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He says it so plainly, so easily, with no fuss or preamble. I hide my face with my coffee for a moment so as not to show how touched I am by his choice of technology setting.
Jackson doesn’t wait for me to say anything. He reaches under the table and gently squeezes my leg, brushing his thumb back and forth along the inside of my knee, sparking awareness with every movement.
“It’s Grandfather,” he says to no one in particular, leaving his hand on my leg as he answers. “Good morning,” he speaks into the phone, his thumb still moving rhythmically against the satin of my pants, almost absentmindedly.
I can’t hear what his grandfather says, and I wouldn’t be able to with how loud my heartbeat is in my ears at our nearness.
“I see. Well, that won’t be possible.” Jackson listens before continuing on, “No, it isn’t the date; it’s the location.” His thumb stops, slowly driving me crazy, but it’s the only indication that the conversation isn’t moving as planned. “I see, well if that’s the case, you know my answer. I will make sure to send in the appropriate documentation first thing Monday morning. Take care.” And he hangs up, sets his phone down, and starts eating.
I glance at Linda, who is on the edge of her seat like me, wondering what the hell we partially heard. Fortunately, she has no filter and jumps in.
“What was that? Seemed like a fairly important conversation for a Saturday morning.”
I cross one leg over the other, angling my body toward Jackson more. He bumps his knee next to mine and slides his bare feet closer so we’re touching. Leaning back in his chair, he attempts to hide his grimace as he sips his coffee.
He doesn’t appear relieved or even nervous. He seems calm, almost settled. Like this decision was made weeks ago, and everyone else is only now catching up.
“That was me quitting Morrison Rose.”
28
JACKSON
Idon’t think a bomb going off would have caused more destruction than my statement of leaving my job.
My mother, who always has something to say, can’t seem to form a coherent sentence. “How did—Why—Who said?”
My girl seems to take pity on her and poses the question. “We never heard a formal resignation from you, or even a topic that seemed hostile. Can you explain how a seemingly boring conversation turned into you leaving employment at the best law firm in the Pacific Northwest?”
Even on a day of rest, Phoenix can’t take the lawyer out of her. I love it.
I take a bite of bacon as they stare me down with anticipation. “I knew the acquisition wasn’t happening. I had an inkling, even before your presentation.”
“Ah, the one with the jackass photo?” My mom reaches into her robe and shows us her lock screen, which is indeed the photo Phoenix had photoshopped. “Nessa sent it to me last night. When I named you Jackson, I never realized how close your name was to Jackass.” My mom bobs her head back and forth as if she has put two pieces together. “Sometimes, the universe gives us happy accidents, I guess.”
“Mom! Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?” Bewilderment fills me at my mother selling me out.
“Eh, if the shoe fits.” She takes another bite, unperturbed. “Anyway, go on.”
“Right. Even before the acquisition went to hell, I knew I wasn’t leaving Cascadia. After the entire debacle, I also knew I wouldn’t work at Cascadia Legal Partners. I stayed on long enough to make sure the situation was tied up, which occurred yesterday evening.”
“What are you going to do then?” Phoenix says with a smile as she bumps my knee under the table. “You know, rent is still due on the first.”
My head tilts back in a laugh. Leave it to Phoenix to lighten the mood with a serious logistical statement.
“Don’t worry, I have more than enough to not be sent to debtor’s prison, my dear Proprietress.” My voice takes on my Regency accent, and her cheeks pinken.
“Between my idiot brothers—”
“Hey now! I birthed those idiots, thank you!” Mom pipes in to their defense.
“Well, between Jordan’s wild tech ideas and James’s security contracts, those two will keep me plenty busy. All their work is contract reviews anyway. I rarely need to be in person. Plus, Sam is looking at growing his business, and Jared is going to need a ton of help when his new program is ready for the market.”
Her coffee stops halfway to her lips, and the realization hits her that I have been planning this. My life in Cascadia was decided when a dark-haired beauty tried to ruin my fries with sugar instead of salt.
“However, if Lane Legal Services is hiring, I would submit my application there for sure.”
Her thumb traces the rim of her full-caff coffee. “Lane Legal Services,” she starts, “only exists because you nearly destroyed my career.”
