Chapter 6
MEL
The lecture is filling up. I smile as I move my feet, letting two girls past me. They drop into the empty seats in the lecture hall beside me, immediately beginning to talk about the trip they have planned to Europe after graduation.
My heart pangs. Bee and I were going to go to Rome. We were going to see the amazing artwork, drink all the wine, and eat all the pasta. I guess that isn’t going to happen now.
Pursing my lips, I pull up my emails on my laptop, my heart thumping as my eyes land on the top one. Internship Opportunity from Sea Nest Constructions, Inc. My mouth is dry as I click on it, my eyes flickering over the email.
I applied for an internship about a month ago. I hadn’t heard anything, so I assumed I didn’t get it. Sea Nest Constructions is one of the largest construction companies in Seattle. They build all the new residential skyscrapers. They also offer paid internships. They pay peanuts, but it’s better than an unpaid position.
They want me to start in two weeks. Oh my god. This is amazing. I click on the employment contract beginning to read through it. Oh god. This is confusing. They are using so much legal wording. I don’t understand a single thing.
I can’t afford a lawyer. Especially not one who specializes in contracts. Shit. I should have listened better at the last alumni event I worked. That was all about employment contract stuff. I tuned out because they mainly just talked about sports stars. Plus, everything about that night was overshadowed by Pete’s amazing kisses….
Pete. He was at an employment contract alumni event. He must be a lawyer who understands contracts. I dig my phone out as the lecturer walks in. Quickly, I type the message, shoving my phone back into my bag as I get ready to take notes.
MEL: Need employment contract advice. Who should I talk to who won’t bankrupt me?
I need to concentrate. Exams are three months away. If I take this internship, my study time will be eaten up with work. But it will look amazing on my resume and, who knows, maybe they will offer me a job at the end of it. Styling newly built residential condos day in, day out? That’s my dream job.
PETE
My phone buzzes as I read through the deposition transcript for one of my MLB clients. He was caught driving drunk, with weed in his system. The season is over, so if he beats this charge, he’s in the clear with the Mariners. I think we’re going to have to approach the team and see if they will let him off with a fine and a warning if he takes a plea deal with community service.
Reaching for my phone, I grin when I see the name flashing there. Tinker Bell. It’s been almost a month. My dick is hard at the sight of her name on the phone. Jesus. He really must have enjoyed that blowjob.
TINKER BELL: Need employment contract advice. Who should I talk to who won’t bankrupt me?
Smirking, I tap out my response, dropping my phone back down and turning my attention back to the transcript.
PETE: Me. I’ll even bring food. I can be at yours after 6.
My phone buzzes after another hour.
TINKER BELL: Kk
God. I’m feeling my age with that response. She is too fucking young for me. But I can’t back out now without looking like a complete asshole. I’ll give her contract advice, we’ll eat, and I won’t fucking touch her. A buzzing has me casting an eye over my phone again.
TINKER BELL: FYI I’m allergic to cashews.
Frowning, I drum my fingers on my desk. Who the fuck is allergic to cashews? There goes my favorite Thai dish. I’ll pick up a pizza and some beer instead. Safer.
Groaning, I hang up the phone and scrub my face. One side has come to the table. The Mariners have agreed that they'll let Jackson off with a warning if the plea deal is just for community service. I can’t ask for more than that.
Checking my watch, I curse. It’s after six. I need to leave now to pick up pizza and beer and get to Tinker Bell’s. Grabbing my coat and my briefcase, I nod to Paul as I make my way to the elevator bank and down to my car.
There wasn’t a line at the pizza place, so I buzz Tinker Bell’s apartment just before seven.
“Yeah?” her voice rings out, sounding distracted.
“It’s me, Tinker Bell.”
“Oh, okay. It’s before nine. The doors are unlocked.”
I get lucky in that an elevator is waiting. Unfortunately, I don’t have it to myself. A young woman slips in as the doors close, carefully eyeing my pizza and beer.
“I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I’m visiting a friend.”
“Lucky friend.”
We stand in silence as she looks at her phone and I ignore her. A giggling fills the elevator and she snaps a selfie. I’m not in it, so I go back to ignoring her. She is about Mel’s age, but thankfully, Mel doesn’t seem to young.
She gets out when the elevator stops on the third floor, batting her lashes and throwing a flirtatious smile my way.
The doors open with a ding, and I step out, knocking on Mel’s door when I get there. She opens it, looking comfortable in jeans and a sweater, her toenails a sparkly pink, visible as she is not wearing shoes.
“Yum, pizza. Come on in.”
She leads me through her narrow hallway, out to the small living area. There is no table, but Mel has cleared the round, glass coffee table. I place the pizza box and beer down, my eyebrows shooting up as Mel drops two couch cushions on the floor beside the low table.
“Uh, this is a thousand-dollar suit. I’m not sitting on the ground.”
“So take it off,” she calls casually over her shoulder as she grabs some napkins from a drawer in the galley kitchen.
Well, I’m not about to do that. I’ve already told myself I can’t touch her. Sighing, I shed my overcoat and my suit jacket, laying them over the end of the couch. As I roll up my shirtsleeves to my elbows, I catch Mel watching me, licking her lips. Still not a good idea.
Sinking onto one of the couch cushions, I open two beers, holding one out to her. She takes it with a smile, gracefully dropping onto the second cushion. Tapping the neck of her beer bottle with mine, she takes a sip and reaches for a slice of pepperoni pizza.
“Were you always going to bring pizza?”
I chew slowly, propping my arm on my knee and studying her.
“I have a Thai place that is usually my go-to when I pick up dinner, but their specialty dish is cashew chicken.”
“Sounds delicious.”
“It is. What happens if you eat cashews?”
“My lips swell, and my throat closes up. I have an EpiPen in my purse.”
“See, pizza was safer.”
She giggles, sipping her beer and chewing on her pizza.
“So, did you have a perfectly boring day doing sports law things?”
Grinning, I tip my beer bottle at her. “Perfectly boring, attempting to save a multi-millionaire sports star’s career.”
“Lucky you.”
“I’m sure your day was more interesting?”
“Classes. Getting ready for exams.” She sounds sad for some reason.
“Not looking forward to exams?”
“No. I am. Then I can graduate and no more classes.”
“You don’t like your classes?”
“I used to share them with Bee.”