Lawsuit and Leather Read online

  Copyright © 2022 by Vivian Mae; Midtown Publishing LLC

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This novel is in its entirety a work of fiction, which means all names, characters, organizations, businesses, etc… are either work of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. If there is any resemblance to a person, living or dead, it is coincidental.

  For more information, contact:

  [email protected]

  Editor: The Romantic Editorial Services

  Cover Design: Midtown Publishing LLC

  Image @ Shutterstock

  First Edition: February 2022

  This goes out to all my Gemma’s of the world. Believe in yourself, because you must be your own sturdy rock before you can become someone else’s. And know in your heart that you will find the person you’re meant to be with.

  This book contains content that some may find sensitive, including mental health disorders, signs of domestic abuse, and childhood trauma. It is filled with explicit mature sexual content which is recommended for readers who are at least eighteen years old.

  Contents

  PLAYLIST

  PROLOGUE

  Sept 2016

  CHAPTER 1

  Present Day - April 2022

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  EPILOGUE

  Parker

  Coming Soon

  Review

  Bonus Content

  Acknowledgments

  Also By Vivian Mae

  Burning Little Secrets

  Chapter 1

  About the Author

  * * *

  Leisure - “Lonely Nights”

  Sabrina Claudio - “Problem With You”

  Adele - “Oh My God”

  The Weekend - “Alone Again”

  BENEE - “Supalonely”

  Hailee Steinfield and Bloodpop - “Capital Letters”

  Vicktor Taino - “Feathers and Wax”

  GEMS - “W/O U”

  Sabrina Claudio - “Wanna Know”

  Kali Uchies - “Telepatia”

  Fleurie - “Hurricane”

  Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - “Love Me Harder”

  Cigarettes After Sex - “Flash”

  Gallant - “Talking To Myself”

  Kali Uchies - “Que Te Pedi//”

  Gallant - “Open Up”

  Patrick Watson - “Je Te Laisserai Des Mots”

  Lana Del Rey - “American”

  Ariana Grande - “Safety Net”

  The Weeknd - “True Colors”

  Kali Uchies - “te pongo mal (préndelo)”

  Leisure - “Beautiful”

  The Weeknd - “Die For You”

  PROLOGUE

  Sept 2016

  On the upper westside of Manhattan, wedged between a spiraling wood banister and two kissing lovers, I began to sweat. I was both excited and sick from the prospect of tonight and what I was about to do.

  “Typical Columbia frat party,” Dana, my college roommate and second closest friend, rolled her eyes as she snatched the freshly filled solo cup from a man’s hand. “No beer, only bourbon. But it works even better though, so long as you don't mind the burn.” She parted the lovers by my side like Moses, shooing them away.

  “I just need to take the edge off, he’s going to be here any second, and…” I trailed off as Dana passed me the cup, lifting it to my lips to shush me. I took a long sip, wincing as the spiced heat coursed its way down my throat.

  “That’s why we came early.” Dana reassured me, combing a gold strand of her bobbed hair behind her ear, “It’s my job to get you loosened up before he arrives. Plus, you have me, and do you think I’d let you break such big news without my support?” Dana tugged on her black fur coat, guiding my eyes towards hers. “Now, repeat the plan,” she commanded.

  I took a deep breath, inhaling the expensive scent of Ralph Lauren cologne, rich like juniper, cheapened only by the rhythmic pop of unfitting house music. “Once Parker arrives, I’ll take him to the roof top where we always go.” I recited the almost mantra Dana instilled in me since last week.

  “Go on…” Dana encouraged with a wave of her hand, switching my empty cup with a full one.

  “Then we’ll have a few drinks and talk like normal. We’ll laugh and be silly, just like best friends do, just as we have since we were kids.” I shivered now, taking a long chug of my drink, welcoming the distraction of its unbearable taste. My stomach turned, it had always been weak, ever since I tried seafood in the Hamptons as a kid.

  “I’m waiting…” Dana cocked her head, half smiling, half impatient. I blushed, my face reddened, no longer from the strong drinks alone.

  “Then…” I squeezed the plastic cup in my hand, wetting my lips that suddenly went dry, “I tell him I love him.” My voice fell out like a whimper. Even confessing out loud to Dana felt foreign.

  Yes, I loved Parker Ellis Jones; the boy turned man who had been by my side since the age of six, inseparable even now as we attended different colleges. My quiet confession brought a new sense of self-awareness to my body, as if I were engulfed in one of Parker’s protective hugs.

  “How do I look?” I asked. “Do you think he’ll like it?” I turned toward Dana, my hands delicately wrapped around my waist as I asked her for the twelfth time today.

  “Are you serious?” She took the cup out of my hand for a sip, “He’s going to be a lawyer, isn’t he? That means he has to be smart. So, yes. Unless he’s a total idiot, he’ll be drooling at your feet.” Of course Parker wasn’t an idiot, he was anything but. Not only had he finished his political science degree in three years, but he had already begun the first year of the juris doctorate program. He was tall, gorgeous, and beyond ambitious, leading as the captain of Columbia’s track team. “Wait… that’s the outfit you made?” Dana snapped my attention back to her as I nodded. She sighed, “I wish I could design like you; it’s crazy how much better you are than the others in class.” I blushed again, avoiding the praise she often gave, which I felt was far too kind.

  Despite attending every one of Parker’s Columbia frat parties, Dana and I did not actually study here. We were seniors at F.I.T., the best fashion school in New York City. This made the distance between Parker and me rather notable, but a small sacrifice we worked around. And even though Columbia had its own subway stop on 116th street, Parker never once wanted me to ride it, and insisted Dana and I take a cab.

  “It’s not safe.” He’d sternly announced, “And I can’t accept it. Not today, not ever.” Of course he’d never let me pay for my fare; it was just like Parker to think he needed to take care of me. He gave Dana and me enough money to get to the parties and back and extra for food, in case we ever got hungry. This was Parker, relentless and protective, observant, and caring in the most precise ways. “As long as I get to see you, I’ll pay whatever it takes.” The memory of his words was sweet, and the fact that he made time to see me despite the deman
d of his schedule. I grinned to myself, settling in the thought, allowing the bourbon to ease the tension along my shoulders.

  “You girls enjoying the party?” The familiar coastal tone of a California man sauntered by. He arched a dark brow, his hair combed back, uniformed like the other polo wearing men in the mahogany trimmed living room. “Gemma…” He nodded with a toothy grin. Dana blinked as if annoyed.

  Tommy Romero was a clean-shaven man with dark eyes and a bent nose. Despite the scar above his eyebrow, and his rather clumsy approach to women, Tommy was a sweet guy. He tried pursuing me before, but seemed reluctant around Parker, whose presence always carried an unspoken dominance with the pierce of his emerald green eyes.

  “Not now, Tommy,” Dana widened her expression, shooting an interpreted message only close girlfriends could decipher as— Oh my god.

  “The party’s great.” I took another sip of my drink, which no longer burned, but rather sat sweetly on my tongue.

  As Tommy flirted with an unimpressed Dana, I glanced down at the small silver band around my finger, the one with a tiny butterfly at its center. Parker surprised me with it the night I turned thirteen. In fact, it was the first piece of jewelry I ever owned, and best of all, it came from him. Not many people knew the reason behind it, but the ring was far more specific than most even realized.

  In Mrs. Tempton’s third grade class, Parker and I were assigned to pick an animal which best suited our personalities. I wanted to be a pigeon, who’s mundane nature I appreciated, along with the almost metallic shine of their wings. Parker disagreed, though, and maintained I was too pretty to be a pigeon, so he called me a butterfly instead.

  Parker picked a rattlesnake, prefacing he’d only bite if he felt threatened; a stern distinction he made as a child, and the leading reason he picked that over a shark. This stayed with us, especially any time we’d say goodbye. “Better shake, Rattlesnake,” I’d always tell him, to which he’d return, “Bye, bye, Butterfly.”

  Yes, I was his Butterfly, and he was my Rattlesnake; and this ring meant the world to me. I always wore it, specifically because it always felt like a piece of him was with me, especially in moments like now as I waited in the discomfort of large crowds.

  When Tommy asked earlier if I was enjoying the party, I actually lied, and seeing my ring was a reminder of that. In fact, I was never one for parties, even for my birthday. When Parker gave me the ring, I told him the only thing I wanted to do was see a movie; one above the standard PG rating that stopped us before. Not only did he surprise me with the gift, but he came with me to the midnight premiere of Twilight.

  It was one of the first real things we did alone as young adults, and I wouldn’t have done it with anyone but him. He wasn’t just a companion, he was an active participant, passing the time with thumb wars, middle school gossip, and eating gummy peach rings while waiting in line.

  That was perfect, much better than any party.

  “Why don’t we sit down?” Tommy nodded, pointing to the newly purchased leather sofa where everyone stood. Dana scrunched her face, absorbing the hollering cheers of an arm-wrestling competition close by.

  “And risk getting their sweat on us?” Dana shook her head.

  “You know me. It’s a little crowded.” I added.

  “You and Parker both,” Tommy groaned, “What’s the point of a party if you two just leave every time?” He teased as if daring me to stay.

  Parker and I were the same—a little more reserved—which is why we spent our time upstairs away from others. Although the frat house was a meeting point, we’d always end up on the roof, sitting on an old yellow couch that never got donated.

  “You know I caught them falling asleep up there one night?” Tommy scoffed to Dana, “Like seniors after their early bird special.”

  “I think it's cute,” Dana defended, “and I bet Parker was quite comfortable.” She winked in my direction, a not so subtle clue even for Tommy. I’d do just about anything to spend moments like that with Parker, especially on cold nights like this. Often I’d get close enough to fall asleep, using the support of his large shoulder as my personal pillow.

  “Wouldn’t be the first time.” I confessed, reminded again of when Parker gave me my ring. That night on my birthday, I was completely enamored, barely watching the movie, spending the entire time looking down at my silver butterfly. I rubbed my thumb on the foreign feeling of a band, slowly yawning, resting my head on Parker’s shoulder as I fell asleep. I wasn’t sure if he intended for me to know, but he kissed me that night. Right there in the theatre, as I slowly shut my eyes, he pressed his lips on the top of my head.

  “See, she’s blushing.” Tommy winked in my direction, misinterpreting my thought as some excitement for his presence.

  “Go away, Tommy, we have important things to do tonight.” Dana shooed him once more, her attention focused on being my wing girl for the evening. Important was an understatement as I was hours or even minutes away from finally confessing my love to Parker. My stomach dipped into a loose knot, an uncomfortable combination of adrenaline and fear.

  Yes, I was afraid, and I had every right to be, considering the life I lived, the mother I had, and the father that left.

  A man in the corner rolled his thumb along the flint wheel of a Bic lighter, causing a familiar flicking noise that triggered so many bad memories. I studied him as he lit a cigarette, puffing a stale grey cloud of smoke into the air. The odor was similar to that of dirt and burnt tires, each being more pleasant than what it truly reminded me of: home.

  Your heart is a piggy bank, Gemma, but a man is always a hammer. Claire, my mother, would always say this, amongst other things, smoking cigarette after cigarette. They'll take it all, and they’ll leave you, too. Don't say I didn't warn you. Someday you’ll end up like me.

  The sudden smoke that filled the room twisted in my gut. The fear of rejection, the fear of who my mother was and her disorder, fueled me with a paranoia I’d seen and heard my entire life. I still remembered the night my father left, the thing she had done to me, what I witnessed. Parker was always there no matter what, and though he knew me the best out of anyone, not even he knew the details of what happened that night.

  I stroked my neck, soothing it from the stench of smoke as I stared off. I couldn’t acknowledge the hold she had on me for so long and how it prevented me from ever confessing to Parker how I felt.

  “Are you sure? You think he loves me?” I whispered into Dana’s ear, clinging onto a bit of hope. Dana encouraged me to do this. The confidence she exuded was far more profound than what I had in myself, and I envied her for it. I needed that reminder, I needed to remember why I chose to do this now, to risk it all for the man of my dreams.

  “I’m positive! There isn’t a doubt in my mind.” Dana practically shouted, confirming her certainty as if it were her final answer on a game show.

  “Positive about what?” A voice so deep and warm questioned Dana from behind my back, pricking along my neck like hot velvet arrows. I turned around, still amazed each time I saw him, the towering and built frame of Parker, peering down with an unmatched white smile. “How’s my Butterfly?” My toes curled from his greeting, caused by the sight of his dirty blonde waves. His hair sat unkempt, loose and sexy, perfect for the bronzed look of his dimpled smirk.

  “Parker!” I shouted, my voice hitched as he pulled me in for a hug. Whereas others wore polos and slacks, Parker sported a grey Columbia sweater and dark denim jeans. His casual style put him so in contrast to the others in the room, if not obvious already from his staggering height and striking green eyes.

  “Is this the outfit you talked about, the one that landed you the internship?” Parker pulled away and stared down along my body; his large hands softly gripped my shoulders into position.

  “It’s all from scratch.” I admitted, unlike the intention I wished to confess. Though I couldn’t be as vocal with my feelings as I wanted, fashion had always been a way to express myself, which was
probably why I worked so hard at it. This look in particular was no different, and my outfit carried secret meanings. Would Parker notice my wool skirt as an homage to his eyes? Plaid but green, short of brilliant like the white pleated blouse I wore in honor of his smile? Or perhaps my cami, whose texture and hue was similar to the golden brown waves of his soft hair? The look was designed to say it all, I’m thinking of you, and I’m yours, reach out and take me. “Do you like it?” I asked, his eyes still observed every inch of my body.

  “It was the first thing I saw when I entered. I haven’t stopped staring since.” He assured, his voice low but defiant to the music. He’d been watching me? The realization elicited goosebumps across my arms, his admission perhaps more profound for me than the people listening by our side. I tucked my shoulders close to my ears.

  “Internship?” Dana interrupted, her eyes puzzled.

  “Gemma got a position styling for Gerard Halt. She’ll start in spring after graduation.” Parker answered before I could, his voice assertive with an almost unmistakable pride. “As if there were any doubts, I knew she’d get it, and her look convinced him.” If only it could convince you too, I thought, and the way his eyes stayed fixed along my neck made me feel as though it were coming true.

  “I got the news today actually, I know it's just styling for now, but I hope it leads to designing.” I reached up and adjusted the collar around Parker’s neck, a habit I formed for correcting looks. I was excited to be interning for Gerard, a small-time designer with a big ego, one which impressed some, but not yet many. “And if I work as hard as this guy, I’m sure I’ll be designing in no time.” I bumped into Parker, who wasn’t shy about hiding his smirk. I was ecstatic about the position, but couldn’t enjoy it, not till I could confess to Parker and ease this anxious tension in my stomach.