Page 24 of Hooked on Mack
Larissa and I had something special worth fighting for—both in and out of the courtroom.
As we left the Mexican restaurant behind us, a slight chill in the air made me pull my jacket tighter around me.
“You know, it's been a long time since I've felt this… uncertain about the future.” I glanced over at her, surprised by her candidness.
“Uncertain?” I asked, trying to gauge her thoughts.
“About everything—the case, us, life in general.” She sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I guess it's just that I'm so used to having control, and right now, it feels like everything is up in the air.”
I nodded, understanding where she was coming from. “I think that's part of what makes life interesting, though. The uncertainty, the potential for unexpected surprises.”
“Maybe,” she conceded with a small smile. “But surprises aren't always good, you know?”
“True,” I admitted, remembering some less-than-stellar surprises in my own life. “But sometimes they can lead toamazing things. Like meeting someone who challenges you and makes you see the world differently.”
“Or finding yourself on the same side of a courtroom with someone you never thought you'd get along with, let alone have feelings for,” she added.
“Exactly,” I agreed, chuckling. “And while I have my own fears—about the case, our careers, and what could happen between us—I also have hope. Hope that things will work out one way or another.”
“Hope, huh?” Larissa mused, her expression softening. “Maybe that's what's been missing from my life lately. It's hard to hold on to hope when you're constantly fighting battles.”
“Then let me be your hope.”
She looked at me for a moment, her eyes searching mine before she finally nodded. “Alright, Mack. Let's hold on to hope—and each other.”
15
Larissa
“Guess who I ran into downstairs?” Mark said, grinning like a kid who'd just found the cookie jar. “Ava!”
“Of course you did,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Turns out, we both had a lot to say to each other, some apologies here and there.” He paused for dramatic effect. “And we've decided to give our marriage another shot.”
The news hit me like a ton of bricks. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” he said, feigning hurt, but his smile betrayed him.
At that moment, the guard stepped forward, observing their interaction with suspicion. “Everything okay in here?”
I forced a smile, as if my facial muscles were frozen solid. “Just peachy. Don't worry about us.”
As the guard retreated, I took a few calming breaths before addressing Mark again through gritted teeth. “So, how did you get yourself in this mess? Why are you even behind bars?”
“Ah, well, it happened right after Ava and I hugged,” he began, a dreamy look on his face. “We kissed… you know how these things go.”
“Get to the point, Mark,” I snapped, already regretting asking.
“Alright, alright,” he conceded, chuckling. “So, while Ava and I were kissing, Zippy—you remember Zippy, right? My mistress?”
“Vividly,” Larissa bit out. How many paramours could one man have?
“Anyway, she saw us and didn't take it too well. Started punching me in the back of the head—” He rubbed the spot gingerly for emphasis. “And it escalated from there.”
My anger reached a boiling point, rendering me temporarily speechless. I wanted to be anywhere but here, listening to Mark describe his cavorting with Ava while his mistress attacked him. The man had no shame, no self-awareness, and it astounded me that I'd ever found him charming.
“Are you kidding me?” My voice cracked as I struggled to process this new information. The man had an uncanny ability to make every situation about him.
