We had a great time until some guy named Mac walked in and Juliet got very quiet and uncomfortable. She made it clear on our way home that she didn’t want to discuss it. I won’t ask. She’ll talk when she wants to.
He was cute, though, and obviously excited to see her there, if his blatant staring had anything to say about it.
“Carolyn emailed me back saying Pierre is holding shoots for me.”
“No way! What a bitch.”
“I didn’t go into gory details, but I was clear that our argument landed me in the fucking hospital.”
“It’s your business, not mine, but I’ll remind you that there are other agents that would fight tooth and nail for you. And wouldn’t suggest working with your abuser.”
I just thought she’d be on my side. Maybe that’s naïve, but I’m the one who has been making her money, not Pierre.
“Have you heard any more about your case?”
“Nothing good,” I say. “I was hoping to avoid it. But I think I need to talk to an attorney.”
“Maybe someone in PR, too. It’s been kept quiet, so far, but that can change quickly. Better to get ahead of it.”
“Probably should have done all this right away,” I say. “It was stupid to think I could handle it on my own.”
“Hey, you weren’t being stupid. You were doing the most important thing, which was safely healing,” she says. “I’m going to forward you Luke’s PR contact. Her name is Vivian; she’s a ballbuster who knows her shit. I don’t think I can help with an attorney, though.”
Juliet grabs her phone at the same time there’s a knock on the sliding glass door that leads out to the backyard. It’s Grady. I release the lock and let him in.
“Do I smell coffee?”
“Yes, want a cup?”
“Please. My pot isn’t brewing this morning. I think it’s finally dead.”
“Do we need to plan a memorial?”
“We should,” he says, grinning. “It’s the only coffeepot that house has ever seen, it’s at least as old as me.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-two. And you?”
“I’m a couple weeks away from being twenty-nine.”
“Oh yeah? When’s your birthday?”
“June twenty-sixth,” I answer.
“That will be here before you know it,” he says, pulling a mug from the cupboard, already knowing where they’re stored. He must have spent a lot of time here.
“If you two are done flirting over birthdays,” Juliet says, getting our attention, “I’ve sent the contact to your phone, Lou. Grady, do you know an attorney that does more than divorce?”
“More, in what way?”
“For my case,” I say. “Someone who can review it, see if they can push for more action.”
“I’m meeting with my guy before I pick up Paige. I’ll ask him for a referral.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“I appreciate this,” he says, holding up the mug before he waves and leaves out the slider.
