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I sighed. “You’re insane. You know that?”

“I knew you’d try to pay because I called and wanted someone to talk to. It isn’t necessary. Just like you don’t need me walking you to your front door, I don’t need you paying for my meals.”

“You’re insane.”

“And you’re welcome for lunch.”

“I’m getting you back. You know that, right?”

I slid my card back into my wallet as Tyler got up and held his hand out for me.

“I’m counting on it,” he said.

Then, without a second thought, I slid my hand into his and we walked out of the restaurant with our fingers intertwined.

Tyler

“Uh huh. Of course. Thank you, Mrs. Gloria. I’ll be sure to let her know you’re thinking of her. Of course. You can call me anytime. Yes, I can send you a paper bill, or I can bill you to your email. It doesn’t matter to me. All right. I’ll make sure I note that. Yes. Because I’m on retainer you can contact me at any time, day or night. Yep, even on vacations. Wonderful. I’ll make a note of it. We’ll talk soon. Bye.”

I set my phone on the receiver with a massive smile on my face. I had officially opened my practice three days ago and I already had four potential client meetings, two clients who had procured my services on a retainer basis, and a whopping seven clients who had already paid me upfront to get started on things they needed help with.

As I stared at my calendar, I shook my head. If I took on any more people, I’d have to hire another lawyer to help out—which I fully intended to do. I wanted to fill the four floors I currently rented with a lawyer on each level. But I hadn’t expected to have to do it so soon.

Things were really coming along, and I almost forgot about the issues with my family for a while.

Almost.

My desk phone rang again, and I chuckled. If this was another potential client and I nailed them, my next emergency was to find a part-time defense lawyer to help me out with this stuff. I picked up the phone and drew in a deep breath, then put on my most professional voice.

“This is Tyler Browning.”

“How’s the client hunt going?” Brandon asked.

“You wouldn’t believe how much parents’ party helped despite them full-on embarrassing the shit out of me,” I said.

“I can only imagine. How many clients have you snagged so far?”

“Seven who need me immediately, two retainers, and four potential in the future when the need arises.”

“Holy shit! Sounds like Beverly Hills and Silicon Valley are full of criminals.”

“And it lines my pockets even while I’m asleep,” I said, grinning.

“Well, does the hotshot lawyer have time to eat?”

“I think I could spare some time for the one guy I’ve known since middle school.”

“Thanks. How quaint,” he said flatly.

“Hey, once you take over your father’s record label, you’ll be just as busy as I am.”

“That’s one of the many things we’re going to talk about. That date might be coming sooner than we think.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, really. Like I asked, you up for lunch?”

“I am now.”

“And you weren’t before?”

“Did you just hear my work load?” I asked.

“Fair enough. Ron and Don’s?”

“Done and done.”

I shut down my office for my lunch hour and drove to meet my best friend. I wasn’t sure what he had meant by the fact that the day is coming sooner, but I hoped nothing was wrong with his father. I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and walked in before I was promptly flagged down by Brandon.

And he looked rough.

“Hey there,” I said, clapping him on the back.

“I got us a couple beers,” he said.

“Can’t drink while I’m on the clock. If someone sees me, it’ll look bad.”

“More for me.”

“Brandon, what’s going on?”

“So, you know how I’ve been a little absent the past week?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary. We’re men with jobs.”

“Well, Dad’s not sick, but he announced a few days ago that he’s retiring.”

“Oh shit. Really?”

“Yeah. Like full-on packing up and moving with Mom to an island.”

“What? Where are they going?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I care. Mom’s always had dreams of retiring on a small sector of Hawaii, and yesterday I heard her and Dad talking about beachfront properties on Molokai.”

“How do you feel about all this?”

“I mean, I’m ready. I just didn’t think I’d have to be really ready now. I figured I’d at least get to thirty before he tossed me everything.”

“Maybe it’ll take them a couple years to make plans. People don’t just buy property and move two weeks later.”

“Maybe you’re right, but it’s happening. He’s already started the official paperwork to hand the place down to me.”

“So I take it you’ve been sitting in with him on a lot of stuff then.”