The Home Court Advantage

Speak of the devil, it was Jess herself, wanting to know what had happened at the police station. I filled her in quickly and then let her know I would be over shortly to grab some more clothes. We had been spending more and more time at Braden’s place and slowly but surely my possessions were making their way there. I also wanted to have a chance to talk to Jess alone about Cam, but as soon as I hung up with her, Braden was offering to escort me. He could be pretty protective too. Actually, he and my dad were a lot alike in general.

“Braden, it’s only two blocks.” Silence. “In daylight.” He continued to stare. “In a major city.” No response. “The guys are going to be here soon?” We had a winner, folks!

“Fine. Take Bruno then and invite Jessica to come back with you.”

“Yes, dear.” I smiled sweetly and leaned up to kiss him goodbye. Bruno and I headed out, hopped into the elevator and descended to the opulent Art Deco style lobby of the luxury high-rise where Braden lived. I waved to the concierge, and let the doorman know we would be right back. Braden had made it clear to everyone in his building that I was a permanently welcome guest and future resident. I was barely outside when I started to get a funny feeling. The back of my neck felt prickly and I got goosebumps, even though it was very warm outside. I paused to try to process it and realized that it felt like somebody was watching me. I looked around me in every direction, and while there were plenty of people out and about, everyone seemed to be going about their own business. I told myself that it was just my imagination and Bruno and I headed off down the sidewalk. As we walked, the little hamster on the wheel inside my head starting running faster. What if it wasn’t my imagination? What if whoever wrote the notes was following me? That would explain how they knew I was in New York. Great, just what I needed; more weird things going on. Then that thought sunk in and I stopped in my tracks, nearly causing Bruno to do a back flip as his leash became taut. It must be difficult to be that small. He turned around to give me an inquisitive look.

“That is what we need Bruno, more weird stuff! Jess and Cameron got to know each other and spend time together when they were helping Mommy. If they help her more, they’ll spend more time together.” Hey, maybe there was an upside to being stalked by some wacko. Who knew?

CHAPTER TWO

The apartment that Jess and I shared was also in a very nice building, although not nearly as luxurious as Braden’s. I greeted our own front desk guy, Carl, who I thought was a little afraid of me. I really couldn’t blame him. This was a building filled with nice upper middle class people and I had shown up in our lobby covered in garbage and dressed like a dominatrix.

I took the elevator to our floor and dug my keys out of my purse. Opening the door, I called out to Jess, who called back from her bedroom to let me know that she would be right out. Then I took Bruno off his leash, and as per his custom, he took off to go check the place out. Bruno was always the point man. Mommy wasn’t allowed past the front room until he gave the all clear. I took out my cell and quickly alerted Braden to our safe arrival before he had the National Guard out looking for us, and then I went into the living room and plopped down in my favorite comfy chair. We had spent many an evening in this living room drinking wine and sharing gossip. I was going to miss it. Jess came out a minute later, escorted by Bruno.

“Braden let you out on your own?” she asked, taking a seat across from me and putting her feet up on an ottoman.

“I have my attack dog.” I looked down at my teeny tiny Chihuahua who I was sure would yip his ass off for me if I were in danger. The fact that nobody might care was another issue. Bruno placed two tiny front paws on my leg and gave me an imploring look not unlike the one I frequently gave Judge Channing. Bruno and Mommy both knew how to beg. I picked him up and settled him into my lap, rubbing him behind his ginormous ears. He made the doggie equivalent of a sigh. Bruno loved to be rubbed. He and Mommy had that in common too. “He asked if you would come back with me though,” I added.

“For Game Night?” She didn’t look thrilled.

“Yeah, I know, pizza, beer, and sports we don’t fully comprehend may not sound like a magical evening, but Cameron will be there,” I said with a big suggestive smile.

“And?” she asked, brushing some imaginary lint off of her sleeve. Ah - the imaginary lint brush - a classic evasive maneuver. I had used it myself on many an occasion. Lawyers knew all about this stuff because juries watched our body language very carefully. Two could play at that game though. I went to law school too.

“And so, you guys are getting along really well. Maybe it’s time to explore something more than friendship.” I gave her the earnest sincere look. She countered with the dismissive eye roll but I didn’t buy it. I knew what she was thinking about exploring.

“He was here alone with me for hours last night. He could have explored a whole continent if he had wanted to. We talked; we laughed. There was some sexual tension but he didn’t do anything.” She shot me a raised eyebrow – a direct challenge. I sidestepped it with the thoughtful look, complete with the lean forward, to demonstrate my sincerity.

“I suspect he overthinks it with women he’s interested in for more than a night.”

“Great. Just what I need.” She sighed. “An over-thinker. That’s usually the same thing as an under-committer.” I needed to make her understand that this was well within her power.

“I know that he wants to explore more but he may need a little nudge.”

“What kind of nudge?” she asked suspiciously. Why did everyone seem to distrust me?

“I don’t know. Maybe you should just kiss him. He wouldn’t refuse that and then you could talk about the details before doing anything else.” I paused as the irony sunk in. “That last step was the one that I forgot myself before our wonderful college encounter, incidentally.”

“Kiss him! That’s your plan, General MacArthur? Okay, Should I do that in the office with our two hundred colleagues or in open court? Maybe I’ll just do it at Game Night so that Adam and Mark can cheer me on. I can’t count on even being alone with him unless we go on a date, let alone kissing him out of the blue.”

“So maybe you should ask him out, then.”

“No. I’m not making the first move and I’m not asking him out. I want him to do it because I need to know that he’s worked through whatever he feels about you and Braden being together. Besides, I may be a shameless hussy but I’m kind of an old-fashioned shameless hussy in some ways. Braden asked you out.”