Page 71 of The Law of Attraction

When we reach Long Island, she’s sitting back in her seat. I feel, rather than see, that her focus is on me. ‘I know I shouldn’t say it, but you look really sexy driving a car like this.’

I glance at her from the corner of my eye. She gets more brazen, more open, every time we’re together. I goddamn love it.

‘Hell yes, I’m in.’ I swerve off the road as quickly and safely as I can, feeling like a randy teenager on prom night.

19

DREW

Waking up with Becky in my arms, or catching her looking down at me when she’s been watching me sleep, are officially my new favorite things to do. That’s what I’m thinking as I’m waiting in the courthouse for my hearing to begin.

Since we declared whatever is going on with us as something we won’t overthink or label, life has been pretty damn good. For two weeks, we’ve spent almost every night together. It’s easy. It’s hot. And it feels… right.

If she’s working the night at the restaurant, I pick her up. If she isn’t, she’s waiting at my place for me, generally with something cooking, sometimes already in underwear on my bed, showing me what I could have been enjoying instead of working late.

The thing is, every day, I fall deeper for her. I know what we said: friends with benefits or whatever. But that’s not how it feels. When we’re together, I can’t get enough of her. When we’re not, I think about her. And I’m managing work fine, mostly, except the occasional desire to stay in bed with her rather than get to the office. Who am I kidding? That’s every morning, but I mean the mornings when I let lust take over my willpower.

I can do it. I can have roots and wings. Now, I want both.

The problem with that is Becky is still holding back. She drifts to a distant place sometimes, at the smallest provocation. Yesterday, I joked that I liked having a woman in my life to cook, and it was like she went into lockdown. I admit it wasn’t the best joke, but she knew it was a joke Christ, I’d tell her not to cook at all if it meant she wouldn’t put up her walls. It’s times like that, I know she still doesn’t want a relationship.

So where in the hell does that leave me?

‘Drew.’

I follow the voice along the courthouse corridor to Ben Granger, my client. He’s a young guy in his early twenties, and he’s an absolute tech genius. I told him in no uncertain terms he had to wear a suit, rather than his usual college style get-up, for the hearing. He’s done it, and the kid cleans up all right. His ordinarily messy hair, which looks like some dude took a pair of shears to it, is tamed with product and combed. He looks like someone a judge might actually take seriously, as opposed to booting right out of the courtroom.

‘Ben, how are you feeling?’

‘Nervous.’ His fingers tell me as much as they tremble when he reaches out to shake my hand. I don’t generally get affectionate toward my clients but I feel for this guy. That’s new to me.

‘You have no reason to be nervous.’ I move my hand to his shoulder. ‘Trust me. I’ve got this. You’re on the winning side.’

He nods too quickly, as if he’s spent the morning on a caffeine drip. ‘I trust you.’

We’re called into session. I take my spot at one of two wooden tables opposite the judge’s bench in the courtroom. The attorney for the other side, the Goliath of software companies, Codaware Technology, stands behind an adjacent table. Ben – or David, if you will – takes a seat beside me, and I pour him a glass of water, genuinely wondering whether the kid will be able to maintain consciousness for the entire hearing. His face is gray-white and his breaths are coming quick and shallow.

The CEO of Codaware looks across with a supercilious grin at Ben’s state. A big company like that preying on a kid and his invention; I’ve half a mind to jump over there and beat the shit out of the guy.

Meet sentimental Drew. I’m just getting to know him myself.

I bend to Ben’s ear. ‘Hey, you need to try to calm down, buddy. Can you do that for me?’

He nods.

‘They stole your idea, Ben. What did I tell you? You’re David. Codaware is Goliath. I’m going to get back what they took from you. I just need you to hang in here for a few hours. Okay? Good man.’

Judge Matterson is announced to the room. When he’s seated at the bench, the twenty or so members of the public and press take a seat behind me. I spot Marty as he slips into the room and comes to sit on the bench closest to me. It’s something we do sometimes: watch each other in court. We might learn something, or we might razz each other later for some jackass statement or blip.

‘Mr Harrington, are you ready to give your opening statement?’

I straighten my jacket. ‘Yes, Your Honor.’

I step from behind the table, where I can get the attention of the room and, more importantly, the judge and jury.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, today, you will learn how the industry giant, Codaware Technology, stole from my client. You will hear that Benjamin Granger, at just twenty-two years of age, could be a pioneer of technology for generations to come. How he could do great things for the industry and society. But not if we let bullies like Codaware steal from the young men and women we hope will lead our future.’ I pause, giving the jurors a chance to consider my words, then I soften my tone, looking for the sympathy vote. ‘You will also learn that, although he has a brilliant mind, Benjamin has a lot to learn. He was naïve. He misplaced his trust in business tycoons who preyed on his youth and good nature. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, let us correct that wrong. Let us bring justice to Benjamin and kids like him. Kids we want to encourage to be educated, to be special, and to strive for greatness. Let’s inspire others, our sons and daughters, our nieces and nephews, to follow in his footsteps.’

I take my seat and listen to the drivel the opposition spins to the jury, all the while feeling my buzz grow. There aren’t many better highs in the world than being counsel in a trial. Until a few weeks ago, I’d have said there were none.

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