The Tenth Justice - Brad Meltzer [86]
“Of course I’m going to make sex jokes,” Lisa said. “That’s my nature. What’d you think, we were going to start going out? That we’d be the sweethearts of the Court? This was for fun. I’ve been waiting to jump your bones since I met you.”
“You’re just saying that.”
Lisa grabbed the back of his head and pulled him toward her. “I’m serious.”
“But now the mystery’s over.”
“Listen, whenever you want to go again, I’m ready. I had a fantastic time.”
“Oh, we’re not going again. This was it,” Ben said, pulling away. “Now we’re going to feel uncomfortable around each other at work. And every time I see you, I’m going to imagine you naked.”
“Big deal. I’m an adult. I can handle it. Besides, if you even think you can say no if I want to go again, you’re nuts.”
“You haven’t seen the bounds of my willpower. Believe me, this was a one-time engagement.”
“Whatever you say, dear,” Lisa said, turning on her side and pulling the covers to her chin.
Early Sunday morning, the Addisons drove Ben and Lisa to the airport. Lisa hugged Ben’s mother as Ben pulled their luggage from the trunk. “Thanks again for having me,” Lisa said.
“It was our pleasure,” Ben’s mother said. “I’m glad we were finally able to meet you.”
“I’ll see you later, Mom,” Ben said as he hugged his mother. Noticing the tears well up in her eyes, he added, “Don’t cry. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m fine,” his mother said, clenching her jaw. “Have a safe trip back.”
After checking their bags, Ben and Lisa walked toward their boarding gate. “Have you heard from Ober or Nathan yet?” Lisa asked.
“Nothing. Not a phone call or anything. They’re definitely planning something.”
When they arrived at the gate, Nathan, Ober, and Eric were waiting. Hesitantly, Ben approached his roommates. “How was everyone’s weekend?”
“Fine,” Nathan said.
“Great,” Eric said.
“Fine,” Ober said. “And yours?”
“It was fine,” Ben said suspiciously. Looking around the airport, he stared back at Ober and Nathan. Finally, he said, “Okay, let’s have it. Say whatever you want, but respond already. The suspense is killing me.”
“Respond to what?” Ober asked.
“I know not of what you speak,” Nathan said with a straight face.
“Don’t give me that,” Ben said. “C’mon, what’d you plan? Is someone going to pop out and throw rice at us? Is a marching band going to come parading through? What’s happening?”
“Nothing’s happening,” Nathan said.
“Why’s he getting so crazy?” Ober asked Nathan.
“I have no idea,” Nathan said. “Looks like a classic case of paranoia to me.”
After dropping Lisa at her apartment building, the four roommates returned home. The first one to reach the door, Ober pulled the pile of mail from their mailbox, dragged in his luggage, and threw the mail on the kitchen table. After dropping his bag by the closet, Eric walked back to the door. “I’ll see you guys later. I have to go down to the paper.”
The moment the door closed, Ober grabbed Ben’s shoulders. “So how was she? I bet she’s an animal in bed.”
“You thought she was a lesbian,” Ben said.
“I never said that,” Ober said. “I said she was bisexual.”
“Sure you did,” Ben said.
Nathan sat on the couch. “I can’t believe you guys did it. I mean, what were you thinking?”
“What do you mean by that?” Ben asked.
“I mean, I thought we had an understanding that after Thanksgiving, we’d make sure we could trust Lisa,” Nathan said.
Standing in the middle of the room, Ben still hadn’t taken off his jacket. “Don’t start with that,” he said. “I trust her.”
“Ben, don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope you’re not letting a horny weekend get the best of you.”
“Well, no offense, but I am going to take it the wrong way. I learned a lot about Lisa this weekend, and there’s no way she’s working with Rick against me.”
“How do you know that?” Nathan challenged. “What additional information convinces you of that belief? You think that because you had sex you somehow know her better?”
“It’s not just the sexual part.