Justice for All by Olivia Hardin

“Well, pull up your lappy and log me into your cell phone account so I can activate this thing. You’re going home for Christmas today, right?”
    Kay didn’t answer, only sighed as she opened her laptop and pulled up the account. While he bent over the screen and started the activation process, she carried a few bags out to her car for the trip.
    The moment she re-entered the apartment, Thomas was there holding her phone out to her with a cocky grin. “So, here you go. Now I won’t have to worry about you on the trip.”
    “Worry, my ass. I’m sure you’ve got lots of dates and plans lined up for Christmas week. The man with ‘no family worth a shit’ will have plenty of alternatives ready for this holiday.”
    Thomas pointed a finger like a gun and smacked his lips at her. Then his smile curled down, and he approached her with a serious expression. Both of his hands settled heavily on her shoulders, and for some strange reason she had the urge to back away from him. “I really am sorry for last night.”
    “Stop apologizing. We’re good.”
    He nodded and frowned. “Where did you spend the night, anyway?”
    “Grrr.” She made a noise in the back of her throat as she gently slipped his hands away. “None of your business, Thomas. Let’s just move on, ‘kay?”
    “Yeah, okay.” He reached into the back of his pocket and pulled out a little box, messily decorated in silver snowflake wrapping paper. “So it’s Christmas. Friends get each other gifts, right?”
    Kay took the box with nervous hands and opened it. “Oh, Thomas … wow…”
    It was a fancy clutch handbag, just like one she’d admired a few months ago when they’d been shopping at the Galleria in Dallas. She’s considered purchasing it at that moment, but it always seemed wrong to buy for one’s self just before Christmas.
    “Well, have fun with the fam, okay. Let’s hang when you get back.”
    She stared at the bag, rubbing her hand over the flap and thinking it was entirely too expensive a present to receive from just a friend. When she looked up and saw him making his way to the door, she stopped him. “Oh, wait, I’ve got something for you, too.”
    As she watched him open the shoebox-sized package, she felt a little sheepish. His gift was lavish and probably much more than she should have accepted. Her gift to him bordered on silly. Still, his eyes lit up when he began pulling out assorted Breaking Bad items.
    “Whoa, it’s Blue Ice rock candy. Cool!”
    Rolling her eyes at his juvenile enthusiasm, she couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, and I’m sure one of your girlfriends will enjoy the bath salts.”
    His eyes were alight with happiness. To her credit, she didn’t flinch and pull away when he kissed her cheek. It was no more than a second’s contact and not inappropriate for friends, but considering the things he’d said the night before it still made her uncomfortable. “Thanks, Kay. This stuff is awesome.”
    By the she finally got on the road, it was well past noon. The farther she got from Dallas, the farther Thomas got from her mind. Instead, images of Van and that very enticing kiss haunted her. She wondered what he was doing, whether he was thinking of her.
    Swallowing and shaking her head to stop her thoughts from following that path, she hit a button on her steering wheel to dial her brother Jeremy.
    “I was wondering if you were going to call.” Without even a hello, his voice sounded through her car’s speakers and she rolled her eyes.
    “Hello to you too, brother.”
    He snorted, and she could just about picture his raised eyebrow and knowing grin. “Everything all right? I thought you’d get on the road before noon.”
    She’d texted him that she would call him when she started the drive. Her dashboard showed 3:15, much later than she’d originally anticipated. “I’m good. Just couldn’t seem to get things together.”
    There was a moment of silence before she heard him take a deep breath,