Page 53 of Resilient Rhythms
Allegra snickers. “We’ll still let her win. Ten more days, Kenny.”
Ten more days.
The weird thing about the bar exam is that after I complete it, I have no clue how I performed. At all.
I either aced the shit out of it or I failed spectacularly.
A year ago, the not knowing would have set me into an emotional spiral. But, and I suppose this is some of the silver lining, the emotional cocktail of the last year has prepared me for times of uncertainty.
So, instead of stressing about it, I take a second to acknowledge that while there is a chance I failed the exam, there is nothing I can do about it now except wait for my results. Then, I close that mental loop. I have bigger things to think about.
Like pressing charges against Bran and getting him out of my life, out of my city, hell, out of Massachusetts.
And my relationship with Maverick. The rock I’ve clung to over the past year, the guy I can count on, the husband who still holds my heart.
I’m ready to start our future together. In fact, I can’t wait.
Opening the gate to the brownstone, I grin when I spot Mav, sitting on the top step, a to-go cup from Java House and a brown paper bag beside him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, walking closer.
“Bringing you a celebratory latte or an emotional binge-worthy bag of chocolate chip cookies.”
I laugh, leaning down to kiss his cheek before sitting on the step below him. I glance up. “Can I have both?”
“Of course,” he chuckles.
I pluck a cookie out of the bag and take a big bite. “I either passed with flying colors, or I got a zero.”
He clucks his tongue. “I doubt you got a zero. I think you get credit for spelling your name correctly.”
I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure that’s the SATs.”
“Ah,” he remarks, passing me the latte to wash down the chocolate chip cookie. “Do you have plans tonight?”
I bite the corner of my mouth as I shake my head.
“Will you have dinner with me? We can celebrate the end of your studying marathon.”
“I’d love to.” A thrill rolls through me at the dinner invitation. At the chance for Maverick and me to take our relationship public.
“One rule?” Mav asks.
“What is it?”
“We enjoy tonight. We celebrate you taking the exam. We don’t talk about Bran. For one night, we’re just a regular couple, out for a milestone celebration.”
I bite the corner of my mouth. Can we do that? Can wenottalk about Bran?
“Just one night, Mckenna. Tomorrow, we go all in on this shit with Bran. On meeting with the legal team. On everything. But…” He sighs, “Can we have tonight?”
Seeing the hope in his eyes causes me to rock forward and kiss him. “Yes. I’d love to have one nice, normal dinner out with you. A real date.”
“Good,” Mav breathes, kissing me back.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, watching passersby on the street, listening to the nearby traffic, relaxing under the warmth of the sun.
“Do you think this will ever be our everyday normal?” he asks after a moment, his voice quiet.
