Chapter 14

Kya

After I picked up Addison at school, we went to the market for a roll of cookie dough big enough to choke a horse and a few other things I needed. We’d gone home, and I busied myself baking cookies and tried not to think about Leonard. He’d call when he called, and all the pacing in the world wasn’t going to make it happen any faster.

As the timer went off, he’d called, and I’d been so distracted by his invitation and his refusal to listen to my bitching, I nearly burned the last batch.

Addie had fixed a basket of cookies, which she now held in her lap as we pulled into Sadie’s driveway. Though it wasn’t unusual for us to bring dessert when going to Sadie’s for dinner, I had also hoped the sweets would work as a bribe.

I shut off the car, and we had barely made it out when Sadie opened the door. “Just in time. I have dinner almost ready.”

Addie ran over and gave Sadie a big hug. “I’ve missed you. Mama let me bake you some cookies!”

“I see that.” Sadie looked at the cookies, and then her eyes turned up at me and widened. “Wow, I didn’t realize this was a special occasion.” She got a suspicious look on her face, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do a dump and run so easily without explaining myself first.

“Yeah, well, I was hoping you and Addie might want a little time to goof around together.”

Addie went inside, leaving the two of us behind as she hurried into the kitchen.

Sadie led me in, and we stopped in the living room. “That depends. Do you have a date?” Her narrowed eyes met mine. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”

“I’m not. And this isn’t a date per say. More like a business meeting with an old friend.”

Sadie folder her arms across her front. “Business? As in band business?”

“Yes. Look, don’t make a big deal out of this, but I had to see him.”

“Him? Oh shit, you mean Leonard?” She looked over her shoulder, and I glanced over it to see that Addie was in the kitchen putting her cookies on the table where she’d climbed up in her usual seat.

“Yes, I went down to chew his ass out, and he wouldn’t talk to me. He gave me his card so I could text him my number, and he wanted to have a private dinner to talk. I think he just doesn’t want me to beat his ass.”

“Please. He probably wants to ride yours.”

I shook my head, determined. “Not going to happen.”

Sadie wasn’t buying it. “Ha! Tell me, was he handsome?”

I thought about how he looked and other than the shock of my being there, I had to admit, “He was gorgeous. He looks even hotter now that he’s matured even more. It’s like he’s better with age. He still has the facial hair that I loved the last time I saw him.”

“You’re getting that sound in your voice. The one where you’re mooning over a guy. And if you can do that after just a moment talking about him, you’re going to end up back in bed with him. He’s your kryptonite.”

“Fuck that. He’s just a man, someone from my past, and you’re the one who wanted me to tell you what he looked like. He can’t help but be handsome.” I couldn’t help thinking of him in that way. His eyes were so brown and deep set that they were permanently shadowed and dreamy, and his body, that big package combined with his strong, muscular frame, it made me grow warm inside.

I came around and turned my attention back to Sadie. “So, will you watch her? I’ve got to be down there in half an hour. I don’t want to be late.”

“What are you going to say?”

“I’m going to keep it simple. He doesn’t need to know shit about my life. But I’m going to ask him why he’s doing this to me.”

“That’s not a good idea, Kya. It’s like a conflict of interest or something. I’m sure our lawyer is going to flip out when we tell her you know Leonard on a personal level.”

“Which is another thing I’m going to cover. How this is even possible. He should excuse himself from the case on that basis. Instead, he’s making press conferences and sticking his nose right in it. I want to know why. I’m not going into this not knowing.”

“Fine. But tell me what happens.” She pulled me in for a hug. “We’re going to eat your share of the cookies and do our nails. You have fun.”

“Save me one,” I called out to Addie as I headed to the door. “I love you, sweet pea.”

Addie came around the corner eating one. “Bye, Mama.”

I shut the door and headed to the car, hoping I was doing the right thing. I didn’t need this to be a date or any kind of rekindling. What I needed was for him to explain himself and us to get the shit from our past cleared up. I had always thought of us as at least friends, but this had been the worst thing a so-called friend had ever done to me.

I got to the address he told me about and found it to be a small yet classy place. I gave my name to the hostess, and she led me back to a small area with a private table all alone.

My waiter came right away, and I ordered a glass of wine, which I drank, and then checked my lip gloss a few times and then my phone for any messages from Sadie or Addie, but there was none.

I was just about to ask for my check when Leonard came into the room dressed like a million bucks in his tailored suit and joined me at the table. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I got caught up in a meeting with a prospective client.”

“It’s fine.” I didn’t need to hear his excuses. I could barely look at him. I turned my head and tried to focus across the room.

“You look beautiful, Kya.”

I glanced over and found him staring at me with a longing in his eyes that was the same one I felt.

“Please, save it. I want an answer, Leonard.”

“Call me Leo, please. And I will give you an answer, Kya, but it’s not going to be enough.”

“You’re right. It won’t unless you can make me understand it because I can’t think of any good reason you’d do it.”

“My father expects it.”

“Your father? Jesus, I’ve known him my whole life too. I guess that’s why you think it’s okay to shit on someone you’ve known your whole life because the old man taught you it was.”

He met my eyes. “It’s not about you.”

I fought the urge to kick him under the table. The two of us had grown up wrestling around in the backyard back when I thought I needed to be tough to hang with the boys. I’d taken him a time or two then, and I wished I could make him eat a handful of dirt for dinner. “How can you say that? You’re defending the man suing me.”

He held his hand up, his palms facing me like he needed to hold me back. “I mean that this has nothing to do with our pasts.”

I wasn’t about to go there with him. I sure didn’t need to talk about my personal life. “Are you sure about that?”

“I’m positive. Look, you have your life, and I have mine.”

“Right. And never the two shall meet. I get it. I got that when you ran out the last time like your head was on fire.” And he didn’t even care to ask me about it, not that I’d want him to. And it wasn’t like I cared what kind of skank he was seeing.

“I just mean it’s been a while,” he defended. “We’re different people.”

“Yes, we sure as hell are. So I need to know, the private dinner, the panic earlier—if it’s not such a good idea that we’re seen, why not excuse yourself? There has to be some law against defending someone against me.”

He nodded. “Normally, I’d excuse myself.”

That sounded good to me. “There. Do that. Excuse yourself.”

“No, I cannot do that. I already tried to get off the case, and my father said no. He needs me to take the reins. I did pull another member of my team over, so if it makes you feel more comfortable in the courtroom, I’ll have him speak directly to you.”

I feigned laughter and rolled my eyes. “Oh, thanks for making me comfortable while you’re trying to ruin my life. You’re such a fucking prince.”

He stopped and stared at me a moment. Then, his jaw dropped, his face turning red. “I don’t want to do the case any more than you want me to, trust me.”

“Whatever.” I sat back in my chair as the waiter came and brought more wine. Then, Leonard ordered us food despite me saying I wasn’t hungry. Like he had to help me keep up my strength or something.

“You need to eat. I don’t want you to go hungry.” He gave me a warm smile, and though it made me want to smile, I fought the urge.

“Like you care.”

“Look, Kya. I was young and stupid the last time we saw each other. I admit, refusing you felt good for a few hours. You broke my heart. I just wanted you to know what I felt. I’m sorry.”

I looked down into my wine glass. “I went after you, you know. But when I got downstairs, you were gone. I wanted a redo with you and had always dreamed I’d get another chance. When you showed up that night, I hoped I could.”

“I was miserable if it helps.”

“It doesn’t. That young man is a memory, and the thought of you going up against me makes me sick.” I looked up from the glass and shook my head. “He’s guilty, you know. I’m not sure if he’s told you. But I have proof that—”

He waved his hand. “I can’t even talk about that. No details.” He cleared his throat and straightened his tie. “I shouldn’t even have met you here. I just wanted the chance to tell you it wasn’t anything personal.”

“Drop the case.”

He turned his eyes away. “I can’t. I won’t.”

The words stung. “For me?” There was a time when he would have done anything for me, and I liked to think that when it came right down to it, he still would.

He shook his head and then took a long pull from his drink.

My heart filled with anger and grief. He may as well have been dead to me, and it wouldn’t have hurt any worse.

“I can’t believe the day has come when you’re back to letting people bully you. I thought you’d changed.” I got up and stepped away but turned back. “The old you was a hell of a lot easier to like.” While I walked away, he made no attempt to come after me, which was good because I’d probably turn around and knee him in the nuts.

I made it to the door before I broke down in tears. Of all the people in the world I thought would be big enough to put aside pettiness and help me, he had proven me wrong. But then, I’d never asked him for anything, so maybe I’d known deep down all along that was a lie.