Chapter Three #2
Raymond Booth liked to change his names like they were last season's clothes. Sam had tracked two of his other aliases. The one he used before he moved next door to me and the one he took on after moving away. We’ve lost his trail after that.
We draft a simple request. The plan is simple.
We’ll hire his law firm to create contracts for an adoption drive and a free checkup I’m organizing for community outreach next week.
We’ll keep asking for different lawyers until Adrian is assigned to the case.
His specialties are contract and tort law, so the chances of getting him on the case are pretty high.
“Are you sure we can’t hack into their system and direct the request straight to Adrian?”
Sam looks at me like I’m being difficult. The guy who once hacked a Burger King because their system was temporarily down and he didn’t want to drive a few miles to the next outlet. “That’s so unnecessarily aggressive. Besides, didn’t you promise your boyfriend not to do anything illegal anymore?”
I roll my eyes. “I just said I won’t kill anyone.”
There’s a polite knock on the door, too polite for it to be Ashley. That’s why I’m surprised when Ashley’s face peeks in through the door. “Are you okay?” I ask.
“Uh… I… didn’t want to disturb you if you were still… You know?”
I tilt my head. “No, I don’t?”
“Well, if you don’t want people to hear, then maybe don’t be this loud.” Her voice is dripping with disappointment.
Sam turns to me with wide eyes, his eyebrows almost disappearing under his hair. He nods. “I’m locking my bedroom door.”
I shake my head and decide to ignore whatever is happening here. “Did you need something, Ashley?”
“Your next appointment is here,” she says and walks out without another glance at us.
I watch her go. Do I care enough about this to clear the air? Nah, she deserves it for the Ellick thing. So, I’m going to let Ashley play out her interesting soap opera starring me in her head. Besides, she’s not really going to hurt Sam… probably.
I nod at myself and send the email we just drafted.
***
Nicholas: Still stuck at work, won't make it today
I see the text notification on my phone, which is on my coffee table, along with a thousand containers of Chinese food.
I pick it up and open Nicholas’s text chain.
Great, I don’t have a ton of time to sit around and watch goofy shows either.
Nicholas: Can u pick Mickey up from Matt’s? Pretty please?
Nicholas: I’m driving to Long Beach tomorrow morning
I stare at my phone, messages coming in one after the other. Why can’t he just send one text with all the information?
Nicholas: and they both have shifts
Nicholas: If ur busy I can ask Bree
Maybe he should just do it. Why even ask if he doesn’t want my help? I don’t care. Would I love more Mickey time? Of course. But maybe it’s healthier for him to not get too attached to my place if Nicholas is planning to stay away permanently.
“Why are you glaring at your phone?” Sam asks between orange chicken and rice.
Not leftovers, fresh order from the same restaurant because, in his words, ‘why would I pretend to want to eat something else when I know exactly what I want? My personality is adventurous enough, I don’t need to pretend to like new food every time to add another layer. ’
I glare up at him. “I’m not glaring. This is my neutral expression.” I shove another dim sum into my face. Unlike other people, I did not order the same food I had for lunch. I do miss egg rolls, though.
“Hate to tell you, buddy, your neutral expression is a lot scarier than the one you make when you’re really angry.”
I frown. That can’t be right. I practiced it and everything. Back to the drawing board we go. “At least I can scare people.” I snort.
Sam smirks over his container. “You don’t need to scare anyone when you’re as charming as me.”
“Talk to me when they start giving you free coffee every week just to get you out of the store.” I pop the last dim sum into my mouth. The salty bite settles my nerves.
“You were probably driving other customers away.”
“Exactly.” I nod.
Sam shrugs, then piles up all the empty containers on the table. I leave him to it and pick up my phone again.
Me: I can drive over right now.
Who am I kidding? I’d love some Mickey time.
Nicholas: Thank u so much!
Nicholas: I promise hell b a good boy
I put my phone down and ignore the vibrations. Walking to the kitchen, I find Sam putting away the leftovers. Great, we'll have the same food for breakfast tomorrow. Sam is severely overestimating his personality.
“I need to go pick up Mickey from Oliver’s,” I tell him.
Sam straightens up and turns. “Your turn with your kid?”
I roll my eyes and walk away. The only response his comment deserved.
“You know, because he’s a child of divorce.” I hear as I close the door behind me.
I slam the car door harder than I needed to and start the car. I almost hit the pavement when loud music blares from the speakers, and Taylor Swift’s voice fills my car.
Ugh, Nicholas must have messed with my playlist. Why is he everywhere?
I sigh and just let it play on the entire way to pick up his dog.