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“Okay,” she says softly “Sounds like a game plan ”

I give her a ss and leave her office

But there are so h the to be able to move on from her

The next day, I’h the workday after another shitty, sleepless night I drearaphic dreahtmare I don’t even re pulled away fro pulled out of my chest I woke up covered in sweat and depressed as shit

I couldn’t go back to sleep so I dragged

A soft knock onthere, and I’m so not ready to deal with her In fact, I haven’t had time to even talk to Bill about the situation

“We need to talk,” Kylie says nervously “I’s straight with you ”

Glancing at o down to the cafeteria to grab so to eat We can talk there ”

She raises her eyebrows at me in surprise because I’m sure she never expected me to talk to her in so public of a foru to put ain I don’t know Kylie, but I do know she’s got no qualave her any indication he’d want one There is no telling what she h to knooman scorned is not a woman you want to fk with Marissa imparted that advice to me and I’ve apparently taken it to heart For once, I’m happy to have major trust issues omen because it makes me cautious I wouldn’t put it past her to try to putsituation and then claim I sexually harassed her

Standing up from my desk, I walk past her and assu It has a pretty decent cafeteria, and although I usually work through lunch sustaining , it’s a nice alternative and super convenient

Kylie actually makes small talk with me about the Pearson appeal, and I keep half an ear open because I’ the case back over soon When Kylie lays her ar about the case, I have an ih to take this conversation into a public place She’s clearly not as embarrassed about what happened as she claims to have been She may not be eoing to cul for a new job

When I get to the register, I pay forfor Kylie’s so as toas to our relationship Very soon, she’ll be very clear about it

Picking my tray up, I scan the rooht, primary-colored plastic chairs A flash of raven-colored hair catchesat a table with Cal She’s staring right at me

And for the first time since I can remember, I don’t have a flash of hate fill me when I see Cal I don’t even feel awith my lover

Well, ex-lover

If anything, I’ about Probably me, no doubt, but that doesn’t even upset me

It’s quite a, and I have to wonder… did it really make a difference the information that Mac shared with me about what happened between Cal and Marissa? I had purposely not tried to dwell on it in the last several days, instead having quite enoughover Mac But now, I have to wonder… because I’ether

Oh, I still have brutal longing when I see Mac, and that eed and not sure it will But I don’t feel even a tinge of anger at seeing her with him Just sadness and inquisitiveness as to what they’re discussing

As Mac looks atacross the expanse of the roo As if she were happy to seethis past iped clean I let aze wander to Cal for aa document

I don’t even hesitate but head over to where they’re sitting I don’t knohy, and don’t knohat I plan to do I think I just want to stand close to Mac, even if just for a uely hear the click-click of Kylie’s heels as she follows aze pinned on Mac Her eyes widen when she realizes I’ to their table and she actually kicks Cal under the table, causing his head to snap up She tilts her head into rest on me

When I reach them, Cal nods his head at me and says, “Matt ”

I nod back in acknowledge sure that I say she’s a “contract” attorney so the temporary nature of her time with our firm is reiterated Cal shakes her hand and asks her about her appellate work, and I take a er, no bitterness

Nome, that’s for sure, and that does hurt a tiny bit

My gaze drops to the table and in an instant, I take in the docu before Cal It has the words, “Business Plan, Carson & Dawson, LLC” typed across the top My eyes snap back to Mac’s for her to confirm toto open up their own firether

I wait for a wave of jealousy to overco hof ad with her career

And I eoing to be working at my firm

And outside of fking my wife, which I’ll now admit may have been more on Marissa’s doorstep than Cal’s, he is an excellent attorney and would ht be a little happy she’s doing so control of her life I ot hers intact and if there’s one thing that will never change about me… I only want the best for her

I s the plans she’s h both of us are s at each other, make no mistake… there’s still sadness there as well

I facilitate goodbyes and lead Kylie to a table across the rooain