Page 60 of Ugly Duckling
“You’re not really pregnant, are you?”
I snorted. “No. I have one last Olympics in two years. I can’t afford to be pregnant. Hence the birth control in my uterus.”
“Then I’m not worried about what you said,” he offered. “Honestly, it actually kind of helps.”
My shoulders slumped. “Let’s go have some Mexican food.”
He offered me his arm, and together we walked inside.
And we enjoyed the hell out of some Mexican food.
Fourteen
Don’t ever let a recipe tell you how many chocolate chips to put in. You measure that shit with your heart.
—Gunner to Lottie
GUNNER
“Hello?”
“Boss,” Yates said carefully. “I’m not going to be able to make it into work today. I had something come up.”
“No problem,” I said as I headed for the courthouse. “Just call Ramsey and see if he can pull someone off our other job and get over to yours. I can’t be there today. I have something.”
“No problem,” he murmured.
I hung up and slipped the phone into my pocket, wondering how many other calls I would be getting today while I dealt with this bullshit.
Just as I reached the door to head inside, a loud bark of “wait” came from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to see Audric hustling up the steps that would lead him to me.
“What are you doing here, buddy?”
“Came to offer my character witness if I need to.” Audric shook his head. “Creole’s on her way as well, but she’s driving in from the airport. She’ll be a bit behind me.”
“Thanks, man,” I said. “Sutton’s on her way as well, but she had a few clients this morning that she had to do first thing. She’s coming after she’s done with that.”
“Sweet,” Audric grumbled. “I can’t believe they’re still fucking trying this. I hate them.”
A sniff from behind us had us both looking back to see the Combs heading our way.
The sniff had come from Paula, who’d likely heard Audric’s words.
Not that either one of us cared what they heard.
They obviously needed to hear that shit.
Hell, maybe they’d never heard the word no enough as a child, either. That was why they were both so entitled.
Audric greeted them with a leering grin and said, “Well, hello. Funny we’re meeting here of all places. Again.”
Neither one of them said a word as they walked toward our courtroom for the day.
Audric opened his mouth to reply when Malone stepped up to our side and said, “Audric, need I remind you that your passive-aggressive comments aren’t helping?”
Audric snapped his mouth shut. “I’m not doing anything.”
