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I sighed. “My best friend is getting married and asked me to perform the ceremony, so I did it online.”
“Got it,” Eric said. “So, now you have a side hustle.”
“Exactly,” I said, stepping to the counter and ordering my sandwiches. “I got the impression we should keep the clients happy and then I got in over my head. I am booked to do them through the summer. Gretchen doesn’t like it, but the other partners appreciate that clients are happy.”
“Clients? More than one?”
I raised an eyebrow and blew out a slow breath. “You’d be surprised how many of our wealthy and powerful clients have children getting married who are dying to be one degree closer to a celebrity.” I didn’t add how surprised he’d be to learn I kind of enjoyed doing it, or how much of a sucker I was when hearing the stories of other couples not related to the firm. I’d said yes to too many of them.
Eric chuckled, thanking the woman at the counter for his food. “I’d pay to see this.”
“See me do a wedding? You don’t have to. The video of Alejandro and George’s went viral.” That had been slightly less fun than a root canal.
“Well, I saw that already. I was up at three a.m. with an infant. I think I saw everything on YouTube.” Eric sipped from his straw,making me wait for whatever he was going to say next. It was one of his more endearing and annoying habits. “Honestly, it was amazing, especially if you pulled it together on the fly. You’re just so unromantic. It was kind of shocking to see you out there, waxing poetic about love,” he mused. “I teared up. I mean, I was sleep deprived and my shirt was stained with either poop or Coke Zero, but still. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Unromantic” was one word for it. Romantic love wasn’t meant to last. I’d never questioned that. It didn’t for my parents, it never had for me, and I made a good living at watching it not last for others. “You know I love being in charge of a room,” I deflected, even though it was a little more than that. It was easy to pretend lovecouldlast for other people, even if just for those few hours. That’s what I’d tapped into when I wrote that first ceremony. I thought about the kinds of things my best friends Britta and Kat would want to hear with their soft, love-receptive hearts. I thought about the things I’d wanted a guy to say to my mom when she started dating again. I thought about the way Eric looked at his husband, and the words came. I was pretending to believe, but I’d come to enjoy the pretending, though no one needed to know that. I’d thought about my last relationship and the peace I secretly wanted and never found and, on the fly, I’d added a line about finding a home inside someone else’s heart. My friends teased me, saying that was the line that made them suspect my anti-romance stance wasn’t as strong as I thought. I assured them I’d googled it even though I hadn’t. Eric didn’t need to know that, though, and he still eyed me. “Plus, maybe I’ll pick up some future clients.”
The woman at the counter handed me the two giant sandwiches, only one of which would fit in my purse and that I could save for dinner. Eric’s tone had shifted to cautious. “You’re being careful, though, right?”
“Yes. I always have condoms handy.” The woman at the counter did a double take before looking away. “Are you worried I’ll go soft being around the weddings?”
Eric barked a laugh. “No. Do you even have a soft setting?”
I knew why he asked. You couldn’t look soft in this job, especially as a woman and definitely as a Black woman. We had to seem intimidating to co-counsel, but not to the judge or jury; we had to convey not only competence but unassailable ruthlessness on behalf of our clients. So maybe having this brief escape where I could be a little soft was a novelty.
I lifted one shoulder. “I only agreed to do them through the end of the summer,” I said. “It’s mostly people connected to Alejandro or the firm. Children of clients. That kind of thing.” Also, several people who Penny talked me into. She was my favorite of the wedding planners I’d worked with, and we’d met shortly after the viral video when the officiant for a real estate developer represented by our firm had to cancel at the last minute. Penny won me over immediately with a no-nonsense approach and a good sense of humor. Penny, who I normally adored, was now on my shit list for hiring that asshole cousin of hers who I ran into in the parking lot.
Eric looked unconvinced, and I added, “Most people spend a few hours a week on a hobby or loved ones.” I shrugged again. “Consider this my puppy.”
“There’s a reason most junior associates don’t have dogs,” he said, but smiled. Eric had a pleasant smile, the reassuring kind. “I know you’re on top of it, though.”
Fifteen minutes later, we hurried back into the building, Eric needing to make a call and me eager to get back to work. I waved as Eric took off toward the stairs, wanting to get the workout, then turned to the elevator, but someone obscured my path and we slammed into each other. My sandwich fell as I stumbled, but another hand saved it from the floor.
“Sorry,” I said, taking a step back and glancing at the sandwich before meeting the man’s face. I noticed his shoes before I saw him. Stylish, but not overly fancy. “Sorry,” I repeated, straightening. “I—”
“We really need to stop meeting like this,” he said, still holding my sandwich in his large, not completely unattractive hand.
“What are you doing here?” I held out my palm to take the sandwich, but he ignored me.
“Well, it’s a law firm.” He gestured around the lobby. “I’m meeting with a lawyer.”
I held out my hand again, moving it toward his, though he didn’t budge.
“Glad to run into you, though. Could we discuss your availability to perform my client’s wedding?”
We can discuss hell freezing over, but it will be a quick conversation.“I’m not taking on any new couples. Penny knows that.”
“We got off on the wrong foot, but my client would really love to work with you. I watched some of your videos and you’re an impressive speaker.” He smiled this kind of charming frat boy smile, and I fought the urge to kick him. I didn’t because I was an adult and a professional... and there were cameras in the lobby.
“I’m busy,” I said, making a last motion for my sandwich. “You, once again, seem not to know the meaning of that word.”
“I am crystal clear on the meaning,” he said, obviously faking his charming smile now. “I also wanted to apologize again for the other day, and since we are both standing here anyway, we could—”
I dragged my eyes from him, noticing Gretchen striding toward us, her heels clicking on the tile floor.Shit.I had a sudden blast of panic about all the things I should have been doing in my office instead of going to lunch with Eric and getting waylaid by this guy. Gretchen had made it clear she wasn’t supportive of the wedding thing, that it could in no way interfere with my work, so I reallydidn’t need her to catch me talking to this wedding planner. I made a grab for my sandwich as she stopped.
“Lear,” she said, a wide smile brightening her entire expression. She opened her arms and pulled him into a hug. “You’re early.”
I stood by, stunned, as Gretchen smiled, held him by both shoulders, and hugged him again. I’d barely ever seen her smile, let alone emote like this.
