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“One one two! Five two three!”

We’ve been at this for almost an hour, but I’m so full of pent-up energy that even now when I should be exhausted and have nothing left in the tank I’m still throwing out punches at full force and unfortunately for Jonas, he's taking the brunt of it.

“One two one two! Good. Nice job today, boys.” Ray gives us both a fist bump from the side of his palm as he leaves Jonas and me to cool down.

“So…what's up? You want to talk about why you're so on edge today?”

“No.”

“Cool. How about why you've blown off our sessions the last two days and have had your ass parked in your office with Talan out front like a member of the secret service?”

I continue to untie my wraps as quickly as I can so I can get the fuck out of here. I don’t bother responding to him. Through the corner of my eye I make out the little smirk that hits his face and I know he's not going to let any of this go.

“Okay, then let's talk about where you and the Misses vanished off to the other night. I saw you drag her away from McCorkle and didn't see either of you the rest of the night. What happened?”

What happened was I lost my shit. I dragged her to the bathroom, where I demolished the line between a business relationship and something else. And not only that, but I wanted to. I wanted to cross that line. I wanted her and fuck, if I’m being honest with myself, I’vebeenwanting her. The problem is I thought I could get her out of my system. I thought my desire to have her body under me, my hands and mouth roaming every inch of her would be enough. But it’s not. It’s like somehow she’s worked her way into every part of me, filling my thoughts in ways I’m not used to. And now I want her in ways I never thought I would want someone.

When I told her I fucked up, I meant that I should have had a conversation with her. I should have made sure we were on the same page. I could have taken her home and fucked her right. Instead, I waited until the pressure got too heavy, and I popped off like a lion let out of a cage.

“Dude...” Jonas says waving his hand in front of my face.

Just thinking about Camila calms me down and spins me out all at the same time. “I don't know what you want me to tell you. We left early. And I’ve been busy.”

He scoffs at my vague answer. “Bullshit.”

Our session might be over but I give him the look that tells him I’ll go another round. Unfortunately for me, he’s like a dog with a bone and I know he's not going to drop this.

“Alright look, I didn't want to say anything the other night, but if your piss poor mood has anything to do with Camila, I’ve gotta say it now…” I shove my wraps in my bag while he continues to stand there with his hands on his hips trying to hide hisdumb-ass smile. “You like her.”

I wish he would let that smile rip so I could knock it off his face.

“I know the almighty, anti-feelings, no relationship having, Miles Cameron might not know what it feels like tohavefeelings, so if you're confused bro, it's alright.” He slaps my shoulder and I actually snarl at him. “But seriously, I think it's good. Camila’s great, and you're…alright. If you like her, I think you should see where it could go.”

“It's not going to go anywhere,” I snap at him.

Jonas hangs his head and comes to sit by me on the bench, his face serious now. “Miles, I know you never wanted to be in a relationship because of your parents?—”

My back goes rigid at his words, and not because we’ve never talked about my parents before, but I guess out of habit.

“But not every relationship is a mirror of another one. If it was, nobody would be happy.” When I don't respond he lets out a breath. “I’m just saying you could have something real with her if you wanted.”

“Even if I wanted to, she doesn’t. She told me so last weekend, and she’s been avoiding me since, so drop it.”

“If she said that, and you believed her, then you haven’t been paying attention to the way that girl looks at you.”

I want to believe him. I want to ask him how she looks at me. But I know all it will do will make me more interested in someone who told me to forget about it. So instead I throw my bag over my shoulder and storm out into the foggy morning chill.

“First,I want to say thank youto everyone who attended the fundraiser this past weekend. I’m aware it's not a competition but if it were, I would be proud to say that our firm put up the most money out of any other firm in attendance.”

All twenty people sitting around the massive conference room table smile and clap. I on the other hand only notice that Smith is back in attendance for this mid-week senior partner meeting. It goes without saying that if I convinced Samantha that my marriage is legitimate, I could be walking out of here as the new name partner. If I didn't, all eyes will be on me because the rumor mill hasn't let up over the weeks. Whispers about my title have been spreading like wildfire according to Talan.

“Second, we have some very exciting news today.” Sam’s smiling but all her teeth are showing which tells me it’s forced. And since she hasn’t bothered to look at me, for the first time, I’m nervous. “After many meetings and careful consideration, we are happy to announce our new name partner, Miles Cameron.”

Internally, I let out a huge sigh of relief and brace my elbows on my knees, but outwardly I barely give anything more than a nod, and at that, all eyes in the room are on me. Some genuinely happy, some skeptical or confused, but everyone claps anyway and shakes my hand in congratulations.

“Smith & Mitchell is officially Smith, Mitchell, & Cameron as of today, and it is our hope that the transition goes smoothly for everyone.” She finally looks at me but her eyes are more threatening than congratulating. So I lean back in my seat, the picture of unaffected, and give her a winning smile.

Camila