The Law is Hard

Chapter 7

Magnus' POV 

Just as I'm about to say hello, I hear him hang up. 

I pull my phone away from ear and frown at it in confusion. Why would he hang up?

Just as I am about to call him back, I'm getting another call: Alec's Law Firm is who I put the contact name under.

I can't help but smile widely. This man is too adorable. My skin tingles and my stomach flip-flops and the thought that I might make him nervous.

I slide across my screen to answer the phone, but before I can say anything, he says in a dejected voice: "I'm an idiot. I'm sorry for hanging up on you and then texting and then calling you again and--" 

"Alexander." I cut him off in a soothing voice. I try to control my smile even though he can't see me. I don't want him to think I'm making fun of him when really I just want to wrap my arms around his broad shoulders and bury my face in his strong neck...comb my fingers through his raven black hair...smooth the back of my hand over the back of his alabaster cheeks...

"I--" His voice brings me back from my daydream.

"I appreciate hearing from you no matter the medium." I say rather smoothly of I do say so myself. 

I hear him sigh in relief. 

"Well not all," I amend. "One of my ex-boyfriends would only ever communicate with letters dropped off at mysterious locations. He said it was because his family didn't accept him for who he was and I went along with it," I confide.

"Oh." He says in a tone I can't quiet read. I wish I could see his face. I hope he realizes all the ex-boyfriend stories are to tell him I'm bisexual. 

"Why?" He asks.

"Why'd I go along with it?" I clarify.

"Yeah."

"Well honestly it was kind of fun. I felt like I was in a spy movie." I smile when I hear him chuckle softly on the other side of the phone.

Before he can say something or ask something to bring it back to work as I know he'll feel compelled to do, I ask: "Do you have any funny or crazy stories about your exes?"

"Um." 

My heart squeezes a bit at the returned seriousness to his tone of voice. I was hoping my question would keep the mood light, but I also want to know why this question causes him pain. I want him to confide me, to trust me. Like I know I can trust him.

"The dates I've been on haven't really lasted into any sort of long-term relationship...or a second date really...some guys have been pretty awkward or funny in the moment but I can't really remember what they were talking about..." He says finally after a brief pause that felt like eternity. 

My brain is spinning with questions and my body is swirling with emotions but I can't quite seem to grasp on to anyone of them. Rather, my brain keeps repeating his words in my head and my heart is replaying the pain in his words as he was speaking. How can he have such an effect on me?

He continues with surprising warmth in his voice, halting my brain's spinning: "My sister, Izzy, would probably be able to remember them better than I would."

My heart soars as it finally clicks that my gaydar was correct and he is into men! And I'm so glad he has given us a new topic of conversation that is personal to him and will hopefully allow me to unlock Alexander, like he's unlocked something in me.

"Why do you say that? Does she have a good memory?" I ask, trying not to sound too eager.

"Oh yeah, Izzy is so smart. She's doing her Masters of Forensics right now," I love hearing the pride in his voice. "And she's really good at talking to people and making them feel valued."