Page 17 of Hooked on Mack
“What? Nothing,” I stammered, taken aback by his sudden question. Had I been that obvious? “Why would you even ask that?”
“Come on, Mack,” Tanner replied, rolling his eyes. “I've known you since law school, and I've never seen you this rattled over an opposing counsel before. Plus, your little glances across the courtroom haven't gone unnoticed. Are you sure there's nothing going on?”
“Absolutely not,” I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady. “Besides, I have a duty to Ava and her case. I can't afford to get distracted by… feelings.”
“Alright, if you say so,” Tanner said, raising his hands in surrender. “But remember, dude, you're only human. And sometimes, the heart wants what it wants—even if it's not the most convenient thing for your career. Alright, I'll drop it,” Tanner said, his eyes darting over my shoulder for a moment before meeting mine again. “But you might want to know that Larissa's been watching you this whole time we've been talking.”
“Seriously?” I asked, trying not to let the surprise show in my voice. I resisted the urge to glance back at her, reminding myself that I had more pressing matters to focus on.
“Yep. She hasn't taken her eyes off you,” Tanner confirmed, his eyebrows raised. “I'm getting the feeling there might be something mutual going on here, whether you want to admit it or not.”
“Even if that were true,” I began, keeping my voice low so only Tanner could hear, “it doesn't change the fact that pursuing anything with her would be… complicated.”
“Ah, the classic 'opposing counsel' dilemma,” Tanner mused, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms. “I get it, man. But sometimes, life throws us curveballs. And sometimes, those curveballs are wrapped up in sharp-tongued, green-eyed packages that make us question our priorities.”
I couldn't help but crack a smile at his description of Larissa. It was accurate, to say the least.
“Look, I'm not saying you should throw caution to the wind and start making out with her in the courthouse,” Tanner continued, chuckling at the thought. “But maybe, just maybe, it's worth considering the possibility that there's something real between you two—even if it means stepping outside your comfort zone.”
“Isn't that a risk?”
“Of course it is,” he admitted. “But what's life without a little risk, huh? Besides, I've seen the way you two spar in the courtroom—there’s definitely some chemistry there.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to process Tanner's words. On the one hand, he was right—there was something undeniably electric between Larissa and I. Tanner had no idea about my crush on her in law school.
“Maybe you're right,” I conceded, looking back at Tanner. “But for now, I need to focus on Ava and her case. If… if there's something worth exploring with Larissa, it'll have to wait until this trial is over.”
“Fair enough,” Tanner said, nodding. “Just don't let your feelings cloud your judgment, alright?”
“Trust me, I won’t.”
Only time would tell if we'd ever find out what that something more could be. I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders, feeling the weight of Tanner's advice bolstering my resolve. My chest swelled with confidence as I strode back intothe courtroom, ready to tackle the case head-on and reveal the secret that would secure Ava's victory.
“Your Honor,” I began, my voice steady and unwavering, “I need to present some crucial evidence in this case.”
“Proceed, Mr. Harrington.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” I turned to face the opposing counsel, catching a glimpse of Larissa out of the corner of my eye. Her gaze was fixed on me intently, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of warmth amidst the cold tension of the courtroom. “I present to you Exhibit A,” I said, holding up a stack of documents that had been hidden from view. “Exhibit A contains records of undisclosed assets held by my client's spouse,” I explained, handing the documents over to the judge. “These assets were expertly concealed during their marriage, but our investigation has uncovered the truth. My client is entitled to a fair share of these assets in the divorce settlement.”
Judge Phillips studied the documents. The air in the courtroom crackled, and I stole a glance at Larissa once more. Despite the revelation that threatened her case, she appeared calm and composed—almost impressed.
“Very well, Mr. Harrington,” Judge Phillips announced, setting the documents down. “The court will take this new evidence into consideration when determining the final settlement.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” I said, feeling a surge of triumph as the gavel fell. It was far from over, but I could see the scales tipping in our favor.
Ava turned to me. “Mack, I… I don't know what to say. Thank you.”
“Of course, Ava,” I replied, giving her a reassuring smile. “It's my job.”
As the courtroom began to empty, I noticed Larissa gathering her belongings with a grace unmatched by anyone else in that dreary room.
“Congratulations, Mr. Harrington. You certainly know how to pull a rabbit out of your hat.”
“Thank you, Ms. Montgomery,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. “But as they say, all is fair in love and war—or in courtrooms, I suppose.”
“Indeed,” she said, allowing a small smile to touch the corners of her lips. Those lips…focus, Mack.
As she turned to leave, I knew our future was uncertain, and yet, this was only the beginning of something incredible.
