Appealed (The Legal Briefs 3)

summer, just before junior year—when you had a few of the lacrosse team guys here for the weekend? They were in Cashmere’s crowd of friends.”

It takes me a minute to vaguely recall. “Yeah?”

“I didn’t know they were here, so I came over to see if you wanted to do something. You were all in the pool. I was standing on the back patio, but none of you saw. You were talking about girls . . . about me.”

My stomach knots itself and my eyes drag closed. Because I remember now.

“They said I was weird. That I smelled weird . . .”

My head snaps to her. “You didn’t.”

Her voice is softer than a whisper.

“And they said I was ugly. That they’d have to put a bag over my head if they wanted to—”

“Kennedy . . .” I beg.

Because I want to kill something. Pulverize something. I want to reach into her mind and wrench those memories away so she’ll never have to think about them ever again.

“I left after that.”

I grasp her shoulder. “They were assholes, okay? Stupid and cruel little dicks to say those things. I never said them.”

“No, I know that.” Then some iron comes into her voice. “You never said anything. After they were gone, you came to my house and we hung out . . . just like normal. Because I was good enough to be your friend—as long as no one else was around to see it.”

All I can do is stare at her, pull the words from deep inside, and give them to her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I was a jerk and a pussy for caring what they thought. But I liked you. Blond or brunette, designer clothes or a trash bag—I wanted to be close to you. Even then.”

When her eyes dip, I lift her chin. “If I could go back and change all of that, I would. But this is where we are now. We have to move forward. I’m in love with you. And if it takes awhile for you to wrap your head around that—to wrap your heart around it—then I’ll wait. Because you’re worth waiting for. You always were.”

• • •

Things are upbeat again between us by the time we walk into my parents’ house, holding hands and heading up to my room for a shower.

Until we come to a screeching halt in the foyer.

Because standing there, staring at our entwined hands like it’s a living, breathing miracle—is my mother.

“Hello, darling!” If she smiles any bigger, her face will break in half. “Kennedy, dearest, I can’t tell you what a joy it is to see you again. Here. With Brent.”

“Hi, Mrs. Mason—it’s great to see you too.”

There’s hugs and cheek kisses all around.

I try my damnedest not to sound as disappointed as I feel. “What are you doing here, Mom? I thought you guys were in Saratoga.”

“Your father’s back was acting up, so we had to come home.”

That’s when my father walks past the open doorway of the library, on the phone and pacing, and his back seems just dandy to me.

My eyes narrow on Henderson. And I smell a traitor.

“Did you two have a nice day?” my mother asks.

“Yeah, it was great,” I tell her. “We took the boat out. We were just going to head up and grab a shower.”

So much for christening the ballroom with a blow job.

“That’s nice,” she coos softly. “In case you had planned on other arrangements, I think it’s best that you both spend the night in Brent’s room. And use his bathroom as well—the other rooms in the house, unfortunately, aren’t prepared for guests.”

Poor Henderson looks down right insulted. “Beg your pardon.”

My mother waves her hand, shushing him. “They’re not prepared, Henderson. And that is that.”

Now she’s just creeping me out. It’s one thing if I want to screw Kennedy ten different ways. But to think of my mother cheering us on—sitting on the sidelines with a flag in one hand and a foam cock in the other—is just wrong.

“Okay. Thanks, Mom.”

I lead Kennedy up the stairs. But we’re not in my room for more than two minutes when her phone pings with an incoming message.

She sits on the end of my bed, reading it. From my swiveling desk chair I tap my forehead like a mind reader. “Wait—don’t tell me. Because my mother couldn’t stop herself from telling your mother we’re here—it’s a message from her. And we’ve been summoned to your house for dinner tonight.”

Kennedy sighs and shows me her phone. “You should take your act to Vegas—you’ll be a hit.”

Then she throws herself back onto my bed and blows a frustrated raspberry at the ceiling.

• • •

Dinner at the Randolphs’ is a formal affair. The men wear suits, the ladies cocktail dresses. I had appropriate attire at my parents’, and my mother loaned Kennedy a little black dress she picked up years ago in Paris. I’ll forever be grateful that it still had the tags on—that my mother never wore it. Otherwise, the massive erection it caused when Kennedy walked out of the dressing room could’ve been weird.

The dining room table is long enough to seat thirty and fully appointed. Without the classical music playing in the background, the room would’ve been awkwardly silent through the first three courses.

Because our parents aren’t talking—they’re all just kind of watching us. Expectantly.

Finally, Kennedy’s father attempts normal conversation.

“How’s your Nevada case coming along, princess?”

I frown at her and whisper, “He has a nickname for you? Why does he get to have a nickname and I don’t?”

“Not now, Brent.”

Begrudgingly, I let it go. But she can bet her sweet ass we’ll be talking later—even if I have to tie her to the bed until the discussion reaches its full culmination. It’s possible I’m just looking for an excuse to tie her to a bed.

“It’s going well. I’m confident I’ll be able to secure a second conviction.”

Mitzy clears her throat, signaling that the observation portion of the evening is complete—and the examination segment will now commence.

“Yes, that’s all very nice, Kennedy. But is there anything you would like to tell us? An announcement, perhaps, that it would behoove you to share?”

Kennedy blinks like a blond Kewpie doll. “Nothing comes to mind, no.”

Mitzy throws down her linen napkin and narrows her eyes at her daughter, like a sharp-clawed hawk. “I was at the Prince benefit, young lady. I saw Brent whisk you away after David’s tawdry proposal. So, what I’d like to know—what I believe all of us here are entitled to know—is what exactly is going on between the two of you?”

The cross-examination force is strong in Kennedy’s family. Mitzy Randolph would’ve made a kick-ass attorney.

“Brent and I are . . . friends.”

And fuck me, the benefits are fantastic.

Mitzy huffs. “Don’t be coy, Kennedy—you’re not good at it.”

And I get why Kennedy’s reluctant to share with her mother. It’s like that scene from the original cartoon movie Cinderella. When Cinderella makes her own pink dress from scratch, and her bitchy stepsisters tear it to pieces. For as long as I’ve known her, there’s not a single aspect of Kennedy’s life that Mitzy wasn’t waiting to rip to shreds.

But this’ll be different. Kennedy has me now.

I throw my own napkin down, reach over the table, and take Kennedy’s hand. “The truth, Mrs. Randolph, is Kennedy and I are dating. We’re seeing how things go . . . enjoying each other’s company. Beyond that, it is really none of your business.”

Kennedy is looking at me like I’m the prince that just woke her with a kiss, found her glass slipper, took her on a flying carpet ride, and defeated the evil witch.

And we get lost for a moment—just looking at each other.

Until my mother squeals loud enough to shatter the crystal glasses on the table. She claps her hands together. “You were right, Mitzy! You were so very right!”

“I told you

, Kitty. Just like we planned!”

Kennedy frowns. “What do you mean, like you planned?”

And like the villain from a Batman comic, Mitzy reveals her devious scheme.

“You’re thirty-two years old, Kennedy; you obviously weren’t going to get yourself married. Kitty and I knew that, once we orchestrated your and Brent’s reunion, things would progress. And look how perfect it’s all turned out.”

“You didn’t orchestrate anything, Mother. Brent and I saw each other again at the party. We were assigned to try the same case.”

Mitzy lifts her penciled eyebrows. “And who brought you home—making it possible for you to be at the party and try your little case?”

Kennedy’s jaw hits the floor.

“You said Father was sick! You said he needed tests!”

“A means to an end, darling.”

Her indignant brown eyes zoom to her father. “You had an oxygen tank when I visited! And the”—her hand flutters in front of her face—“the nose thing!”

“That was your Aunt Edna’s oxygen,” her mother volunteers unhelpfully.

Her father has the decency to look ashamed—but only a little. “I just want you to be happy, princess.”

That’s when my mother reenters the conversation. “You know what I can’t decide, Mitzy?”

“What’s that, Kitty?”

“Summer or fall? June is classic, but the threat of thunderstorms will hang over the entire affair. And pish-posh to that ‘rain is good luck on a wedding day’ silliness. There’s nothing lucky about mud and soggy gowns.”

“It will depend on the location,” Mitzi says. “Location is everything. We won’t have it in the city. Perhaps Palm Beach?”

“Mother . . .” Kennedy growls.

“Though the humidity in Palm Beach is atrocious. But definitely outdoors. White tents, green hills, sunset . . .”

Kennedy stands up. “Mother—”