25|Joy
I silently sat up as Nate handed me a glass of water.
"You know you don't have to," I said out of embarrassment.
I had been feeling embarrassed ever since he saw me crying yesterday.
I grew up in a household where me crying was just a 'pathetic way of begging for attention'.
"You need to take something for your headache," he replied, motioning for me to take the pain killer.
Surprisingly, he stayed with me last night.
We didn't talk really, just cuddled.
I liked it.
He stood up and I automatically held him. "Are you leaving for work so early?"
He hesitated for a second before answering. "I want to go visit Eden."
I let go of his hand before nodding.
"I visited her yesterday," I felt the need to say. "They kept her grave clean."
He stayed quiet before giving me a sad smile and rubbing his thumb against my lower lip.
"Did you get closure?" He asked, and I nodded.
"Good," he said. "That's all that matters."
We landed in a comfortable silence before I felt the strong urge to confess my love for him.
"Hey, Nate?" I called and he looked at me. "I-um-I-"
He raised his eyebrow and I froze up again.
Jeez, why does my husband intimidate me so much?
"Have a good day," I resorted to saying.
"You too," he replied before giving me a kiss on the cheek and walking out.
I fell back onto the bed with a groan. "Coward."
...
I smiled as Babel stuck his middle finger up to my after losing the case.
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Carter," Elton Johnson, my client, said.
I smiled. "It was my pleasure."
When I turned around, I paused when I saw Nate in the back standing.
His eyes were glued to me and with a proud expression on his face.
He gave me a simple nod of approval and I returned it by giving him a nod.
He tapped Babel on the shoulder before the two walked out.
"Great job, Carter," Russell said as he walked up to me with his eyes glued to his phone.
He'd been paying special attention to me ever since he reinstated me.
And of course, Kate was by his side, but she remained quiet.
"Just got a new case for you," he started.
He finally looked up. "Perez."
"Kid's 17. Shot a man in the back alley of a nightclub. Claims it was self-defence. No weapon recovered. No witnesses."
He sighed heavily. "The victim is the son of a state senator."
"Shit," the word flew out of my mouth.
"Shit indeed," he agreed with a nod. "The press is already circling it. This one's gonna be loud so that means that-"
"Nate's gonna be on it," I finished his sentence for him and he nodded.
"Are you up for it?" He asked and I nodded without hesitation.
"Good," he said. "Kate's your co-counsel."
I immediately tensed. "What?"
"We can't mess this one up, Naomi," he said. "Don't take it personal."
"The two of you are damn good lawyers, and together, there's no way Nate has a chance."
I stayed quiet.
"If you have a problem, I have no problem swapping you out with Alicia."
I clenched my jaw. "No problem here, sir."
"Good," he said before spotting a buddy of his. "I'll see you two at the office."
"I guess the dream team is back together," Kate said and I rolled my eyes.
"Can I ask you a favor?" I started and she looked surprise as she nodded.
"Focus on winning the case and not stabbing me in the back this time," I warned before making my way out the room.
Out in the hallway, standing with a few of his colleagues, was Nate.
"Good job today, Madam Carter," Judge Terry complimented me and I thanked him.
Nate subconsciously took a step closer to me, his hand respectfully wrapping around my waist as he carried on his conversation.
I stayed quiet and still, hoping I wouldn't make him recognize what he was doing because I liked it and didn't want it to end.
When the conversation came to an end, he looked down at me and he didn't try to pull back.
"So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" He asked.
"Prepping for the Perez case," I hinted to him.
"Ah," he nodded. "You better watch out for that prosecutor. Heard he couldn't even go easy on his wife."
"He sounds like an asshole," I rolled my eyes. "But I bet she wouldn't want any special treatment."
He nodded with a smile, but I groaned in annoyance.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Russell put Kate as my co-counsel," I complained and he stayed quiet.
"It's not...that bad," he tried to make me feel better, but I narrowed my eyes at him. "Okay, maybe it is that bad."
"Hey," he continued. "You've never worked with her before so maybe you two might get along."
"Nate," I sighed.
"It's been years, Nae, and you're a professional," he said. "You know exactly how to separate your personal life from your work life."
"I guess you're right," I sighed as we began walking to the exit.
"You hungry?" He asked.
"Starving," I was quick to say and he motioned for me to follow him.
"Come on, I know this street vendor a few blocks up," he said as he began leading the way.
"Street food?" I asked blankly. "Really?"
"Come on, now," he warned. "Don't disrespect Tony; he makes the best subs in New York."
I laughed. "Oh, really? Then I have to try this."
"I'm telling you," he smiled as he slipped his hand in mine once we were out of the court yard.
As we walked to the food stand, we talked and laughed about all sort of things.
We even had time to reminisce about our time in law school.
"Two greasy subs," he told Tony. "Make the wife's own extra greasy."
I scrunched my face as the words came out of his mouth and that caused him to laugh.
"Oh, my disgust brings you joy?" I asked as we walked over to the side to wait.
"A little," he admitted and I rolled my eyes. "Do you know what brings me more joy?"
I shook my head as we held eye contact. "No, what?"
"This," he said before leaning in and softly brushing his lips against mine.
As he pulled back, my heart began to beat faster.
Last night, I got scared again.
I got scared that I'd get pregnant again and we'd go through the pain all over again.
"This brings me joy too," I smiled.
He leaned in and gave me three pecks at once which caused me to giggle.
"What was that for?"
"I'm just happy that we can do this again," He said, his voice sounding so happy.
"Me too," I agreed before digging into my bag. "I almost forgot."
He raised his eyebrow before I pulled out a small box.
"What's this?" He asked as he opened it.
I smiled. "It's a new watch. I saw you eyeing it the other day."
He sighed. "Naomi."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Thank you," he said before kissing me. "It's perfect."
"Just like the greasy sub you're about to taste," he teased me before dragging me back to the food stand.