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“Charlotte.”
He ponders on that. “I’m going to call you Charlie. Because you look too cool for a Charlotte and I’m deathly afraid of spiders.”
I turn to him in shock. “But Charlotte saves Wilbur from being slaughtered. It’s a heartwarming story of friendship, kindness, and sacrifice. How do you hear the name ‘Charlotte’ and associate it with your fear of spiders instead of a touching tale?”
He watches me with an expression I can’t read. Is he amused? In awe? Who can tell?
“Okay, okay, Charlotte it is.”
I shrug it off and turn back. “Actually, I like Charlie.”
Another breathy laugh and he stands, holding out his hand. “Come on, Crazy, I’m working on something that could use another pair of eyes.”
1
Present
“Where do you see yourself in five years?” my father asks, lurking around my usual booth.
I shut my laptop and glare at him.
His not-so-innocent eyes widen. “Sorry son, was that important?”
"Kinda, Dad. It's one of my city clients. He's selling his business and needs me to review the contract.”
“So no one's going to jail?”
“No,” I bite. “I’m not a criminal attorney.”
“No, no,” he agrees, casually taking the seat across from me. “Just an overworked one. Can we get back to my question then?”
“Also no.” I start to pack up my things from the booth I’ve taken up at my father’s inn. The place he bought several years ago, shortly after mom’s death and retiring from his boxing career. It was threatened to be shut down by local officials for tax defaults, so Dad paid it off and purchased it from the previous owners.
My brothers and I thought it was a great idea. At the time, we were under the impression it would give our old man something to do.
Boy, were we wrong. Because he still pesters the shit out of each one of us.
Not so much my younger brother Chase anymore. Not since the bastard found himself a bride. Literally.
Pepper Woods—his old high school crush—rode back into town last fall in the form of a runaway bride, with a veil tucked in her backpack and running shoes on her feet. And my self-centered, grumpy little shit of a brother somehow managed to woo her off her feet and onto his Harley.
Now that he's practically married, Aiden Reeves—world champion boxer turned hotel owner—decides to make me his problem-solving victim.
Unfortunately for him, I don’t have problems.
Dad holds up his hands. "Don't pack up, I was just making conversation."
I sigh and sit back. “Where do I see myself? Well, probably not coming over here since the staff is getting nosy.”
He jerks. “Who, Tessa? Ethan?”
“You, Dad.”
He chuckles. “Alright, I’ll go. But I will say one thing. You’re working yourself to the bone. You need to stop and take a breath. Take a vacation. Pick a legal practice area. You’re taking any case you can get, and we know it’s not for the money, Noah.”
I shrug. “Maybe I’m saving up for a boat.”
He sighs. “Your Denver clients are enough. Why do you insist on taking pro bono’s in town? We do have other lawyers, you know?”
