“Not a problem.” He said. I was waiting for him to continue, but he was just staring. “How about taking a picture. It’ll last longer.” I said as I stared at this tall, well-built white man. “I’m sorry. Your beauty threw me off.” He said with a smile. Boy, this guy is corny as hell. “I’m looking for the courthouse actually.” He replied as he was looking around. “Well, it’s right around the corner if you’ll just go two blocks up and you should see it.” I said pointing him in the right direction. “Okay, thanks.” I shook my head in a welcome gesture and started on my way when I heard his voice again. “Excuse me.” I hesitantly turned around wondering what words I was gonna misunderstand this time. “I’m Keith by the way.” He was extending his hand for a handshake while I had my arms crossed. He noticed that I wasn’t interested in shaking hands so he slowly pulled it back hoping that I would change my mind and return the gesture. “Keith is it? Again, sorry for blowing up on you like that. You just kind of caught me off guard.” I said trying not to be so rude to this strange man. “No, it’s my bad I should have just asked for directions and not try to flirt.” He was still smiling showing his pearly white perfect teeth. “Do you have a name or should I just call you gorgeous?” He said. “I really gotta be on my way.” I said to him as I was getting tired of his corny pickup lines. “Well, gorgeous it was nice to meet you. I do hope that we run into each other again.” He was holding his hand out again for a hand shake. I grabbed his hand in response to his gesture and before I knew it he lifted it up and kissed it softly with his soft pink lips. It actually felt good, but I couldn’t let him know it. When he let go of my hand, I could see his shining blue eyes looking into mine. I stopped staring at his eyes and started looking at him from top to bottom without moving my head. I noticed a dimple in his chin on his well shaven face to match his well combed brown hair. Wait, what the hell am I saying and doing. “Oh, there’s my friend I gotta go.” I told him as I saw Stan parking his car. “Sure, it was nice meeting you again.” He said with a smile. I didn’t respond as I walked by him trying to hide the fact that he really smelled good.
“Who was that?” Stan asked as he was walking towards me. “Oh, some guy who was lost.” I said shrugging my shoulders. “So when y’all going out?” He said while he elbowing me and winking his eye. “Stan, I am not you. I don’t jump on everything with legs that say I’m eye catching.” I heard Stan laughing as we were sitting down at a table. “Wait, wait. He said that? Bo, that has got to be the corniest line ever.” He said as he was still chuckling a little. “Well, it’s no different than saying, Stan the man.” I said to him. “Hey, don’t hate the game, hate the player.” I rolled my eyes at him as he was still grinning at the fact that he was a player. “Anyway! Listen, I’ve decided to work for the law firm.” I told him in order to change the subject regarding Keith. “Say what?” He stopped looking at the menu to ask me that question. “If working for Eric is gonna keep me sane, then that’s what I gotta do. Plus, I gotta figure out how to get this doctor to deem me independent.” I said while rubbing my forehead. “Clear you? I thought you were clear which was why they let you come home.” Stan asked with a confused look on his face. “Nope, Eric made it really clear this morning that the doctor said that I am unstable to live by myself and until I get a clearance. I am S.O.L!” I said holding my thumb and finger up to my temple in reference to a gun as I pulled a fake trigger.
“Are you sure there’s not nothing else you can do?” He asked me as our food was being brought to our table. “Honestly, no Stan. Because what other kind of job can I get making the money that I need in order to support myself? “I see your point. So, how’s the food? I know it’s better then what you were getting in the nut house.” Stan asked as he was trying to make me feel better, but instead he insulted me. “You so damn insensitive.” I said as I was putting food on my fork. “Kait, you are cold hearted. Nothing hurts you. Well, almost nothing.” He said as he stopped eating and began staring at me. Ah, man here it comes. “Now, tell me what had you so upset yesterday?” He inquired. “Nothing, Stan just leave it alone alright.” I said as I kept eating. “No, I’m not gonna leave it alone. Just like that day when you disappeared. I came to your house to see if you wanted to catch a movie and no answer. I called your cell phone, disconnected. I called your mom and she said that y’all had a big argument and hadn’t seen you since. Okay, I’ll buy that. But, after days go by still no answer? So, I finally go see your dad at the golf course demanding to know what was going on. He tells me that you had a nervous breakdown after taking your finals and they thought it was best that you get professional help.” He was rambling on and on. I didn’t wanna talk about this at least not in a public place. Stan was hitting all of the right buttons. I was getting emotional because he was my best friend and we never ever kept secrets from each other. No matter if it was good or bad we shared everything. I fought back the tears as I told him this wasn’t the place to talk about my personal business. He calmed down and apologized. I told him that it was okay and that I appreciated his concern. Stan didn’t need to know the truth. I know they say that the truth will set you free, but in my case the truth would do the opposite.
Chapter 3
Damn, I look good. I thought to myself. Although I was glad I was going to be making some money, I still wasn’t pleased with the fact that I had to work for this damn man. Well, technically he’s retired and doesn’t trust Cassandra with the firm, plus she don’t know a thing about running a company. So, that leaves me to run it. Eric may not like me and probably doesn’t trust me either, but I was able to make partner with a law firm before taking my bar. Now that is something you don’t see every day and Eric was impressed with the fact that I was always top in my class and won all my cases during internship.
I was checked my makeup in the mirror by the door before I left and yelled to them I was leaving. “Wait a second.” Eric yelled back. I stood at the door with my hand on my hip wondering what the hell he wanted. “I know that you probably called Stanley to pick you up to take you to work, but that just wouldn’t look professional. Don’t you agree?” He was handing me some car keys at this point. Ugh, I hated the fact that he bought me a car because it will felt like he was doing me a favor. Bad enough, I’m the HNIC at the law firm and now this. “You didn’t have to do that.” I said as I opened my hand so that he could drop the keys in them. As I was walking to the black Lexus I could see Stan pulling up. “I thought you needed me to take you to work.” He yelled out his window. “I did too.” I said as I opened my door. “Woo. Hot mama! You got a date with ol’ boy later?” I knew he was referring to Keith. “Look, you ass. Unlike you I have to actually do some work in order to get paid.” I said while rubbing my hands together to suggest I was talking about money. “What? Football is work. You think that it’s easy running up and down the field in the rain, sleet, snow?” He said as he was pointing to the palm of his hand. “Do it look like I care?” I said as I was getting in my car. “Kait?” Stan said with a concerned tone in his voice. I didn’t say anything. I just stood there waiting for him to say another smart comment. “Please, behave, and if you need to talk…….” I didn’t let him finish his sentence. I just simply rolled my eyes, gave him the bird, and got in the car.
While I was walking up the stairs to the courthouse I could feel eyes watching me in amazement. The guys wanted me and the women hated me. Everyone knew who I was automatically. Another bad thing about being well known in a small town is that everyone knows everybody’s business. Well, almost everybody’s business. They can’t know too much about our personal business if my beautician thinks that I’ve been traveling all over the states doing charity work. Please, who would believe that foolishness? Anyway it felt good to be envied. Even though this wasn’t my choice of work, I knew that in the end it would pay off after a while.
When I entered the building, I noticed a scent that seemed familiar to my nose. I knew I smelled it before but I just wasn’t sure where. I ignored my nose for a minute while I tried to find out where my office was going to be. Then it suddenly hit me where the origin of that smell came from when I saw Keith standing in front of the elevators. He didn’t see me just yet so the question remained if I should make my presence known. Hell yeah I should! If he thought I looked good in some