Page 54 of Not On Your Life

Millie:Aren’t they so cute?

Me:Amelia Quinn, I am allergic to dogs!

Millie:It’s only a mild allergy. I already bought you some pills. You’re welcome.

I’m going to kill her.

She wants me to take pills every day so I can live in my own house? I don’t think so.

Me:We can’t even afford food for ourselves. Why would you get dogs?

I wait for her reply. And wait.

I’m about to call her when Mr. Lawrence approaches my desk. “Connor, Miller needs an extra set of eyes on his case.”

I refrain from groaning. Miller needs an extra set of eyes, period. He wouldn’t be able to find a single needle in a needle stack. I don’t know how he made it through law school, or whyhewas chosen to replace Maddie. There was no comparison there.

“On it.” I stand up to show the boss I can follow directions the first time, unlike Miller, and half of the other conceited attorneys in the office.

“Hey, Miller.” I approach the guy who now fills Maddie’s spot. She was a much better fit for that seat. She made this entire side of the office brighter. “Boss said you need some help.”

Miller pushes the round-rimmed glasses up his nose and scowls at me. He looks like a boy, not a grown man who could actually be a lawyer.

“No. I’m good.”

“Uh…”What? “You sure?” Every square inch of his desk is crowded with files, documents, and spreadsheets. What on earth is he working on?

“I said I’m fine,” he snaps.

“Okay, whatever.” I turn and walk away. What was that?

Half the time I’m here, I feel like I’m running around blind, and there’s a puppeteer pulling my strings in this direction or that for his own entertainment.

I went into law to make a difference. But besides a few small cases, I haven’t done anything.

This was not how it was supposed to be.

“Hey, Connor,” Bri catches me in the breakroom. Good to see she hasn’t abandoned her place of residence so early in the day.

I mumble a half-hearted greeting in response.

She sidles up next to me, reaching for the creamer at the same time I do. Our fingers brush and she giggles. Her hand lingers on mine, and I let her take the creamer so I can move away.

She adds a tiny drop to her coffee before passing it to me.

“So…” She jumps right in. “My dad is letting me use the penthouse this weekend, and I’m throwing a little soiree. Something intimate.” Her eyes rove down my chest.

“Shoot, I’m busy this weekend.” I lie. Unless my sister really got dogs, then I will be busy killing her, but I shouldn’t admit that here.

She trails a hand down my arm. “Let me know if those plans change. There’s a pool.” She adds as if I’m Aquaman and that’s all I need for a good party. She leans closer. “I’dloveto see you in a swimsuit.”

I grimace. This is why I enjoy Maddie. She doesn’t make it easy. In fact, if she ever admits to caring for me, I have a feeling I’d have to drag those words out of her kicking and screaming. But they’d be so genuine they’d bring me to my knees. “Why’d you do it, Bri?”

She tosses her hair. “Do what?”

“Why did you spread that rumor about Maddie?” I’ve never approached her about it, mostly because I blamed myself, but it wasn’t all me. I said things I regret, but she knew I wasn’t in a good spot to think objectively.

She rears back with a scoff. “You’re the one who said it.”