Pop.

There goes that little douchebag, falling down to the floor of the bar like the piece of crap that he is. I can’t believe I fell for a girl who’s still hung up on this loser.

When I first noticed them fighting, I couldn’t believe it. Why would beautiful, successful Riley be with this obvious daddy’s boy?

But then I heard her say that they were dating and that she still wanted to go back to the firm and I gave up trying to understand her. It didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy punching him though.

It’s dark by the time we get outside, and chilly, too.

“Thank you so much for doing that,” Riley starts to say, and tries to take my hand, but I don’t let her.

“There’s no time to talk. Hurry up.”

We walk back to her office, which isn’t far away. I want to tell her to have a nice life. But I look at her, shaking and crying, and realize that even though I’ve become completely disillusioned by her, I can’t just leave her to walk to her office and drive home in her state.

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride home. And you’ll need this. It’s freezing and it looks like it’s going to rain.”

I hand her my leather jacket and helmet and urge her mentally to hurry up. The last thing I need right now is another arrest.

She jumps on behind me and I turn around to ask, “What’s your address?”

She yells it into my ear and I take her to her house in the Northeast Heights, a swanky part of town.

Stepping off the bike, I ask her, “Are you going to be okay getting your car tomorrow?”

She shivers. “Yeah, I have a neighbor who also works downtown and sometimes we car pool. But… do you want to come in?”

She looks at me shyly, as if it was difficult to ask a guy into her house. She obviously doesn’t understand that we’re no longer on the same page.

“Look Riley, you’re a sweet girl and all, and I’m glad you’re helping me on my case. But this will just never work. We’re just too… different.”

“Too different?” She explodes.

“Whoa. There’s no need to use the same tone of voice with me that you were just using with your douchebag boyfriend.”

“Ex-boyfriend.”

I shrug, looking at her earnest face. I wish she weren’t so good looking because it makes all of this that much harder. But no matter what her status is with that jerk, she’s the one who clearly wants to be with him, and back at that sleazy firm.

I can’t believe she’s doing all of this just to get back to working there. And to working around him, no doubt. She was just using me. Like all women do.

“Whatever.”

“What the hell, Jensen? You just now realize we’re two different people? Just because I don’t go around solving all my problems with bar fights, like you do?”

Ouch. That was a low blow.

“You looked like you needed some help,” I say, returning the jab. “Excuse me for stepping in.”

She glares at me.

“And for the record,” I continue, “the assault I was charged with wasn’t a bar fight. I told you, I was defending someone.”

“Yeah.”

She still looks defensive, but curious now, too. I figure what the hell. I don’t even care what she thinks about me anymore.

“Just like I was defending you right now. Except that time was worse. It was… my mother.”

“Your mother?”

“I went to check in on her and she had her boyfriend over—” one of her boyfriends, I want to add, but I don’t— “and he was drunk and belligerent. He just had her up against the counter, pounding into her face with his fists. Obviously, I had to step in. Just like with you. I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. That’s not my way. So I got him off of her.”

“I see.”

There’s only understanding in her voice, not the judgment I feared.

“Sure, maybe I used a little more force than… an average person would use but I’m not an average person. And she’s my mom.”

“I get it, Jensen. I just don’t know why you didn’t tell me sooner.”

“Because my family has already had enough negative talk thrown around about us. I didn’t want to air their dirty laundry in court. Especially not for my dad’s sake.”

Because it’s embarrassing to have a mom who left your dad when you were young, and who has had a rotating door of much worse partner choices ever since, I want to add. And because I cared what you thought about me and didn’t want to have to tell you my deepest, darkest secrets. But none of that matters anymore because I’m no longer interested.

She doesn’t say anything, so I decide to give the death blow to whatever budding “relationship” we might have had going.

“It’s not like you told me everything either,” I accuse her.

“What? I told you why I’m working for Veterans’ Legal Alliance. And why I’m not at the firm anymore right now.”

“Yeah but you conveniently left out the part where you were dating the son of the boss who wanted you to do the wrong thing.”

“Well I didn’t need to tell you that!” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m your lawyer, not your client. It’s different. And we’re not even…”

“…in a relationship,” I finish for her. “I know. Fine. That’s good.”

“Yes it is!” she says, having to shout now over the rain that’s beginning to pour down. Or maybe because she’s that angry. She takes off my coat and hands it to me, along with my helmet.

“Goodbye, Riley.”

“Goodbye, Jensen. I’ll see you at your hearing in a week. Thank you for the additional information as it’s very helpful to me in preparing your defense.”

Pfffft. She’s trying to act so professional and untouched, and I can do the same. I doubt I’ll even be seeing her in a week.

I think another call to Tim is in order. Or maybe to a private attorney. I’ve had nothing but bad luck with these Veterans’ Legal Alliance lawyers. And I don’t think I can bear to see Riley again.