#2
Then there’s your answer.
How did your serious former girlfriends put up with this communication boundary?
His name immediately crosses my screen via phone call.
“Hello?” I answer.
“You honestly think I’ve had a serious relationship with someone?”
“I mean…I would guess no, but that’d be kind of weird if you didn’t. Everyone has at least one.”
“Everyone who isn’t focused on winning,” he says. “Girlfriends don’t help you win cases.”
I laugh. “Okay, then. Sorry I asked.”
As I’m waiting for him to hang up, I laugh even harder.
“What’s so fucking funny, Scarlett?”
“I was just—” I pause. “I was just thinking you’ve done the world a huge service by not dating anyone, because I don’t think any woman could ever put up with you.”
“So, you want to get personal?” he asks.
“I’m just making an observation.”
“I don’t think any man would date you either,” he says. “Outside of being stunning, you’re a goddamn mess and half the lies you tell aren’t believable.”
“I’ve kept it to five or less with you.”
“So far, you mean?” he asks. “I’m the last one who can talk about morality when it comes to lies, but I just wish you told better ones.”
Silence.
“I don’t like you, Jameson.”
“It’s mutual,” he says. “What are you doing right now?”
“I told you I was working.”
“Likewise. Can you talk and work at the same time?”
“Yes…You?”
“When I want to,” he says. “Tell me about the last three books you read.”
“Really? Why?”
“For one, I’m intrigued, and for two, my next client claims she’s a book lover but she can’t name a single book she’s read in the last decade.”
“Why don’t you call her out on it?”
“Because I’m charging her too much of a fee to insult her.” He laughs, and I rattle off a real list of books I’ve devoured.
To my surprise, he’s read them too, and before I know it, I’m talking to him for my entire shift.