Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“Jameson, please don’t make me,” I say. “It’s too soon.”
“It was yesterday.” He points at my phone.
I sigh and pick it up, logging into my profile.
The plays I auditioned for still say “Pending” instead of the red “No Offer” like usual, but the one my mom showed up to?
There’s a bright green “Selected. Main Role.” right next to my name.
My heart nearly combusts, and I suck in a deep breath in disbelief.
“I got it…” I say. “I fucking got it!”
My mind races with possibilities, with potential schedules and rehearsals, and I feel Jameson’s lips on mine again.
“Hey! What the fuck?” “MOVE!” “You’re parked in the middle of the street!”
Cars behind us honk, and we pull away.
Laughing, Jameson drives forward.
His hand finds mine again, and we settle into the silence once again.
When we make it to his place, he ushers me into his bedroom and turns on the lights.
“I have to work on a few cases tonight,” he says. “Don’t hold it against me.”
“I won’t.” I look around. “Can I use your shower?”
“You don’t really need to ask me that.” He looks amused as he pulls open a drawer. “You’re welcome to come here as often as you’d like during the week and in the weeks ahead.”
“Is that your way of saying you’re not coming back to my dorm room?”
“Yes.” He smiles. “Never.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“It’s not happening.” He walks over to the bed and pulls the sheets back. “I’ll join you when I’m finished.”
He looks me up and down one last time before disappearing.
I take advantage of his state-of-the-art shower, letting the hot streams attack my skin for what feels like forever, washing away the suds of loneliness that I hope to never feel again.
By the time I hit the lights and climb into bed, it’s a little after midnight.
I turn on the television and settle on a marathon of Law & Order: SVU.
I fall asleep without feeling Jameson move next to me.
When I wake up, he’s long gone.
RATIFY (V):
V. TO CONFIRM AND ADOPT THE ACT OF ANOTHER EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT APPROVED BEFOREHAND.
JAMESON
Had to leave for a client.
I’ll make it up to you later. (If you come back.)
Scarlett
Okay. (I will come back.)
“Idon’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that this early in the afternoon.” Rachel leans against my doorframe. “Has Satan hired our firm for representation or something?”
“Funny.” I set my phone down. “How many hours do you think this latest filing will take?”
“For a regular lawyer, maybe thirty hours.”
“For me, Rachel.”
“Three hours, tops.” She moves closer, placing a Post-it on my desk.
Your mother keeps calling my line + the interns’ line every hour.
Maybe you should finally answer???
“No.” I crumple the note and toss it into the trash. “Keep telling her the usual.”
“It could be life or death, Jameson.”
“Then let me know where the funeral is,” I say. “I’ll be sure to pay my respects.”
“Jameson—”
“She’s not important.” I keep my voice firm. “Bring me the filing so I can get to work.”
“Okay.” She lets out a sigh. “Be right back.”
Within seconds, she sets a stack of folders on my desk.
“Do you still want me to call that eye doctor for a house visit next week?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say. “Tell him it isn’t for me, though.”
“Okay…” She leaves my office, and I set two timers. One for the three-hour mark, and one for an hour from now to call and check on Scarlett.
DECIDE (V.):
FOR A JUDGE, ARBITRATOR, COURT OF APPEALS OR OTHER MAGISTRATE OR TRIBUNAL TO REACH A DETERMINATION (DECISION) BY CHOOSING WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG ACCORDING TO THE LAW AS HE/SHE SEES IT.
SCARLETT
The following Sunday
Hey, um…I’m back at your place.
Jameson
The code is the same as it’s been all week. I’ll probably be back on Friday.
So, you’re spending another night in your office?
Yes. I have a bedroom here.
Okay…Can I stop by then?
Maybe a few weeks from now.
Istare at our latest text conversation, feeling a bout of whiplash.
We’ve had this exact same exchange four days in a row.
Sighing, I start to head to the elevator.
If I’m going to sleep alone, I might as well stay in my dorm.
I hit the down button, and Jameson’s name suddenly pops on my screen via phone call.
“Yes?” I answer.
“Yes?” He mocks me. “Is that how you’ve been answering the phone lately?”
“No.” I smile. “I’m just upset.”
“Don’t be,” he says. “I told you we’ll have to figure it out. I’m drowning in cases. It’s not personal.”
“Okay.”
“So, don’t go back home. Stay.”
The elevator dings, and the doors glide open.
“Fine.” I return to his suite. “So, I’ll see you in a few days?”
“That’s the plan,” he says, and I wait for him to say he’ll call back, but he doesn’t.
“You have four voice character auditions this week, correct?” he asks instead.
“Yes.” My heart skips a beat at the fact that he remembered. “Those are for film, though. Not the stage.”