“That’s good, I hope it stays that way.” The Lipsons agreed to an open adoption, and the birth mother has supervised visitations, provided she isn’t using. So far it’s helped her stay clean.

Holly reaches for another fry. “It’s a good arrangement for everyone involved. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Well, I love doing it. It’s a lot more rewarding than trusts, if I’m honest. Speaking of, I’d like to set up another meeting with the Wilsons to go through the adoption paperwork for Eli. I figured you might want to be there for that.”

Holly nods. “Definitely. Thank you for doing this.”

“Of course. Let’s figure out a date.” We both pull out our phones and check our calendars. These pro bono cases are quickly becoming the favorite part of my job. Knowing I’m giving these kids a chance to grow up in a loving, stable home reminds me of my own adoption. I’d spent the first three years of my life in a state of perpetual uncertainty until my adoptive parents came in and rescued me. After we set up a tentative meeting, we move on to lighter topics.

“Any hot dates lately?” It’s mostly a joke; Holly and I spend the majority of our Friday nights together.

“I wish. I don’t have time to shave regularly these days, let alone time for hot dates.” She sighs. “I hate this whole online generation crap. Why can’t I just meet a nice guy in a coffee shop, or the library or something?”

“I think you’d have to frequent coffee shops and libraries for that to happen, wouldn’t you?” I ask.

“I guess it would help if I started drinking coffee. What about bookstores? That would work, wouldn’t it? I could just sit around and wait for some cute guy with glasses to comment on the book I’m pretending to read, and we could strike up a meaningful philosophical conversation.”

“In an ideal world.” I understand exactly where she’s coming from. As I approach thirty I recognize that what I want in a partner isn’t going to be found at a loud bar on cheap draft night. And truthfully, I haven’t put much effort into dating since I graduated from law school and my dad passed away. Love can be too painful, especially when you lose it.

“I’d ask if you’ve had any hot dates, but I think I already know the answer since all you do is work.” Holly gives me a wry grin. “Speaking of, how’s your teenage crush doing these days?”

I smile a little, thinking about how he reacted in my office the other day. He was certainly riled. “Moody and antagonistic about covers it.”

“So he’s still wearing his asshole pants?” Holly knows all about our history.

“He apologized for being a jerk, so that’s progress.”

“Did he apologize for what he did in law school?” Holly does her arched brow thing.

I give my head a slow shake. “Maybe he doesn’t remember? Who knows?”

“You think he’s conveniently forgotten that he handed in your paper late?” Holly asks.

I stir my drink. “You know how people’s memories are, they can alter and shift to suit their own purpose. Besides, it’s irrelevant now. I got the job I wanted straight out of law school, so it really shouldn’t matter anymore.”

“Does that mean you’ll be fine working with him?”

“I’ll hardly see him. Our departments are on opposite ends of the floor.”

“But you will see him if he’s working for the same firm. Don’t think I don’t remember for a second how worked up you used to get after you had a class with him.”

“He was my competition.”

“If that’s what you want to call it. Who’s going to mediate when you two go head-to-head at your Monday meetings?”

“We’re adults. We don’t need to be mediated.” I’m not sure that’s entirely true, because I happen to enjoy those heated moments when I piss him off and he gets all up in my personal space without even realizing it. He has pretty eyes and a gorgeous mouth. And face. And body.

“I predict one of two things will happen.” She stuffs another fry in her mouth, chewing slowly to draw out the suspense. “You either murder each other or screw each other’s brains out.”

“Those are two very extreme options. Both of which will not happen.”

“You were in love with him for years.”

“Correction. I had a crush on the character he portrayed. A fictional character. That is not even remotely the same as being in love with someone.”

“I just think you need to seriously consider whether you really want him working at your firm. Is it worth it?”

I’m about to reply, but my phone rings—the only person who calls me outside of work is sitting across from me, which I realize is a little depressing. Work is my vice and my hobby, and possibly my boyfriend.

It’s probably a telemarketer or something. I check the caller ID and frown. Daxton is calling me on a Friday night? I hope nothing has happened to Emme.

“I need to take this.” Holly nods as I answer the call. “Hello?”

“Kailyn? Hey. Hi. Is this you?”

“It is, yes. Is everything okay?”

I don’t quite catch his reply, something about being dizzy or busy. Probably the latter since I can’t see him calling me about being dizzy.

The restaurant is loud so it’s hard to hear. “I’m sorry?”

“It sounds like you’re out somewhere. Are you on a date?” The last part has bite.

I sit up a little straighter. “Did you call to ask about my social life?”

“No, I—I didn’t . . . I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. I just . . . so—”

I lean back in my chair, too curious as to why exactly he has called to let him flounder for long. “I’m just wrapping up dinner with a friend.” It’s fairly vague; a friend could be male or female, romantic or not. He can draw whatever conclusion he wants. I glance at Holly, who gives me a questioning look.

“Oh, it’s nice that you can do that. Go out with friends.”

“Is there something I can help you with?”

He clears his throat. “Um, I’m real sorry for calling out of the blue, but I have a bit of an emergency.”

I’m back to being on alert. “What kind of emergency?”

“You get your period, right?”

“Excuse me?” This just got weird. Holly gives me the what the hell is happening? hand gesture. I hold up a finger. Not my middle one.

“Sorry, sorry. Fuck. That came out wrong. Emme just got hers, for the first time, and there was nothing in the house and I’m at the pharmacy but there’s, like, an entire aisle dedicated to this stuff. I don’t even know where to start. I need help and I didn’t know who else to go to, so I called you, and that was probably stupid.”

His panic is entertaining, so I feel justified in giving him a bit of a hard time. “So just to be clear, you’re calling me on Friday night for feminine hygiene product advice?”

“You’re laughing at me.”

“Yes, I’m laughing at you.”

“Well, can you laugh at me and help me? Emme’s locked herself in her bathroom and she’s crying, and I don’t have the skill set or the reproductive organs to know how to deal with this.”

That sobers me. “She’s crying?”

“I guess it’s pretty traumatic? I mean, I don’t know. But yeah, she’s crying and I don’t know where to start, so some brand guidance or something would be helpful.”

I consider what it would be like to be a thirteen-year-old girl getting her period for the first time after just having lost her mother, and only having a brother to go to for help. No one wins in this situation. I can’t leave him to deal with this on his own.

“Which pharmacy did you go to?”

“The one at Ventura and Laurel Canyon. Do you know the layout?”

It’s pretty close. “Hold on a second.” I press the receiver to my chest. “Are you okay with ending dinner a little early?”

“So you can buy feminine hygiene products? Who is that?” Holly narrows her eyes. “Oh my God. Is that him?”

“I’ll make it up to you with brunch on Sunday.” I bring the phone back to my ear. “Can you hold on for ten minutes?”

“Uh, I guess.”

“I’m in the neighborhood. I can meet you there if you’d like.”

“Seriously?”

“Unless you want me to walk you through it over the phone.”

“No, no. I can wait. I’ll wait. I might not wait in this aisle in particular because I feel a little weird about standing here looking at pads and stuff, but I’ll be in the CVS. Thank you so much, Kailyn. I really owe you.”

“I’ll be there shortly.” I end the call and meet Holly’s not quite approving gaze. “What?”

She crosses her arms over her chest and arches a brow. “I don’t know. You tell me.”

“Daxton’s thirteen-year-old sister has her period for the first time and he needs some help. It’s a good opportunity.”

“Opportunity for what, exactly?”

“To earn his trust.”

“Is this about making partner? Come on, Kailyn, I know you better than that.”

“Do you remember the first time you got your period? Imagine how hard this is for both of them. And it’ll help me figure out whose best interests he really has in mind. I mean, he’s calling me because she got her period and not just sending her to the store on her own. That says something, doesn’t it?”

Holly sighs. “Just be careful you don’t get yourself in too deep with this one.”

“Her world just fell apart.”