Page 19 of Secrets We Fight

“Are you still going apartment hunting tomorrow?” Day asked.

I nodded. Agent Tanner had given a couple of us the day off so we could try to secure housing. “That’s the plan.”

“Mind if I tag along? Marissa is relocating to Boston, and I told her I’d get a jump start on finding a place.”

Day and his girlfriend, Marissa, had met in D.C. when he first started working there and had been doing the long-distance thing over the last few months while he was out of the country. I couldn’t help but feel happy for my friend that they’d finally get to live together.

“That’s awesome news, man. I haven’t had a chance to start searching online yet, so we may just drive around until we find some apartments to check out. We can grab breakfast first and then get started.”

“Works for me,” he replied.

I chugged the rest of my water and headed toward my room where I fell asleep fantasizing about everything I wanted to make real if only my circumstances were different.

7

FALLON

The deskin my living room was filled with stacks of law textbooks, legal pads, and highlighters. I’d written out numerous flashcards to quiz myself and was making progress until Rhett cleared his throat. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I spun in my chair to face him sitting a few feet away on my couch.

“Yes?” I asked, still smiling.

His eyes twinkled with a mischievous glimmer, and I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest.

“Need a study buddy, Counselor? I may not be areallaw student, but I can certainly help quiz you.”

A surge of enjoyment washed over me, and I leaned back in the chair. “You want to help me study?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Sure, why not?”

“Didn’t you say you don’t pay attention in class?”

“I have nothing else to do, so might as well help you.”

“All right, then quiz me, Rhett.” I grabbed my flashcards and settled down next to him on the couch. The close proximity sent a delightful shiver down my spine, and I remembered how, a few nights before, we had sat in the back of the Secret Service SUV, our knees pressed together, and how neither one of us had made a move to break the contact.

He leaned in close, his voice laced with a subtle flirtatious tone. “I like it when you say my name.”

I swallowed, no words making it past my lips as I stared into his blue eyes and handed him the flashcards.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, still not able to say anything. Agent Rhett Davis was flirting with me, but I was at a loss for words and couldn’t flirt back.

“Relevance – Basics.”

I cleared my throat. “Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make a material fact more probable or less probable than would be the case without evidence.”

“Correct.” He smiled and flipped to a new card. “Privileges – Attorney-client privilege; elements.”

“Privileges apply to: 1. Confidential communication; 2. Between attorney and client; 3. Made during a professional legal consultation; 4. Unless privilege waived by the client; or 5. If an exception applies.”

He nodded and continued through a few more cards until my stomach grumbled.

“I think I need a break,” I said.

“Of course.”

I stood and asked, “Hungry?”