Page 95 of Be My Compass

He calls again in the afternoon.

I’m with Brenna in the lawyer’s office. We’re there going over our litigation options. It’s just a front. Just a way for Brenna to feel like she’s doing something. We can’t afford to hire a lawyer.

Our business was young. Barely turning a profit that could pay us both. We survived on our passion for black history. For the determination in our hearts that this was what we were created to do.

Now, we’re up against a corporation. A family with deep pockets. Lawyers on retainer. Even if we hire this guy, there’s no way we’ll win. Amelia will tie our hands behind our backs.

That’s why I hit her again. In that soft place she’d exposed to me yesterday.

It hurts when I claim Kastle.

It hurts her.

And so I did it with a flourish.

The news is all over the internet.

I didn’t wait for the banquet. I didn’t wait for the Make It Marriage interview.

Let’s see Amelia pair Kastle with anyone now.

I hope it burns.

I hope she bleeds.

A curse spews from Brenna’s lips as she leaves the lawyer’s office and slips her shades on outside. She’s wearing a button-down shirt and a sensible pencil skirt. A flurry of more colorful curses follows the first.

I pat her back. “I’m sorry. This feels like my fault.”

“It’s not.” She lifts her shades and glares at me. “Don’t let me hear you say that again.”

I duck my chin.

“What did Kastle say when you told him?” she asks.

I glance into the sunset. The meeting took longer than expected. The lawyer’s charging us for every minute of it. I might have to take a pay cut.

“You didn’t tell him?” Brenna shuffles her sandaled feet. “What the hell, Kaelyn?”

“I need to go.”

“Kaelyn.”

“Will you be good getting home by yourself?” I touch her arm. Keep my voice light. Quiet.

There are things I discuss with Brenna and things I don’t.

She won’t understand and I don’t need judgement. I’m already conflicted enough.

She studies me for a long tense moment. Finally, she nods. “Yeah.”

“Okay.”

I get in my car and call Kastle on the way.

His voice rumbles through my ears and stirs up feelings of desire and guilt. “Hey,” he says, "I was just about to stop by your office.”

“No!” I nearly yank my car off the road. “I mean… I’m leaving. Heading to Brew Drop now.”

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