We spend the next little while all talking and just coming down of the euphoria of a successful result. I don’t say anything, but in my heart, I also have the weight of knowing my actions have just put the wheels in motion for another person to end up in prison. I’m okay with the process of sending people who break the law and do the wrong thing to jail. I just struggle with it being me putting people there. Which is a ridiculous thing to feel as a lawyer, but it’s just who I am. I’ve never shared that with anyone, and I know if my mother had even an inkling, she would lecture that out of me over and over again. Mother is telling everyone I will become a judge; how could I possibly have a hidden moral weakness? It would never be good enough in her eyes. She’d tell me to ignore such nonsense and just do my job which is putting the bad people in jail. I hate to tell her, but it’s not always the bad people that are the ones sent to jail. Money and power talk in this system. Justice can be bought, and that infuriates me.
Tonight calls for a celebration, though. After Michelle and her husband leave, I turn to Greta and Blaine.
“Dinner and drinks on me, we’ve earned it,” I say, picking up my bag and files.
“Anytime the boss is footing the bill, who am I to say no?” Greta laughs as she also picks up all her files.
“Well, I’ll be there because I need to watch the shifty guy that just asked my wife on a date. Plus, it’ll be even funnier having him pay for my dinner while he tries to hit on her in front of me.” Blaine slaps me on the back of the shoulder.
“See, that’s where you are wrong. I’m trying to teach you how to treat her right, so you stop being the second fiddle in this situation.” Greta just rolls her eyes at both of us and walks out. She knows it’s all in good fun, and she just ignores us both.
Another day over, and after dinner I’m again sitting on my balcony watching the city wind down at the end of a week. Friday night is where you finally take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Ridding yourself of all the crap from the week with it. I’m not even bothering with a drink tonight. After a few red wines with dinner, I just feel like sitting and relaxing. Today was intense, and my mind is still hanging on the uneasy feelings that keep crawling under my skin.
I think I need a vacation. Somewhere far away from here. Sunshine, a beach, beautiful ladies, and not one lawyer in sight. Actually, maybe we need a boys’ trip. We haven’t had one in a long time. This adulting takes away all the fun. Either way, I think I need a break from reality for a while. It’s been too long since I didn’t have to worry about being anywhere on time or fulfilling my duties as the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Dustin Jefferson II. I want a day where I get out of bed and think, What am I going to do today? Oh, actually maybe nothing. Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen. Even on my weekends there’s work stuck in my head. It’s hard to switch it off.
My phone starts buzzing on the table. I ignore it.
I know it’s her.
I just can’t tonight.
It rings next. As it goes unanswered, several messages come through, then another call. Since I’m not replying, then my intercom phone from the front desk is ringing. She’s really not taking no for an answer tonight. I’m sorry, Austin. You will just have to deal with her crap tonight, because I don’t have the energy to.
I leave it an hour and open her messages but don’t read them. I just type what I need to say.
Lex: We need to talk. Meet me at the grower’s market tomorrow morning. Pick a time.
Jacinta: 10am sharp and don’t be late. You pissed me off tonight.
Lex: 10am. See you then.
I don’t even enter into her baiting me, so she can start her rant. As I stand and lock up on my way inside, turning everything off as I walk upstairs to my room, I know what I need.
Throwing my phone onto my bed, stripping my clothes off, I step into my en suite and my huge shower that is big enough for four people easily. The hot water starts to pound down on my shoulders, and I stand under the stream with my head dropped forward. I wash the day away and try to clear the fog that is stuck there. The problem is I don’t really know what the fog is from, just that it’s there and it’s making me feel like shit.
Dragging my weary body from the shower, drying off, I crawl into my large king-size bed. I can’t help but laugh to myself. The huge and very expensive bed has only ever had me sleep in it. I’ve never shared it with a woman. I’ve always used one of the other rooms. I like my space to be perfect and untouched by chaos. I could roll over three times and still not fall out the other side.
I’m lying here thinking stupid facts. It’s definitely time to close my eyes and get some sleep. Before I become even crazier than I feel already. I need sleep to deal with seeing Jacinta at the market in the morning. I’ve got a feeling it won’t end well.
The sound of the market is getting louder as I walk up the sidewalk. Getting close to the entrance to the park. Watching all the people coming and going with their bags of fresh produce. As the crowd parts, I see Bella, Grayson’s sister, just in front of me walking towards the road with her head down.
Shit.
She’s not looking at the car coming towards her. Panicking, I lunge out and grab her. Pulling her backwards, we fall on to the footpath with a thud. She scrambles quickly to her feet.
“Lex, oh god, thank you.” She looks shocked as to what just happened.
“Shit, Bella, what are you trying to do? Get yourself killed or something? You didn’t even look.” My words rush out sternly. Fuck, just what I need to start the day, having to call Gray and explain his sister just got run over in front of my eyes.
“Sorry, I was preoccupied. I don’t know how I missed that. Thank you for saving me.”
I roll my eyes at her. “Like I haven’t been doing it most of your life. Just like I’m constantly saving the other boys. One day I’ll just stop being there to catch you. Then all of you will be fucked.” I grab her and hug tightly. This girl is like a little sister to me. I’ve known her since she was five and not long before she and Gray lost their mother to cancer. She is just as special to me as the guys are.
“Oh, stop complaining. What would you do with your life if you weren’t being our hero half the time?” Slapping me on the chest, she looks up at me with those same eyes of the little girl that we all fell in love with.
She’s right, though. I’ll never admit it, but I love hovering over them all, making sure they’re safe. It’s what I’m good at. Being in the background and keeping everything in order. Picking up after them.
“Maybe then I’d have time for a life of my own,” I say to her, knowing I’m full of shit, but it sounds good right now.
Chatting and heading into the market, she starts talking about a crazy lady Martha and her husband George. Before I know it, I’m being dragged through the market to meet them and listen to some crazy words. George calls me her boyfriend and then Martha corrects him, saying that I’m one of the friends, a protector, and not the boyfriend. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. What boyfriend? I don’t know anything about a boyfriend, which means Gray doesn’t either. Oh shit, today is already full of surprises.