I Take You by Eliza Kennedy

Author:Eliza Kennedy [Kennedy, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781443434256
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Published: 2015-05-05T23:00:00+00:00

16

Freddy and I watch the water for a while.

“Lily?” she says gently. “This is awful, I know. But let’s focus on the present. Is Will really going to care about all this? You were just a kid.”

I think about Monday night. About Will’s concern that we don’t know that much about each other. His specific questions about my childhood.

“Maybe not,” I say. “But if I don’t break up with him, his mother is also going to tell my law firm.”

“Which makes her a total bitch,” Freddy says. “But again, so what? They love you. You’ve been amazing for them.”

I press my palms to my eyes. “When you apply for admission to the bar, which is basically a license to practice as a lawyer, you have to disclose any past criminal offenses. Even offenses that have been expunged. They won’t necessarily stop you from being admitted,” I pause, “but if it later comes to light that you failed to disclose anything …”

Freddy understands in an instant. “Lily. No.”

“I screwed up! I screwed up, and if the firm finds out, they will fire me in a heartbeat. They could report me, and I could be suspended. Maybe even disbarred.”

She thinks for a moment. “But you don’t have to be a lawyer. Your family has money. You can do whatever you want.”

It’s sweet how she keeps trying to solve this. “I don’t like my job,” I say. “I love it. It’s the one thing I’ve ever wanted to do—the one thing I really feel suited for. Law school, working at the firm—those are the only challenges I’ve ever felt were made for me. And the only things I haven’t screwed up yet. If I can’t do what I want to do, I don’t know what will happen, Freddy. I might … finally, truly lose it.”

We watch another cat stroll up to the edge of the water. This one dips a six-toed paw in, shakes it delicately and licks off a few drops of water. “You need to let Will go,” Freddy says.

I stare at her in disbelief. “And let his mom win? But she’s a bully!”

“This isn’t a contest, Lily. It’s your life.”

“It’s a contest and my life. I won’t let him go.”

“But you have so many doubts already, and—”

I shake my head firmly. “Not anymore. I’m fully committed.”

“Because you finally have some real opposition,” she says.

“Be on my side, Freddy. Please.”

“I am. You know I am. But no lie, my friend. You are in one serious motherfucking pickle.”

This makes me laugh, finally. There’s a sudden commotion inside the gift shop, and someone comes flapping toward us.

“Donna!” Freddy cries. “Join us, girlfriend! The water’s amazing!” Instead, she kicks us out. Freddy and I walk back to the hotel. She takes my arm. “I have to say, this feels like the key to all mysteries.”

“What’s that mean?”

She shrugs. “It’s no wonder you have such a hard time telling Will the truth. Look what happened the last time you were honest with a boy about sex.

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