Page 2 of Beachy Sweetheart
“A month, and that’s not negotiable. One month. I don’t care what you do or where you go, but an entire month.”
“That’s too long.”
“It’s too short. Damn it, Andy. Just take the time off. You’ll feel better, I promise. And don’t worry about us. We’ll be here when you get back. Well, Missy won’t be because of the baby, but everyone else? The firm will still be standing, promise.”
“When is the baby shower?” I scratch my chest and look away.
“Two months ago. Don’t worry, we forged your name on the card.” Kevin grins at me for a moment before it fades. “You used to know everything about everyone. Before you would have planned the baby shower, now you’re so distant we’re all wondering what happened.Didsomething happen?”
“No,” I lie.
“Would you tell me if something had happened? We used to tell each other everything, but you’ve changed. I want my carefree friend back. The one that would laugh and play jokes. Not—” He waves his hand at me. “This serious, boring stiff.”
“People change. And people’s lives are in our hands, Kev. We need to take that seriously.”
Kevin’s face drops and I’m sure he realizes what I’m keeping quiet. Six months ago I lost a huge case, then my client took his own life.
“That wasn’t your fault.” Kevin walks around my desk to take my shoulders in his hands. “That wasn’t your fault.”
“It was.” Even though my therapist says it’s not, I can’t get it out of my head. Had we won the case, the man would still be alive.
Kevin shakes me. “No, it wasn’t.” He cups the back of my head and forces me to look at him. “No one could have predicted what he was going to do.”
“That’s what Dr. Carrie says, but?—”
“No buts. Actually, you don’t get the weekend to decide. You’re booking a trip before lunchtime or I’m buying you out.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No. You need to find yourself again. I’m not going to watch you disintegrate before my eyes.”
“Disintegrate?” I laugh.
“Yes, disintegrate. You’re falling apart and I don’t want to continue to watch it. I’ll be back a few minutes after noon. You better have a trip booked.”
“What if I want to stay home and read?”
“Not acceptable. You need to get out of your house.”
I huff out a breath. “Fine. Beach vacation it is. Or maybe the mountains. I’ll figure it out.”
He pats me on the back. “Thank you.”
“You owe me a margarita.”
“I’ll do you one better. I’ll take you out to lunch to celebrate your vacation.” He squeezes my shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few hours.” He turns on his heel and leaves as if he didn’t just threaten to upend my entire life.
2
TREVOR
My heart sinkswhen I look at the schedule. I’d asked for this weekend off two months ago, but mom either forgot or decided not to let me have it.
“What’s up, buttercup?” Liam, one of our food truck operators, throws his arm over my shoulder and scans the schedule.
“Mom scheduled me for this weekend,” I mumble.
“So? It’s not like you have a life. You’re always either here or at your dad’s hotel.”
