Page 136 of Anti-Hero

“Dad took it well.”

I snort.

“He’ll get over it, Kit.”

I lean the crib against the wall. “We’ll see.”

“Can I be there when you tell Lili?”

“After your super unhelpful contribution earlier? I’m going to tackle it solo, thanks.”

“Dad was going to find out it was her, Kit.”

I sigh. “I know.”

“Want help with that?” He nods toward the crib.

“Maybe later,” I respond.

With the mood I’m currently in, I’m more likely to break the bars than assemble it correctly.

Bash nods and pushes away from the wall. “I’ll order us some pizzas.”

36

“And here is your office!”

For the second time in less than six months, I’m starting a new job. This time, I’m a lot less nervous and a lot more pregnant.

“I wasn’t expecting to have my own office,” I say, glancing around it.

It’s small and windowless, and it smells strongly of Lysol, but it’s an entirely enclosed space that belongs exclusively to me. I could decorate with more than an ill-fatedfern if I wanted.

“You lucked out,” Marcie, another paralegal and my tour guide for the morning, tells me. “Most paralegals start in cubicles. But since Derek had an office and you’re his replacement, it was the easiest swap. Your phone and computer should already be set up. If you have any issues, there are instructions in there.” She points to the packet that I received during orientation this morning. “Or you can call IT. Their number should be preprogrammed in your phone.”

“Great. Thank you.”

“My extension is 2504 if you have any questions.” Marcie smiles. “Welcome to Bradford, Nash, & Monroe.”

I smile back. “Thanks.”

I settle at my desk, log in to my computer, set up my voicemail, then start reviewing documents for the first case I was assigned. I’m sixty pages into a deposition when a knock pulls my attention away from the screen.

“Knock, knock,” he narrates, making me smile.

“Am I supposed to say,Who’s there?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Perry shoves his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know any good jokes.”

My smile grows. “Hey, Perry.”

“Hey.” He glances around my office, tapping a sheaf of papers against his thigh. “They gave you your own office. Nice.”

“Isn’t it? I’ve never had my own office before.”

“Me neither,” he says sheepishly.

“Really?”

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