law by gates

cassandra gates || aja naomi king 

thirty-three years old. lawyer. born & raised in madison, ga

“That’s true, I wouldn’t be so surprised running into a one night stand back home,” Nevada exclaimed. That’s only because he’s from LA, it’s a big city and tourist destination, the only thing that would surprise him the most would be running into someone from his childhood days from when he lived in Detroit. “It’s actually quite funny, I come here and I’ve run into a few people that I’ve met before,” he mused. “Senile old ladies?” Nev chuckled, “I’ve had a few run in’s with them.” The older man quirked a brow, “Tail tucked?” he questioned curiously. 

“Yeah?” Cassandra was curious to whom all else he knew in Madison of all places. It wasn’t exactly like a ton of them had ever really left the small town. “Who else have you ran into here?” Cassandra was surely to know them as well as she grew up in Madison and if one didn’t know everyone, well, they were living in the stone ages. “As long as you’ve already had a few run ins, then well, you’re shit out of luck,” she laughed, shrugging her shoulders, “Had a medical scare,” she explained. Nine months into being home and at this rate, who cared who knew why she came home? Cassandra was exhausted from making up lies. “Thankfully,” she looked over at him with a slow pause, “I am fine but somehow am stickin’ around.”

Nisa was one of the first not to immediately judge someone for what they did, unless it directly hurt her. Cassandra and she hadn’t been that close when the other left, and now that she was back the pair were getting along just fine. “Hopped Fox it is then. Last time I went to the Booze Barn my ass was bruised for a week from fallin’ off that damn bull.”

“Now you have me a little sad that I missed out on that.” Cassandra began to tease a little, “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the Booze Barn? Relive that moment for me?” She raised a brow at the woman, a smile toying on the corner of her lips. “Though, no, maybe not.” Her finger lifted at the thought, “I wouldn’t be caught dead on that thing so I shouldn’t go anywhere near it just in case you get any funny ideas.”

Giving her a nod of understanding, Hunter lifted a clean glass from the stack in front of her, taking a towel he’d sat down earlier and wiping inside the rim. It was clean, sure, but something about the motions made him feel like a real bartender. Not that he needed to prove himself, it just helped him play the part more than anything. “Well, I sure do appreciate you givin’ me the opportunity to hold this title for a night. It might just be the best night of my life.” 

Cassandra let out a small laugh at this words, “The best night of your life?” Her brow raised at what she hoped was an exaggeration, “I mean, certainly we can hope that there are other nights in your life that are better than me keeping your gentleman card intact, here?” She tipped her head to the side, sipping on her drink before her. 

//

Logan waved her hand. “You don’t gotta explain the love for the parents because I love mine but I couldn’t live with them again.” She teased as she leaned against the couch. The second Tyler’s name came up, the woman’s expression didn’t change even though she had wanted it to especially when she started going into how much Tyler fucked up her to make her move to another state. “Wait,” she laughed a little, sitting up as she turned to face Cassie. “Tyler Jameson fucked you up so bad you left the state?”

“They are just too much sometimes,” she laughed, shaking her head. She knew they meant well, especially for her running back to town and scaring them all half to death. But, things were fine now and Cassandra wanted life to go back to normal. There was just no such thing as normal in Madison. “Well when you put it like that,” she groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead, “God, it really sounds pathetic.” And that was the last thing Cassandra ever wanted to be. 

☼

Friendship is a form of love and Billie always loved in full measure. She had a knack, even from a young age, of bypassing any fundamental differences between herself and others and facilitating lasting connections. She’d been burned by her naivety plenty of times but it never stifled her desire to truly befriend everyone she met. Cass was no exception, if anything Billie tried her very darnedest to convince the woman she was worthy of her company. She may have been too silly at times, too easily distracted, too loud but she was also loyal to a fault. She saw something in Cassandra, a tiny spark that filled her with hope and she vowed to gain her favor. She wished that one day this would become the kind of friendship that blooms in the center of your heart. That kind of friendship that grows from the seed basking in the warm soil to a vast tree with many ups and downs, many - but not enough to disguise the enormity or the grandeur of such a tree, the sheer brilliance and beauty of it. 

Billie clutched at her heart in wake of Cass’s surprising admittance. She was having fun, with her. There wasn’t anything more delightful than that. “Well sugarplum, I’ve got loads more planned for our night out. The fun hath just begun” she raised her glass, fighting a giggle at the way her hand struggled to stay upright. She’d certainly had a few too many of the bright colored concoctions, they syrupy sweetness was doing a fine job at obscuring just how much rum was poured into the beverage. “To new friendships and…whatever this drink is because its good!” 

Admitting to having fun and admitting that the woman quite possibly might have friends was not something she had done in a long time. Perhaps since she had left for Chicago when she was eighteen years old. Cassandra had been so hell bent and determined on being as emotionless as possible. She dove head first into her studies to cure heartbreak and once that started, she didn’t really know how to backtrack from the whole not have any emotions thing. Even her sexual encounters were strangers were not so random at the end of the night. She walked into a bar and knew who she wanted to go home with and so she did. It rarely ended up being more than that. “Don’t you dare go spreading that rumor of me having any fun,” though it was far from a rumor and she was only partly teasing Billie. It’s not like it was a secret that Cassandra was capable of having fun - it just didn’t seem all that likely since her return. The most she had smiled was at the ball with Tyler. And well, it seemed since then life in Madison was really turning around for her. Cassandra raised her glass with Billie, not even believing she was participating in a night like this. “I don’t even remember the name of the drink either,” she admitted, a giggle passing over her lips before she brought the alcohol back to suppress the laughter more. “Friendships,” she hummed the word. It was a long time coming since the woman felt like she had any real friends.

“Yeah, but I have a protective streak in me, so I lend helpin’ hand when I see a chance,” Hunter replied. It was truer than most people realized, the man having taken his own brother under his wing so early on in life that he didn’t know how to do anything but protect people. It was a natural carry over for him to do the same as a bartender, then later as a bar owner. “Trust me, hon, I’m  the furthest thing from an actual gentleman. Anyone in town will tell you that.”

“It’s appreciated,” she stated with a sincerity she might not have used back in Chicago. Though, those type of men were not looking to be protective out of the kindness of their heart. They were looking for a repayment after saving a damsel in distress, so Cass vowed to not be the one they had to save the day for. She was tired of men feeling entitled to her company just because they thought they did her a favor. “Oh, really?” Her brow raised by the tone of his words, intriguing her slightly. “Well, for this moment you can remain a gentleman.”

“Yeah, it’s quite the difference from Chicago, or even, LA.” Nevada quirked a brow, “You don’t sound too happy to see me,” he mused. The older man shrugged, “It was a pretty big move for me whether I stay here permanently or not that’s up in the air. It’s been good, I’ve made a lot of friends and it’s definitely not as crazy as the city.” He quirked a brow, “You’ve been here eight months and we’re just now running into each other?” He chuckled. 

Cassandra perked a brow up at his assumption, “I mean,” she took a sip of her drink, “I’m honesty more shocked than anything. It’s not often you run into a one night stand from Chicago in your hometown.” She admitted to him with a softer smile, “But overall, it’s nice to see a familiar face that isn’t someone I knew from growing up around here.” Cassandra’s shoulders fell lax, “Nothin’ here is as crazy as the city. Except if you run into a few of the senile old ladies. They’ll eat someone like you up in a minute,” she laughed shortly, “I haven’t got out much if I’m bein’ honest. I hadn’t really come to terms with running home with my tail tucked until now.” And even then, was she so sure she had come to terms with it?

Logan turned her head to look over at her the second she plopped down next to her. “I actually would love to point out that you found yourself a hot and funny ass roommate that gives you plenty of reasons to stay in this little town.” She chuckled as she leaned back against the couch, furrowing her brows at her words. “Wait, who did you go with again?”

“You’re right,” she hummed back in response, “Count that as my number one reason to stay in town. You saved me from my parents house.” She shook her head, “Trust me, I love them and all, but my mother was seriously beginning to annoy me with all the hovering.” The doctors had found the lump on her breast to be benign and her mother still was watching her every move. “Tyler, Tyler Jameson,” she closed her eyes a minute, “God, we’ve been avoiding each other since high school.” She admitted with another shake of her head, “I mean, that’s a guy that fucks you up so much you move to another state and never come home. Until you do, that is.” 

“Yeah, I’ll give you that. Back in Dallas, I’d be beatin’ the pervs away with a stick if I had you sittin’ here at my bar top.” Hunter was resting his hips against the counter in front of her, hands resting on the bar top as he leaned forward. He wasn’t too close to her, not enough to invade her space, but enough that it was clear he wasn’t going anywhere for a while. “Tuesdays usually don’t pick up until,” he paused, glancing at his watch, “eight, eight thirty. We’ll get you all liquored up and send you off on your way home before then so nobody bothers you.” 

Cassandra’s short laugh was amused as he mentioned a similar situation being at hand if she was in Dallas. “Typically I’m used to having to do that myself,” she admitted to him. Cassandra never felt short of having to take care of herself out in the city. It hadn’t been easy, not at first. No, Cassandra felt like she eyes following her everywhere until she learned to stand up for herself. “Good to know,” she smiled over at him, happy that she was at able to get some stable conversation before the bar began to fill with its regulars. “Aren’t you quite the gentleman?” She offered him another smile, head tipping to the side. 

The soft sounds of crickets desperately tried to compete with the thumping sound of the Booze Barn. Wyatt hated coming to this place. The beers were overpriced and Hunter kept a close eye on his ever growing tab. The same tab he had no intention on paying. There’s stock in southern hospitality or whatever. The only reason he had come out tonight was to poke some holes in the fine fabrics of Madison’s finer society and discuss the legal bs that haunted him. Who better than to fool around with while discussing his record than Cassandra. Wyatt watched her exchange a few fleeting goodbyes to a gaggle of nosey belles before he reached out to pull her into the towering stalks of corn. 

“You talk too damn much.” He huffed against her lips. “You say meet ya and I’ve been out here waitin for twenty minutes.”

@cassandraxgates​

She put on a brave face the moment she was stopped by the belles. They weren’t exactly her favorite people in Madison, despite the fact they could put on a beautiful ball. She had been lost in all the beauty at the end of the night, lingering on Tyler’s arm. And yet, she had promised Wyatt Tucker a meeting and she was long over due on her time as she got caught up being bombarded by the belles. “I barely said a damn word,” she muttered back to him, huffing as he pulled her into the corn stalks, their lips already finding way to one another. “You know it’d be worth the wait.” She snaked her arms up around his neck. Goddamn. He was a guilty pleasure she didn’t know she needed. Someone to make her feel but not in an emotional way. Her interactions with him were either professional or well, entirely sexual. 

“Nothin’. It’s just my life, honestly. Shouldn’t be surprised, really.” Nimet sighed before looking at Cassandra, even though the lawyer had been back in town since early this year it was still slightly shocking to still see her in town, Nim had thought the other woman would return to Chicago after a while. “I hope your day is going better than mine, though.”

Cassandra raised a brow at the woman. “I’m-” she felt her tongue slip against her lips, “sorry to hear that.” She didn’t know what else to say about the situation at hand. “I doubt there is much I can do,” she started, looking over at Nimet, “but as a lawyer, I make a great listener.” Madison was making her go soft again. And not just Madison, but Tyler. “It’s a day,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Law in a small town isn’t nearly as exciting.”

Tyler immediately shook his head at her apology. He didn’t need her sympathy or pity, something he felt like everyone had laid on him when she’d passed, he just wanted her to know. His mother had really liked Cassandra and for years she’d told him that he should reach out to her and see how she was doing, though Tyler had never been brave enough once she’d moved away. “I understand. I thought about calling you a hundred times over the years and never did so it’s…I get it.” He smiled up at her, meeting her dark eyes a moment before looking away. Sitting across from her with his heart on the table for her to either take and keep safe or smash into bits was terrifying. He was trying to be open to the idea that Cass may not want this with him again, but that was hard to think about. He’d never know if he didn’t try and Tyler wanted to know for sure. He needed that. 

“Everything is different here. Living in Savannah was crazy. I know it ain’t Chicago or anything but it’s still a big city to me and it was hard to adapt. I joined the fire department there and the stuff I saw was crazy. Comin’ back to Madison it’s almost a boring job.” He chuckled, reaching for his drink and taking a slow sip before he set it back down and watched Cass from across the table. “I always knew I’d come back but I didn’t think it’d be like this.”

She knew that giving him pity was probably the last thing he wanted. It was part of the reason that she didn’t want people to know about her reason for returning to town. There was something about the look that people got in their eyes. Telling Tyler wasn’t on her list of things to do during a date, but as she sat in front of him, she felt a stronger pull to tell him why. Being honest with him was the only way that they could continue to move forward and she didn’t want to base their first night together in a decade on a lie. Cassandra didn’t know why a small laugh pressed against her lips, parting them in a small smile, but it did. Perhaps it was because they had thought about contacting each other and never did. They both thought it and both thought against it, leaving them sitting at this dinner table with a lifetime of history between them. “Funny how that works,” she admitted softly, shaking her head. She was beginning to feel relaxed around him, in a way that she hadn’t let herself relax since she got into law school. She had spent so much of her time focusing on school that emotions simply did not exist to her. 

Cassandra nodded her head, “Any place is different that here,” she told him, “Doesn’t matter if it’s Chicago or Savannah,” her shoulders lifted in a slight shrug, “There really is no place like Madison, it seems.” It was a weird fact to admit and yet, nearly six months into being back into town, she was not capable of walking away from it again. “It’s very boring,” she admitted with a short laugh at the admittance, “I mean,” her eyes rolled back, “from working on high profile embezzling cases to going through a will with Mrs. Myers down the street? It’s boring ass work.” It was the first time she really admitted that aloud and it felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest. “I didn’t either, honestly.” She sighed with the words, “Didn’t think I’d stay as long as I have, but” her eyes met his, “I just can’t find the will to leave again.” 

She would have loved to see me here with you again. I think the last time we went together was just after all the girls in our grade had their debut.” Tyler and Cassandra had been children then and now they were grown adults with lives and careers of their own, two decades having passed in the blink of an eye. “There’s too many damn things in this town that remind me of her and I can’t keep lettin’ them make me sad. I have to choose to focus on the good things and all the amazing memories she gave me.” He smiled sadly and took in a breath before looking around the room a little to see everyone he knew just about, looking like more than just little country folk like they all normally did.

Cassandra nodded her head, “I think you might be right,” she gave him a small smile at the thought. It was crazy to think about just how long ago that was for them. They were in their thirties now and unsure of where they even stood with each other. Yet, they were at the ball together and honestly, Cassandra was just happy to have a familiar face that wasn’t going to hound her about her entire life in a single string of questions. “That’s a good way to think about it,” she smiled up at him. “She would be proud of you,” she knew that much. “I, I- I mean, I am.” She managed to stutter out, suddenly feeling more vulnerable than she had in previous moments. Her eyes darted to the ground a passing second before looking back at him. “I mean it.”

“No, shit?” Nevada exclaimed with a quirked brow as he gawked over at Cassandra, she still looked good. “That’s worlds really a small place,” he mused, considering the few he has run into Madison after having met them elsewhere in the world. “I didn’t really find it, more so, it found me. I’m working at the high school and middle school as the band teacher, I got offered the job after I submitted my resume some website that would hopefully get me noticed because I had no luck back in LA and honestly, I needed to get away from there.”

“A smaller place than I ever expected,” she let out a sigh with his words. Running into Nevada in Madison? Well that was the last thing she thought would ever happen. That was further down on the list than ever rekindling things with Tyler. “Wow,” she raised a brow, shaking her a head a moment. “From LA to here,” Cassandra let out a small laugh, “Well, how are you enjoying it? I mean,” she paused, “I’ve only been back about eight months and honestly, it’s got this hold on me, so I don’t even know if I’ll go back to Chicago.”

“I don’t know how we ended up here,” she shook her head, her shoulders actually not sitting just below her ears, “but shit,” she swore, her eyes darting around as if it was unusual for the woman to let a curse word slip past her lips, “I am feeling whatever it is we are drinking,” Cassandra had long stopped paying attention. How she ended up befriending a woman that spent at least twenty minutes talking about the intelligence of a pig was actually beyond Cassandra and yet, this was Madison? How could she not expect something bizarre like that to happen upon her return. “You are actually a lot of fun to be around,” she shook her head, “and fun is not something I ever admit that I need.”

“I have to tell you,” she rubbed her finger around the top of her glass. “there is one perk to a small town,” Cassandra brought the glass of liquor to her lips. “I can actually sit her in relative peace.” In Chicago there was no way that she would be able to sit up at the bar and not have someone go and hit on her or try to but her a few drinks throughout the night. Not that the woman was complaining, okay, maybe a little, but it was a bit refreshing to have a quiet night. Even the bar was relatively empty. “Though maybe that’s because it’s only a Tuesday night.” She teased, shaking her head, “but whatever, it’s fantastic.” And that’s not something she ever thought she’d be saying about Madison ever again.