Page 78 of Little Bird
They probably don’t have families. Or if they do, they’re not on the best of terms with them.
No wonder they all look so down at the mouth.
My eyes run across someone who doesn’t belong, then, and I start toward him. He stands out like a sore thumb, all crisp black suit and shiny loafers, and it would be impossible to miss the scent of New York wafting off him. I’m surprised my attorney sent an associate up here rather than just a standard legal messenger, but that’s not really my concern.
All I care about are the papers he brought here for me to sign.
By the time I get to the man he’s seen me approaching and has the papers out on the table in front of him.
“Taryn Matthews?” he asks. “Do you have some ID?”
I nod and pull it out of my pocket, too elated about how quickly this is going to even bother asking for his name. The guy takes my ID and takes a picture of it with his phone, then slides the papers toward me. I glance through them quickly while he explains what they are: petitions to the court, privacy requirements, a cease and desist for my mother and her new husband.
“And once these are approved, we can move to the rest?” I ask, my eyes flying up to meet this guy’s gaze. Because this is all well and good when it comes to my mother not being able to touch what’s mine, but I want to be legally free of her. I’m turning twenty-one in a few days and that should check all the boxes, but I don’t want her pulling anything tricky and trying to keep me under her thumb.
And I don’t trust Johnny Massimo. I don’t think he’ll even try to do it legally. I want to have the legal means to be able to stop him, though.
The guy in front of me nods once. “We’ll file these with the court tomorrow, and I already have a judge assigned to the case. I’ve been told they’ll hear my petition immediately. Once that’s done, I’ll be able to prepare the final docs for you, and...”
He makes an exploding gesture with his fingers, and I grin widely at him.
“And then I’m free,” I breathe.
They’re words I’ve been dreaming of for years, and I can hardly believe it’s so close.
“Will it be done before Christmas?” I ask, thinking of the other details I’m still trying to finalize.
He nods. “Absolutely. Everything should be in order for all your plans.”
The relief is so palpable it almost knocks me over, and my cheeks ache with my smile. This is the best news a girl could ask for at 9 at night in a dive bar in Hawke’s Wood.
“Perfect.”
I bend over the papers and sign my name to each, shuffling through them as quickly as possible. When I’m done, I slide them back over to the associate and shake his hand.
“Thank you so much for coming up,” I say, meaning every word. This guy could have made me go all the way to the city for this, and I’m beyond grateful that he came up here. “Are you really going back down tonight? In the snow?”
The guy laughs. “Don’t worry; I’m not driving. I hired someone who’s used to this sort of terrain. Keep your phone on you, Taryn. I’ll be in touch tomorrow with an update.”
I grin and watch him stand and walk out of the bar, feeling like I’ve just won the lottery, and for the first time I start to feel like everything might be okay. If I can legally divorce my mother this easily and secure all of my assets in the process, while the snow bars her from coming up here to try to pressure me, I might finally be rid of her.
And after the second set of papers are signed, she won’t have any choice but to leave me alone. I mean, she can find me and try to threaten me, but I’ll have the legal right to push her back out again.
For the first time in my life, I’ll be in charge of my own decisions. And I’m nearly floating up to the ceiling with excitement at the thought.
Then I notice the man at the bar staring at me. He’s got his eyes narrowed and his mouth twisted, and as I watch, his gaze travels down my body and back up again. I tense, my instincts on high alert, because every girl understands what that sort of look means. My eyes snap from one man in the bar to the next, looking for anyone safe, but I don’t know any of these guys. Even the bartender is busy, his back to the bar. I could go to the bar and start a conversation to try to gain some shelter, but that would mean passing the man staring at me, and I don’t want the drama I know that’ll cause.
I get up instead and walk for the back hallway, trying to remember if there’s a women’s restroom back here. I don’t think a door will stop that guy if he decides to follow me, but a lock sure will. I toss a look over my shoulder, praying that he’s still at the bar, but see that he’s not. He’s four or five steps behind me, his strides quick and his eyes on my ass.
Because of course they are.
My heartbeat ratchets up and I increase my pace, desperate now for the bathroom. As I walk I fish my phone out of my pocket, hit my emergency contacts, and press the first name that comes up.
He answers on the first ring.
“Taryn, where the actual fuck are you?”
“Penny Royal, in town,” I say quickly. “I don’t have time for the lecture. I need help.”
