Page 94 of Dirty Judge

“You’re going to finish up that dirty judge article,” she said. “You don’t have to publish it, but you’re going to finish it, so you move on one hundred percent from him.”

I nodded slowly. “And the other thing?”

“You’re going to pick up where you left off and return to law school,” she said.

“What? Hell no.”

“I already started the applications for you.” She held up her hand before I could say another word. “I know the law clerk jobwas intense, but it’s the most focused and energized you’ve been in years.”

“I don’t want to be a lawyer, Lindsay…”

“Who said you had to be?” She stepped closer. “But you should finish and then use your law degree to do something else.”

“Or, I could just do something else…”

“You still have a huge passion for the legal world.” She read me like a book. “I think working under him slowly brought it back out of you, and it would be unfair for you to stifle it again.”

“Okay…I’ll apply to a few.”

“You’ll apply to twenty.” She clapped her hands. “After your shower.”

“Wait…” I stood up, stretching. “Do you think Liam is as miserable and sad as me? Or do you think the emotions are all one-sided?”

“I’m sure he misses you.”

“He hasn’t called or texted once.”

“Neither have you.”

“He’s not showing up and begging me to take him back.”

“Neither are you…”

“But he’s supposed to?—”

“He’s supposed to show you who he really is, and he’s doing an amazing job.” She crossed her arms. “The moment you finish your article about him, you’re done because—even if he misses you—I’m pretty sure that you discovering what he did means hehasto be done with you.”

I should’ve never looked into him, then…

“But what about?—”

“The shower?” She pushed me. “Yes. Now.”

SUFFERING (N.):

THE PAIN, HURT, INCONVENIENCE, EMBARRASSMENT AND/OR INABILITY TO PERFORM NORMAL ACTIVITIES AS A RESULT OF A PHYSICAL AND/OR EMOTIONAL INJURY.

LIAM

“Good morning, Judge Ashton.” The valet tipped his hat at me. “Which car would you like to drive this morning?”

“My McLaren, please.”

“They’ll bring it right away,” he whispered my request into the small mic in his shirt, then he smiled. “Anything else I can do for you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m all ears, sir.”