Page 52 of Hidden & Held

“This is a nice change of pace. Usually it’s me calling you for legal advice. Tech related?”

“And I still stand by that you need full-time counsel. And counseling. And no, it’s not about technology of any kind.”

I hear a creak of a desk chair, then silence for a beat too long. “Oh, this is bad.”

“It’s not bad,” I force out too fast, clenching my jaw.

“You called me to ask for advice. Voluntarily. It’s catastrophic.”

Rubbing a hand over my face, hating that there may be some partial truth to his statement. “I’ve been seeing someone.”

Another pause. “Holy shit.”

“Relax.”

“No, absolutely not. You don’t get to ‘relax’ me! Since when?”

I shift my shoulders uncomfortably and mutter, “A while.”

“And you’re just now telling me?”

“It wasn’t … relevant.” The word tastes sour on my tongue.

Junior’s voice falters slightly. “Not relevant? Then I guess it’s not serious.”

“No … I mean … Ugh. I already regret making this call.” I hear him laugh in the background as I gather my thoughts, always feeling a little thrown off my game around family.

“She’s a lawyer,” I say carefully. “We work, well worked, together. I … mishandled something professionally or personally. Probably both.”

“What do you mean worked? As in past tense?”

My throat goes dry. “I may have played a small part in her employment situation.”

“Ah. Career-ending and emotional, a love written in the stars.”

I ignore that. “She broke her ankle moving a bed. I just took her home from the hospital.”

“How did you know she broke her ankle? Why would she call you?” he asks, too quick for my liking.

“I rented the other side of her duplex. She’s technically my landlady,” I say quickly.

Silence presses in through the phone, and I check to make sure we weren’t disconnected.

“You moved in next door to her,” Junior states blandly.

“It was the best listing in the area.” I try to defend myself.

“Jackson.”

“By a significant margin.”

“Jesus Christ.” He exhales loudly.

“She’s burnt out,” I say finally, quieter. “Like … genuinely. Headaches, constantly sick, barely sleeping, working nonstop. And she acts like it’s normal.”

Jordan’s silent a moment longer this time.

“Jack.” His voice drops. “Playing both sides while she had no idea what was happening—that’s not a small thing.”