Page 26 of Hooked on Mack
“Sure,” Larissa replied, but it was clear she didn't share my optimism. The weight of defeat hung heavy in the air as we continued onward, wondering what the future held for our bruised egos and reputations.
“Mack,” Larissa suddenly said. I looked over at her, concerned, only to find her struggling to hold back a fit of laughter. In the juxtaposition of our solemn departure from the courtroom and the ridiculousness of our defeat, it seemed that she had found something infinitely amusing.
“What's so funny?”
“Us!” Larissa gasped, finally giving in to her laughter. “We just got our butts handed to us by Judge Phillips, and all I can think is… what a spectacular show!”
Her laughter was contagious, and soon I found myself joining in, my own chuckle turning into a full-blown guffaw as I leaned against a nearby car for support. Our laughter echoed through the parking garage.
“God, you're right,” I wheezed, wiping tears from my eyes. “I don't think I've ever been more humiliated in my life.”
“Neither have I,” Larissa admitted, her laughter slowly subsiding as she wiped her own tears away. “But it feels good to laugh about it.”
“Absolutely.” I felt lighter and more relaxed than I had in weeks. It was as if being able to find humor in our situation had stripped away some of the weight of our failure, allowing us to breathe again.
Larissa turned to me with a curious glint in her green eyes. “Do you have any place to be right now?”
“Uh, not really. Why? What's up?”
Larissa bit her lip. “Well, since we're both free, and we've just survived that disaster of a case together… I was thinking…”
Her hesitation only served to heighten my curiosity, and I eagerly awaited her suggestion—whatever it might be.
“I think you owe me dinner after the disaster we just went through together. There's this place I've been dying to try—Trattoria dell'Arte. You in?”
“Trattoria dell'Arte?” I echoed, my eyebrows shooting up. The restaurant was known for its exquisite Italian cuisine, but it wasn't exactly the most affordable option in town. Still, the thought of indulging in a luxurious meal after the ordeal we'd just experienced was undeniably appealing.
“Are you sure?” I asked, still somewhat taken aback by her suggestion. “I mean, I'm all for treating ourselves after that fiasco, but that place is pretty pricey…”
“Consider it a peace offering. Besides, I have a feeling we could both use a little pampering right now.”
Her words struck a chord within me. After weeks of tension, stress, and ultimately, humiliation, the idea of a lavish dinner at one of the city's finest establishments sounded like the perfect way to unwind and put the whole ordeal behind us.
“Alright, you've convinced me. Let's do it.”
“Great! Meet me there.”
I made my way to my car and slid into the driver's seat. We may have been defeated in the courtroom today, but there wassomething about Larissa's invitation that made me feel like we were on the cusp of a new beginning.
As I pulled out of the parking garage and onto the city streets, I smiled, the lingering embarrassment from earlier already fading as I looked forward to a night of good food, laughter, and the unexpected company of a fierce and captivating woman.
17
Larissa
Mack and I found ourselves standing outside the entrance of the quaint little Italian eatery.
“Shall we?” Mack asked, offering me his arm.
“Of course.”
Inside, the atmosphere was cozy and intimate. “Table for two?” the maitre d' inquired, giving us a welcoming smile.
“Yes, please.”
“Right this way.” He guided us to a secluded table near the back of the restaurant, giving it a sense of privacy, the conversation from other diners only a low hum.
As we settled into our seats, there was something about his effortless charisma that always managed to draw me in, despite my usual guarded nature.
