don’t need to grieve, Perry. No one died. And I’m not going to cry, so no worries there.”

Perry curled her hand over mine, preventing me from making another mouse click. Then she swiveled my chair around to face her, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “And it’s a holiday. You shouldn’t even be working at all.”

“And you should be spending the day outside with Stephen, grilling out and having fun.”

“Come with me.”

“No, Perry, I’m staying here. I’m getting way too much accomplished today.”

She pinched her lips together and drew in a loud breath through her nose. I understood her frustration, but I didn’t know how to help her out. I didn’t want to leave when I was plowing through things I’d neglected for a while. Her face softened. “Just don’t lose yourself in your work again, Jills, because I think this time would be a million time worse.”

I gave her my best smile. “I’m not planning on it. Honest. I’m just being productive.”

“You appear okay, but I don’t think you are, Jills. You and Chase loved—love—each other, and a sane person doesn’t get over that in two days.”

Then I must be a ‘lock me in a rubber room with a straightjacket’ crackpot because I got over it in one.It didn’t mean I stopped caring about him; it just meant I recognized it was for the best. There was no reason to be a sobbing mess when something was meant to be. And before I knew it, that love would be replaced with a pleasant memory. From here on out, it was only going to get easier.

“You and Chase,” Perry said. “Are you sure this is really for the best? Are you sure he’s not the one you’re supposed to be with?”

“I’m sure.”

After Perry had left and I finished as much stuff as I could for the day, I went for a long walk, proving I could do something other than work. I wasn’t going to get back into the habit of seventeen-hour days. I knew how unhealthy that was to sustain for any length of time. She didn’t need to worry; I could stay balanced.

Softly pounding my feet on the pavement wasn’t as effective at taxing my body as hauling around a lawn mower, but it did the job. I felt light and clear as I headed back to my house. I’d even stopped to talk with Michelle a bit while she was out walking Sasha. I told her my fling was over, and she agreed it was only matter of time. It was an easy conversation.

Mike’s car was parked in the driveway when I arrived home. He’d been out all day, hopefully working things out with Candace. I was crossing my fingers for some good news when I came inside.

He was sprawled on the couch, feet up on the table, which he abruptly removed when he saw me. I barely gave that a care; my eyes were too focused on his hand.

“Where did you get that?” I asked calmly.

“Your fridge. Where else?”

He took a long sip as my blood started pumping harder and harder.Deep breath, Jillian. My skin was pulsating, the surface ready to break open. I clenched my fists. My deep breaths were not doing shit.

“And who the fuck gave you the right to take whatever you wanted without asking?”

“Jillian?”

“This is how you fucking repay me for letting you stay here? I didn’t think I had to hide my shit from you. I didn’t think you’d be that inconsiderate and take whatever the hell you wanted as if it were yours to take. My house, Mike. Not yours.”

He set down the bottle of Spotted Cow. It appeared to be nearly empty. “I’m really confused here, Jillian. I’ll pick up more, okay? I didn’t know that taking the last one would be that huge of a deal.”

His clueless expression just seemed to anger me further. He took without asking and then thought he could make it all better by offering to buy more?

“Um, is it that time of the month? If so, I totally understand. I’ll, ah… be more careful.”

I was shaking, fuming, ready to shove that bottle up his ass. Yeah, that would get him back for trying to shove his dick up mine.

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