Overruled

by Lana Ferguson

“Do you have some issue with my being here, Ms. Pierce?” “No issue,” I say as placidly as I can manage. “I just like to be kept informed.” “Well,” Eli says with a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. “Consider yourself informed.”

“This is information I could have been digging into, Bianca. I get that you wanted to have a gotcha moment, but I can’t help you if you don’t keep me in the loop.”

“One riot, one ranger, Mr. Hart.

“It’s all sport from where we’re standing,” he chuckles. “We’re nothing but gladiators in another’s arena, after all.”

“I hope he’s better to you than he is to everyone else, because fuck.”

“I was just imagining what it would be like to buy out the floor above us and move my office away from yours.”

“We both know that the state of Texas doesn’t allow for general objections.” “I would venture to say that they’re just frowned upon.”

“You looked up and saw me, and you just…walked away from her. You barely even gave her an excuse. You just came over to me and started flirting with me. It was clear to me how little you appreciate a woman’s attention, even then, so why would I be excited about the fact that I can’t seem to stop being an idiot enough to stop giving you mine?”

“Dani,” he laughs, actually laughs. “I walked away from that woman whose face I can’t even remember because from the second I saw you, for every fucking moment since—there hasn’t been anyone in my head but you.” He laughs again. “You might as well live there now.”

“You didn’t tell him that being fashionably late to your own divorce trial isn’t looked upon favorably?”

“I’m looking forward to your cockamamie opening arguments.”

“Let’s go get our baby bird some liquid courage.”

“He did,” she laughs softly. “Said you’re the only person he doesn’t mind losing to.”

“But I like you prickly, Sour Patch,” he says with a kiss on my cheek. I shrug him off. “I don’t like that the nickname is becoming a thing.” “Well, obviously I will take your request into consideration.”

“About as well as I expected,” I snort. “Nate is already planning the wedding.” “Wow, your friends must really want the best for you then.”

“A lot of things about my case seem to be none of my business,” I chuckle. “But that’s nothing new, I guess.”

And in this moment…all I can think about is the one person I wish were here to see it.

“I am a lot of things,” he says with a smile that looks unpracticed. “But stupid is not one of them. My brother isn’t exactly subtle.”

“I doubt he wants to hear from me,” he says, a sad smile forming on his mouth. “And honestly, I don’t blame him. I have some work to do before I can see either of them.”

“You’re really going to help them? Why?” “Because…she’s my mother,” he says quietly. “And I…haven’t been the best son. I want to try to make up for that.”

I feed Purrgood; he’s been angry at me for days, I suspect because he misses Dani, which, join the club, my guy.