Page 64 of Pride & Precedents

Dad looks at me like I'm a petulant child rebelling against bath time.

"That's the job, son. Sure, it's more than a nine to five, but you're helping people."

I start to scoff before catching Dad's glare. I clear my throat instead.

"I don't want to keep bankers' hours, and I know the work I do is important, even if all the worst lawyer jokes are about divorce lawyers. But the pressure has been killing me, Dad. From Yale undergrad, to Yale law, to a prestigious clerkship, to the partner track, and now I'm a partner still proving myself to theseniorpartners." I tick off the list on my fingers. "There was never any break. Never any time to even think about whether all this is what I want."

"Don't be hasty, Jr.," Dad insists in a stern voice. "Don't throw away everything you've worked for just because you're a little burnt out."

My shoulders sag a bit, but I smile warmly at my father. He's my biggest role model, always pushing me to do more, think bigger. But he might have pushed too hard.

"I won't, Dad. I'm not stupid enough to throw all that education and dedication away because of one setback. All I'm saying is I'm going to use this suspension to actually take a break, to think about what I want,whoI want, and to help my little brother get ready to walk down the aisle."

"Here, here!" Noah shouts, raising his glass. I give him a nod and drink from my own. Adam squeezes my shoulder and I catch Mom and Dad sharing a look.

"Everything's gonna be fine," I try to reassure them. "And hey, you'll get to see my handsome face more often!"

Adam laughs and throws a handful of lettuce at me.

"Full of yourself much?" he teases.

Noah puts shredded cheese down the back of my shirt while I'm dusting off the lettuce.

"Hey! What are you, twelve?"

My brothers and I devolve into a minor food fight while Mom just shakes her head. She and Dad don't have to be on board. From now on, I'm done following everyone else's plans for how my life should go. It's time to make some of my own.

Chapter twenty-six

Camila

Ilick the powdered sugar from my fingertips and put the rest of the Pan de Mallorca away in a Tupperware container. When I close the fridge door, I catch a blurry reflection of myself and purse my lips. Finally having time to cook is a blessing and a curse if my widening hips are any indication. Unless I want to end up starring in an episode of "My 600-Lb. Life", I might need to add a walk around Orchard Beach to my new weekly routine. I might even take a dip now that the weather is getting hotter.

I rinse my plate and grab the remote, turning to NY1 News.

"…to avoid taking the 4 and 5 trains around midday today, as increased security for the president's visit to the U.N. will likely cause significant delays. In other news, it's Splitsville for fitness mogul Tanner Moore and Naomi Watanabe, an attorney who recently joined Smith, Weiss & Pratt's environmental division."

I rush to the couch and turn the volume up to hear the male anchor over the sound of my neighbor's daughter practicing the French horn.It's summer vacation already! Give it a rest!

"The divorce was finalized just yesterday, with BBS&P scoring another record-breaking settlement of $42 million for Ms. Watanabe. Insiders close to Ms. Watanabe reported infidelity on Moore's part. This couldn't come at a worse time for Moore, whose company, TanFit, is now reconsidering their planned IPO."

I click off the TV and smile like a fool into the silence.Yes!I might just be a paralegal (for now), but I got to be part of that and so many other major cases. Henry and I made a great team over the years.

Just the thought of Henry dims my smile a bit, but I push through, pulling my overstuffed binder into my lap to start today's first study block. The words are starting to blur together at this point, but I've aced the last two mock exams I took and I feel good. Plus, Henry's stopped texting, so that's…good. No more distractions.

I sigh and open my textbook to the chapter on tax law.Ugh. As someone who used the free software for years until Cynthia in Finance offered to look over my deductions, tax law goes way over my head. It doesn't help that the law has probably changed again since this book was written, or that the tax professor spoke in a monotone voice to rival Ben Stein. Staying awake in that class was a challenge.

Entertainment law, on the other hand, is my sweet spot. Give me copyrights, licensing agreements, and contracts with ten-page riders and I'm golden. I'm already in New York, the second best place behind LA to make a career in entertainment law.

A tiny, wild thought tinkles like a wind chime in the back of my head.Doesn't Henry's brother, Noah, work in entertainment?I shake my head, trying to dispel the idea, but it quickly takes root and spreads.

It's smart to have a job lined up for after I pass the bar. I don't think I can go back to working for Henry…I get up and startpacing.I doubt Noah would mind if I stopped by. It's just a chat, maybe over coffee. What's the worst that could happen?

I wrack my brain, trying to come up with a valid excuse not to contact Noah, but come up blank. Sure, it might be a little awkward to work for my ex's brother. But Henry isn't even really an ex! And he's the epitome of professional. He would never hold it against me for pursuing a legitimate career opportunity in an industry wherewhoyou know outweighswhatyou know ten to one.

With the idea still forming in my head, I slam my textbook closed and jog back to my room. I yank on a navy pants suit and a cream blouse with ruffles around the collar from my closet. It's already been a couple months since Noah met; I need to hurry before he forgets my face.

This was not a good idea. Sitting in a reception area that looks more like an Apple store than a talent management firm, all the reasons I shouldn't have come start rushing through my head.

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