Page 29 of From the Courtroom to the Court
Leah feels somewhat suffocated and, as best she can, pretends to check her wristwatch.
"I have to go," she answers in the same whisper. "I need to stop by my mothers' house, and it's getting late."
Emily frowns. The excuse seems very implausible to her, and she immediately thinks her action wasn't appropriate. Kissing Leah like that was perhaps hasty; she's assumed something she doesn't know for certain, and now the tennis player might feel uncomfortable.
"Dad, give me a minute," Emily requests and approaches Leah. "I'm sorry, did that bother you?"
It's a silly question for Leah because she loved it; the problem is that her body language tells the woman in front of her something different. She can't hide it, she doesn't feel good about what she's done; she has a girlfriend.
"I'm fine, don't worry," she answers and tries to sketch a smile that turns out terrible.
Emily still doesn't believe her, but she doesn't want to pressure her; besides, her father is waiting on the other end of the line.
"Tomorrow, Mia will get in touch with you. Thank you very much, Emily."
The lawyer also sketches a half-smile and watches as the woman who has awakened desires that seemed dormant leaves her house with her head down and without looking at her.
Chapter 15
When Emily enters her office the next day, she still feels the trace of Leah's lips on hers and can't stop smiling. She walks quickly through the room where all the attorneys work in their cubicles, greeting everyone until she reaches her cousin's desk.
"Can you come to my office?" she asks and continues walking without stopping.
Emily's mind is on the previous night, on that kiss and Leah's expression afterward. She noticed her confusion and is sure it was her action that prompted Leah to leave so hastily, but she also wants to trust Leah's word when she said everything was fine, convincing herself that was all it was—Leah just hadn't expected it.
"What's up?" Emma asks, entering her office practically right behind her.
Emily turns around, startled because she hadn't even heard her follow her down the hallway.
"Oh, you're already here, please sit down," she requests with a smile that stretches across her entire face.
"I really don't understand how you can be this happy so early," Emma says, thinking how wonderful it would be to rub her sleepy eyes if she hadn't already applied makeup.
"I kissed Leah last night," Emily blurts out as soon as she sits down.
That's not what she called her cousin in for, but it shot out without her meaning to, and her honest smile doesn't fade.
Emma's mind is very foggy this early, but she doesn't take long to react.
"Again?" she asks and laughs.
"Again?" Emily repeats, confused.
"You kissed her at the club, Emily," Emma reminds her.
Emily blushes when she remembers, and the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stands up.
"Well, but that kiss wasn't important, I mean, it was just the heat of the moment," she justifies.
"Well, in that emotional outburst you could have kissed Mia, even me," Emma narrows her eyes, "but you kissed her. Anyway, that doesn't matter now, tell me about this other kiss, the one from last night."
Emily spreads that all-encompassing smile again, and her cousin feels envious. Even if just once in her life, she wishes she could convey the same sincere joy that Emily does.
"During practice, she asked me to stay afterward because she wanted to discuss something, but I couldn't because I had a meeting with a client here at the office, so I suggested we meet later at my place."
"You never miss an opportunity," Emma points out sarcastically.
Emily smiles and shrugs her shoulders.
