Page 8 of Not That Guy

Weston

Even though it had taken me more than an hour of searching through old alumni directories to find Brenner’s number, there’d been no doubt in my mind when I texted him that he’d ignore it.

I’d done it simply to get under his skin.

Childish? Probably. But I’d wanted him to know that our steamy hookup the year before meant nothing and I was still in charge.

There’d been little time in the past month to casually drop in on Daniel to ask if Brenner had accepted the offer—I’d had to fly out to the West Coast to meet with a client, then to Florida for depositions.

Upon my return, I’d had a mountain of paperwork to handle and emails to answer, not to mention a nasty custody battle.

All this hostility from people who’d once promised to love each other for the rest of their lives saddened me.

I might think that fidelity and the institution of marriage were a farce, but these people didn’t, and I had to carefully navigate their fragile emotional state.

Today was the perfect example. A gay couple and their adopted child and dog: Randy, the Broadway star.

His husband, Steven, a reality-TV celebrity.

A fifteen-year age difference but they’d laughed at people’s negativity.

A giant, expensive wedding at the Met. Picture-perfect life on social media, until Randy had been caught with his tongue down a top model’s throat and her hands in his pants.

An explosion of photos of the infidelity came to light, and the marriage imploded.

Hand on the doorknob, I hesitated. Raised voices bled through the door, and I winced at the vitriol I heard. I pushed it open and decided I needed to set the tone from the outset.

“Good morning, everyone.” My client, Steven Culver-Hobbs, and his soon-to-be ex, Randy Hobbs, glared at each other across the table. With a sigh and roll of his eyes, Randy’s attorney greeted me, and I took a seat.

“It would be a great morning if we could get this done with.” Randy’s deep baritone swelled in the room. He was clearly playing a part, and Steven crossed his arms and said nothing.

“Well, a seven-year marriage, with a child and substantial assets, isn’t something you merely get over. Plus.” I put a hand on Steven’s arm. “Steven is still suffering from your adultery. He’s the aggrieved party here.”

“You cheated,” Steven burst out. “I gave up a career to stay home to take care of Forrest like we agreed, and you took that as a green light to stick your dick in someone else.”

Unconcerned, Randy yawned. “You see the histrionics I’ve had to put up with?

It’s every day with these outbursts. That doesn’t make for a stable environment for a child.

That’s why I want full custody. Your career, such as it is,” he sneered, “doesn’t amount to crap compared to mine.

Now that my current play is closing, I’m taking a few years off from acting to concentrate on Forrest and make sure he gets what he needs. ”

“What he needs is both his parents, but you ruined that.”

Dammit, I needed to muzzle Steven. “Okay. So what are we looking at? There is a prenup, so the assets are taken care of, and you each can buy the other out of your current residence.” I checked my list. “Bruno is going to stay with Steven.”

“Yes. The dog was Steven’s before our marriage.”

“And you’re not willing to share custody with Steven regarding Forrest?” I made a mental note to never see a play this dickhead was performing in. “That seems harsh.”

“He’s my son. I love him.” Steven wept, and heartstrings I didn’t know existed in my chest tugged hard.

“Steven’s only thirty. I’m not sure he’s emotionally ready for raising a child.

I already have children and know what to expect.

” Randy lifted a shoulder, and I narrowed my eyes.

I sensed a mix of cruelty and indifference, which pissed me off.

Randy had checked out of the relationship and simply didn’t care.

He’d been married previously, and his ex-wife had their two children in California. Maybe this was his MO.

“Please don’t take Forrest away from me.

” Tears rolled down Steven’s cheeks. “You can have everything else, but not my child. If he stays with me, you can see him whenever you want, but you know he and I have bonded while you were performing. His therapist thinks it’s for the best too.

You loved me once, I know. Please, Randy. ”

Two grueling hours later, we had a tentative custody agreement hammered out. Steven would have custody during the school year, with weekend visits and summer vacation to Randy. They’d split major holidays.

“Goddamn, I need a drink,” I muttered, walking into my office. There were several messages waiting for me, but I needed to decompress. Steven had hugged me after Randy left with his attorney.

“You have no idea how much getting custody means to me. I was kicked out by my parents when I told them I was gay. Forrest was our foster kid, and we decided to adopt him. He’s had some trust issues because he was bounced around a lot as a young child, didn’t even speak for the first year we had him.

But I always wanted to be a parent, and I would never give up on him. Thank you.”

Was that how Brenner Fleming had grown up? A different home every month or year? Abuse? God, what a nightmare. At the thought, I shuddered and dropped my head in my hands.

“Tough one, huh? I walked by and heard crying.” Grady Allen stood in my doorway, and I met his eyes and nodded with relief.

Grady was of counsel to the firm, our resident expert on adoption law, and I’d been planning on running the agreement past him before sending the final to my client and opposing counsel.

He’d helped me on numerous cases since my transfer to the New York office, and we’d become friends.

Grady was a psychologist as well as an attorney. Pretty damn impressive credentials.

“Awful. Come on in, and I’ll tell you all about it and show you the agreement.” I laid out the facts and what had transpired. Grady made a few corrections and additions to the agreement. “That boy is lucky he has a parent like Steven Culver to champion him.”

“You’re right about that.” Harsh lines scored Grady’s face, but his eyes were kind.

The hint of several tattoos peeked out from beneath his collar and cuffs.

He most definitely didn’t fit with the white-bread corporate image of the firm.

“Most foster children never get adopted, and many—especially if they’re LGBTQ—end up in homes where they’re sexually abused, so they often run away. ”

“Is that what happened to you?” On a hunch, I put the question out there. “I’m not looking to out you or anything. But I know how personally you take these cases.”

“When it comes to children, I do. They’re our most vulnerable.

” A rare grin tugged his lips upward. “And no, you’re not outing me.

I’m not gay, but I have a brother who is.

We were separated and put into the foster care system and only found each other about ten years ago.

So yeah. I guess to me, every child is a personal battle. ”

“Daniel knows your backstory?”

“Yes. He’s invested in having people in the firm who can truly empathize and understand what their clients have gone through.” His brown eyes crinkled shut with laughter. “Isn’t your father a senator? Guess I can figure out where you fit in with all this.”

Oh, I bet you have no idea. An absent father who cared more about his image than spending time with a son who’d discovered what an adulterous bastard he was.

A mother who’d put herself second and had ignored taking care of herself until it was too late.

I prided myself on never allowing my personal life to bleed into the professional, so much so that when my father had been reelected to the Senate the first time, I’d made sure to schedule depositions across the country to avoid having to attend his oh-so-incredible victory party.

And now that he had his little girl and young wife, I doubted he even noticed I was missing.

I’d had to find out from a press release that I had a half sister, as he’d never bothered to let me know.

At the moment, however, he was on track to be his party’s nominee for president—something I had yet to deal with—and was trying to reconnect and get me involved, but I ignored his emails and texts.

I didn’t give a damn about him and his career, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to meet my little sister on a stage in front of the cameras so he could get his photo op.

“I guess I bring the fun. And the dashing good looks.”

Laughter burst from Grady. “Along with a massive ego.”

I grinned. “I have no complaints.”

Grady hitched his chair closer. “Lemme ask you something.”

“About?” I wasn’t against a little office gossip. It broke up the monotony of staring at papers and filings all day.

“Miranda Holt. You two a thing?”

I put up my hands. “Nope. No. Is that what she’s saying?”

“No, I just think she’s hot as fuck, and I want to ask her out, but wouldn’t if you two were dating.”

“Go for it.”

He studied me, and I could see the wheels turning. “You have someone else?”

“No. And yes, she’s beautiful and brainy. I just don’t date other lawyers, especially in the same firm. I know others have made it work, but I’ve heard horror stories about how messy it can get. Even if we are in different divisions, it’s best to steer clear.”

“Good thing I’m not a partner, then.”

That was something I’d always wondered about. “How come? I’m sure Daniel would snap you up in a second.”

A twinkle lit Grady’s eyes. “Maybe that’s about to change as well.” He got to his feet. “Gotta go.”

“Wait.” I sprang out of my seat. “What’re you saying? Are they asking you as well?”

“As well as who?”

I made a face. “Brenner Fleming. Daniel’s really high on him joining. Do you know him?”