“It’s okay, Kross,” Zach said.
“No, it’s not,” Kross barked. “No offense, but you don’t want a raging Kelton in your face.”
“We had a code, man,” I yelled. “You should’ve had the balls to at least tell me.”
“Then what?” Zach asked, grit in his voice. “What would you have done? Punched the shit out of me like you do to everyone who makes you mad or when you don’t get your way? You treated Chloe like shit.”
I clenched my good fist. “I never, ever disrespected Chloe.” I eyed her. “Is that what you told him? I’ve always told you up front I wasn’t in the relationship for the long haul. I always broke up with you when I felt suffocated or you were trying to get me to commit.” I paced. “Unbelievable. Chloe’s pregnant, and I’m feeling like I’m the one to blame. You know, you two make a good pair. You were right, Chloe. I probably would’ve killed him.” Then I disappeared into the kitchen, almost dropping to my knees, but Kross caught me.
“Zach’s the father.” I released all the air in my lungs.
“I got you, man,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me.
It was time to take the chances I deserved. It was time to tell the girl with the long dark hair and the gold speck in her eye, the one wearing my half-heart charm, the one that always had a hold on me, how I really felt about her.
* * *
I smoothed out my tie as I waited for my appointment with Mr. Davenport. After not showing up last week with Lizzie, I had to somehow redeem myself. If there was anything I wanted without any doubt, it was the intern position at Davenport Law Firm. I’d never wavered in my desire to become a lawyer. I had one year left at BU, then I was off to law school. I had everything I needed to submit my application to Harvard Law—the necessary recommendations, good scores on the Law School Admission Test. The only requirement left was a summer internship at a law firm. Professionally, I was in a good place. Personally, I had work to do.
For the last week I’d been making significant changes. I moved out of the townhome and back to Ashford. Zach and I weren’t speaking, and it was way too awkward living with him. I also quit my job working for Brew. He was disappointed but understood after I explained to him that I was vying for a position at a law firm and posing for his class could hurt my chances of getting the job. After I’d ticked those two items off my list, I’d made an appointment with my math professor to take the exam I missed. In between all that, I’d spent time either hanging out with my mom, who was thrilled to have me home, or going to classes.
“Mr. Maxwell?” Bonnie stood, holding a folder, smiling down at me. “Mr. Davenport will see you now.”
With my nerves tight, I unfolded myself, buttoned my suit jacket, and clutched my leather binder.
“I like your tie,” Bonnie said.
“Thank you. My mom had it made for me.” I was wearing a black suit with a deep-blue shirt underneath and a silver tie that had KM and the number five in superscript embroidered in red stitching. It signified my love for math, but more importantly it was my symbol for my siblings, Kade, Kross, Kody, Karen, and me. When I was a kid, anytime I’d doodled I’d always filled up a piece of paper with the initials KM to the fifth power. Karen had loved when I’d plastered her walls with my artwork. My mom had chosen the tie. She’d said it would bring me luck. Hopefully it would, but more importantly, wearing it I felt closer to Karen, and I needed to feel like family was with me on this interview.
Bonnie ushered me into Mr. Davenport’s office then closed the door. Mr. Davenport stood, taking in the sunny Boston skyline, his reflection showing a pensive expression. “Have a seat, Mr. Maxwell,” he said, turning.
I unbuttoned my suit jacket and complied, setting my leather binder on my lap. “I appreciate you taking my call and setting aside time to see me,” I began, removing a report I’d put together on Florida estate law. Mr. Davenport was well schooled on Florida law. This was an exercise to show him how detailed and thorough I was. I handed it to him.
His gaze lingered on my bruised hand as he folded himself into his leather chair. “I know you’re very astute, Mr. Maxwell.” He flipped through the pages of my report, not really absorbing much. “Your level of knowledge is not what stops me from hiring you. It’s allegiance to this firm and the job. You missed the appointment last week. That’s a red flag for me. I understand that you’re helping Ms. Reardon, but a lawyer would never leave their client hanging.”
“I’m not about to make excuses. You’re exactly right. I assure you I won’t let that happen again. This job is important to me. The law is important to me.” I swallowed my nerves.
He mashed his lips into a paper-thin line. “I’ll take this report and our meeting today into consideration.”
Bonnie poked her head in. “Sir, you have an emergency call on line two.”