21|Questions
I stood at Jessica's desk, flipping through some case files when she hesitantly looked up.
"Hey, boss...can I leave early today?" She asked hesitantly. "I have a date."
I barely glanced up. "Yeah, sure. Just make sure your work's done."
When I didn't hear a reply, I looked up to see her surprised expression.
I soon caught the surprised looks from the workers around us.
"What?" I asked, starting to feel annoyed.
"That's it?" She asked and I raised my eyebrow.
"Yes, why would there be something else?" I asked.
"It's just that you're not usually this...nice," she replied and I scoffed. "Especially on a Monday."
"Boss, did you and your wife finally get a divorce?" Ted decided to ask.
I rolled my eyes before grabbing my keys. "I'm going for lunch."
As I walked to the elevator, I scoffed.
I can be nice.
They're acting like I kicked a puppy everytime someone asked for some time off.
God forbid Nathaniel Carter shows an ounce of humanity.
I pushed through the front doors of the building, still halfway annoyed until I saw her.
Naomi.
She was standing while scrolling on her phone, completely unaware of me.
The sunlight hit her face just perfectly.
Her hair was pulled back and her heels made her legs look longer than they actually were.
She was wearing her favorite black pantsuit and damn, she looked good.
I stopped walking for a second, just to take her in.
There was a flicker in my chest, something sharp and warm.
It's stupid how after everything, she can still do this to me without even trying.
She finally looked up, catching me staring.
Her lips curved. "Are you coming or are you going to continue being a weirdo?"
I cleared my throat, walking towards her like I wasn't just frozen. "Don't flatter yourself."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile remained on her face.
We began walking in comfortable silence before I slipped my hand into hers.
Surprisingly, she allowed me to as we made our way down the busy New York sidewalk.
Her hand fit perfectly in mine, just like always.
"Where are we even going?" She asked.
"Somewhere with real food," I said. "Not that overpriced kale graveyard you always dragged me to."
She bumped her shoulder into mine. "It was a plant-based bistro, and you survived."
"Barely," I scoffed.
As we waited for the crosswalk, I glanced down at her, watching the way her lips still curved upward.
Like she was trying not to smile too much.
I secretly smiled too as I returned my attention to the sign.
"It wasn't that bad though," I admitted and she silently looked up at me, but I avoided eye contact.
The sign changed and we crossed the street.
We turned the corner and I slowed us down a little.
She looked up at the spot I was guiding us toward and blinked.
"This place?" She asked, surprised.
I nodded. "Figured we should go old school. Just like we used to after your night classes."
She didn't say anything, but her expression softened and that was good enough for me.
I guided her inside the small, family-ran restaurant.
"I eat here all the time," I explained as we sat at a window table. "The food's pretty good."
She nodded before the owner's four year old daughter, Mimi, ran up to us with the menus.
"Mr. Carter!" She exclaimed before hugging me. "You promised you would come and play cards last week."
"Sorry, kid," I told her. "Work got hectic."
She glanced at Naomi. "Who is your friend?"
"This is my wife, Naomi," I told her and she looked shocked.
"You have a wife?" She whispered. "She's very pretty."
"I know," I whispered back and Naomi laughed.
Then suddenly her face got confused. "So if you have a wife...where is your baby?"
"Mimi!" Her father, Brad, instantly shouted from the counter.
Her mom, Hellen, quickly rushed to grab her. "Sorry about that. The kid's got a mouth on her."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "What did I do?"
"What did I say about asking strangers these types of questions?" Her mother said before she looked down.
"I'll be right back to take your order," her mother said before dragging her to the back.
I glanced at Naomi and her smile had now faded as she flipped through the menu.
She wasn't even reading, just staring at the pages.
The air between us felt heavier now.
I reached across the table, brushing my fingers over hers.
"I'm sorry," I said softly.
She quickly pulled away her hand and placed it on her lap.
"Don't be. She's just a kid," she said softly and I stayed quiet as I slowly returned my hand to my side.
I'd lost her again.
She locked eyes with me. "Do you know what you're getting?"
"Yeah," I replied. "Do you?"
"Yeah."
...
"Are you two okay?" Hellen asked as she wrote up my receipt.
I glanced back at Naomi who was silently staring out the window.
We ate lunch in complete silence.
I forced a smile as I returned my attention to Hellen. "We're fine."
"If Mimi had anything to do with it-"
"Mimi did nothing wrong," I quickly cut her off. "We're just working through some things."
She smiled. "I really hope things work out between you two. You seem like a good pair."
"Thanks," I proudly said before taking my receipt and heading back to Naomi.
"All done," I awkwardly said and she quickly got up.
"Great," she said, grabbing her bag. "I'm gonna get back to work now."
I rolled my eyes before storming out after her
I eventually caught up to her and pulled her back.
"Nate," she sighed.
"You're not doing this," I said.
"Not doing what?" She asked, already sounding annoyed.
"Running away."
"I'm not running away," she answered. "I'm going back to work."
I pulled her closer to me. "No, you're not."
She scoffed. "What? Are you gonna hold me hostage?"
"Yes," I said without thinking.
Her eyes narrowed. "You're being ridiculous."
"And you're avoiding," I angrily shot back.
She tried to twist out of my grip, but I didn't let her go.
"I'm sorry," I sighed. "But you're being difficult. I'm trying here and you're not."
"Oh, you're the only one trying?" She argued. "As if I didn't sit through that awkward lunch with you."
"Oh, so eating lunch with your husband is awkward now?" I gave into her dumb argument.
She threw her hands up and I could tell others were looking at us, but I couldn't care less. "That's not what I meant, and you know it!"
"Then what do you mean, Naomi?" I snapped. "Because every time I take one step forward, you take one hundred back!"
She looked at me like she couldn't decide whether to scream or cry.
"I'm going back to work," she chose to say and I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Naomi, if you walk away from me again, I'll be done with you for good," I made it clear.
"This is my final plea, Nae," I practically had to beg her. "Just stay."
She scoffed. "You were done with me the day we found out about Eden."
She didn't even wait for my reply.
Just blinked away her emotions like always and left.
I clenched my jaw and headed back to the office.
...
As I walked past Jessica's desk, I grabbed the file off her stack.
"I'm picking up the Henderson case," I bitterly said without looking at her.
She remained quiet for a second as I flipped through the file.
"But the trial is tomorrow morning," she muttered.
"And?" I quickly shot back.
"So I guess I should cancel my date then?" She hesitantly asked and I sent her a lethal glare.
She forced a smile. "That's no problem, sir. I was probably going to cancel anyway."
I rolled my eyes before storming into my office and slamming the door behind me.
"Dammit!" I angrily shouted as I threw the file against the wall when I remembered Naomi's bitter words.
I paced the room like a caged animal, my fists clenched tight as it took everything in me not to go to the bar a couple blocks down.
But I couldn't.
I finally dropped into my chair, my chest heaving as I stared blankly at the wall.
I had no outlet.
No peace.
Just rage and a horrible fucking wife.