Page 97 of Studious
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I dread going to work on Monday for the first time since I started at Weston& Ramirez. But Danny and I are both adults. We can behave rationally. I think.
Now I see why Noah was talking about a love contract so long ago. Wanting to make sure there was no blowback on the firm if a relationship fell apart.
I keep inadvertently looking for Danny, but his office lights are off.
Part of me knows that he’s in trial, and that takes over an attorney’s life. That he’s going to be in court the entire day and preparing all night long. But I got used to him stopping by to check up on me, even when he was busy. So it feels like he’s avoiding me.
That’s probably the nicest thing he could do, because heaven knows interacting with him right now, with both of us knowing how I feel about him, would be beyond awkward.
I can’t force him to do anything he doesn’t want to do.
My stomach sinks when I overhear someone saying that they thought they saw Danny at One Sunday night. “He’s not the kind to settle down,” they say. “Some men just aren’t. They need to be on to the next thing.”
This whole experience has been a growing pain for me. I’ve learned that I can be confident, and I can look good and feel great about myself.
But I can’t count on the other person feeling the same way I do.
When I get home, Mom is sitting on the couch, looking perky, but her face falls when she sees me.
“Alden, what’s wrong?”
“Boy troubles,” I mutter.
She opens her arms, and I settle in next to her. “Want to tell me?”
I do. I don’t get too specific, but I tell her about my heart.
“He may be right, you know,” she says. “And while you’re welcome to live here as long as you want, I’m not going to need your help forever. I’m not kicking you out,” she adds hastily. “Just, if you want to experience more on your own, I’ll be fine here by myself. As long as you still come visit now and then.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I had been thinking of getting my own place, and it’s a relief to know that she’s okay with it. Maybe that’s what I need to do. Then I can figure out who I am on my own, without Danny, Mom, or anyone else.
As much as I hate that idea.
CHAPTER28
Danny
Ihave yet another horrible night where I don’t get any sleep at all, but I’m too tired to turn on the television or scroll through my phone. I’m exhausted from trial, and whatever brain waves I have left are spent thinking about Alden. I haven’t been anywhere except court and home since I left him. So I just stare at the ceiling and pet my cat.
My three-day trial finishes, and Thursday, Noah and August corner me in my office.
I hold up my hands. “What is this? An intervention? I swear I don’t drink that much.”
“We know,” Noah says. “But you’re moping even though you won your trial. So what’s up?”
Has it really been that bad?
“There is something going on, isn’t there?” August asks.
I nod and shrug at the same time. “I’ve been kind of seeing someone.”
“Alden,” Noah says.
Not about to lie to my partners, I nod. “Yeah. How did you know?”
“Shelby,” Noah and August say.
