"What's got you smiling?" I placed my phone on the table and looked across at my mother. 

"I'm always smiling," I said with a smile.

 Her brown eyes glimmered, "It's a boy, isn't it? Oh, my baby girl found a boy. I have to meet him."

I rolled my eyes, "Why do you have to automatically assume that I'm because of a man?"

  "Because it's true isn't it? You're love. I saw the way you blushed at that text message, what did it say? As a matter of fact, let me check myself." I was fast, but my mom was faster. She quickly grabbed my phone from beside my teacup. I tried to reach for it a few times but failed. I sighed and Surrendered it's not like she knew my password anyway.

  "Awe isn't this sweet. He's handsome Kari, very handsome." I faced palmed myself because I totally forgot I had place Seth as my screen lock wallpaper. It was a picture with him sleeping, his blond hair was a mess and he was partially covered with my white sheets.

What was I thinking when placed his picture for my wallpaper?

 Oh, yeah.

Awe, he looks so cute...

 And then I snap a few until I found the perfected one.

  "I can't wait to see you later." My mom started to read. I lifted my head up in horror.

  "Mom No! You can't read my text messages anymore, I'm an adult." I looked across at her pleading, "How do you even have my password?"

  She shrugged, "Darling you used those numbers for everything. Let's just pray to God you don't use them for your bank card."

I did.

  My mother looked back down on the phone then started to read again, "'Me either. I love seeing you in that sexy suit that I will rip off your body.' What a flirt! I like him...'Only if I get to rip yours first.' Oh, my Daughter is a little kinky, isn't she?" I couldn't although my mother to read any more of Seth's text message so waited until her eyes were focused on the phone to quickly grab it from her hands.

  I sighed when my iPhone was in my hands safe.

 She laughed and shook her head, "Honey you don't have to be shy you dad and I send messages like that to each other all the time. We even do doctor and patient roleplay all the time. That's my favourite. When your father..."

   I lifted my hands up, "Stop! Stop! Stop! I do not want to hear about you and dad's sex life. I like the dreams I've been having these days."

She grinned, "You mean dreams about the blond? What's his name, Kari?"

  I shook my head, "It's not important."

  "He is important if he has you smiling like a school girl in love. He's definitely important if you have him as your wallpaper. Now I'm your mom I deserve to know the name of the guy you're sleeping with so when he breaks your heart, I'll do something to his." I knew my mom was semi-serious with her 'if he breaks my babies heart speech' and I knew this because a week after Richard and I break up he ended in the hospital, the same one my mom worked at. Let's just say I don't think he accidentally caught that virus.

  "His name is Seth and he's a sweetheart."

 "Awe, that's sweet. What's his last name?"

 "Parker."

  "Karishma Jones-Parker...Karishma Parker...hmm, that sounds nice." I laughed at my mother's Folly. "You should make him fall in love with you then let him marry you. I like the name, Parker."

 I nod and tilt my head to the side, "So I should get married to Seth because of his last name?"

  She frowned and shook her head, "No dummy. Marry him because you love him."

 "I.."

   She shook her head to stop me, "Don't deny it. You might not realize it yet but it's there. You love him Karibear and you shouldn't be afraid of it."

  Was I in love with Seth?

  Of course not.

  I just like him a lot more than how I liked most guys but that didn't mean I love him.

   He's a great guy. What's not to like? He's funny, caring and he cooks a great macaroni and cheese meal. He has great taste in books and movies. We had a lot in common and I love spending time with but that doesn't mean that I was in love with him.

    I look down at my watch and then look back up at my mom, "I have to go now. I have a huge case I'm working on and I need to win. The prosecutor is good so I need to be better."

"You're the best lawyer I know. You're gonna win this case. That prosecutor hasn't nothing on you."

  Well according to you he has my heart. I thought.

  I smile, "Thanks, mom."

  When we were both standing, she pulled me in for a hug. "I love you so much. I can't tell you what to do or who to date but what I can tell from experience is that you need to follow your heart. The brain knows it all, but the hearty knows best. I love you."

  She kissed both sides of my cheek then pinch the right side. "They grow up so fast."

  We both exited the café laughing.

..............

  I didn't go back to the office immediately, there was someone important that I had to see.

   I knocked on the door three times then I heard a hoarse voice said to enter and the door was automatically opened.

  I frowned, he didn't sound like himself.

  As I entered the building I saw computers all around, more organized than the last time I was here. I walked in further then sighed when I saw my friend laying on his couch.

He looked like shit.

  I walked over to him and look down at him, "How is my favorite lawyer?" he said with a few coughs behind each word.

"I bet you say that to all the lawyers whose payroll your under."

  Even though his eyes had dark spots around it he still managed to smile. "But when I say it to you, I mean it."

I laughed, "Always such a flirt even on your sick bed."

"You know me!"

 I smile and nod. I did.

  Nigel Walker was the first person to help me on a mini-case in college and ever since then we've hit it off. He was a software engineer in public but in private he was a hacker. He was the person I went to when I needed information that I couldn't access legally.

  "I thought the great Nigel Walker did not get sick." That was something he bragged about constantly in college and I almost believed it was true, until now.

He laughed, "Yea. I thought so too. I've been like this for three days."

 "You need to go to the doctors."

  He shook his head, "Doctors aren't my thing. Never has been, never will be."

  "You don't look well Nigel, please go get a checkup" his eyes were swollen along with the bags. His grey eyes looked weak. I reached out and place my hands on his forehead it was burning up. "Are you feeling any internal pain?"

 He shook his head, "Nah, I'm just weak."

 "I think you have the flu."

 "Yup, that's what I have." I eyed him suspiciously. "I'll go get you some medicine. When was the last time you eat?"

  "A few days ago." My eyes widen at his response.

  "Are you crazy? Where is the Nigel I know?"

  "She took him with her" he mumbles.

 I sigh, He was acting like this because of some girl. "She broke your heart?"

  "More like trampled on it. She was only using me to hack in Homeland Security and when I finally did it she took information on a drive and left with it." He didn't have a flu, just a broken heart.

Poor Nigel. "Aye...don't let her ruin you. You're a great guy. I can help you find her."

He laughed and shook his head, "She's good at covering her tracks. She has disappeared. He lifted his head and look at me, "Enough about me, how can I help you?"

  "Well I wanted you to get some text messages and files for me. I have a court hearing in two days and the information would really help me a bit but you're sick and I'm not going put you through all that problem. I'll find a way."

"Nah, don't worry. I'll try something. What's the name of the person?"

"Harrison Samuel. I need all the information you can get on him. I need to know if he has any enemies and any text message that might have anything to do with his death. I need some information on Matthew Benjamin. Everything you can find. Why would someone frame him for murder?"

He nods, "Benjamin shipping right,"

I nod, "I know it's a lot to ask but..."

"Shh...I'll do it for you. That's what friends are for."

I smile, "I have thirty minutes to spare, let's see what you have that can be cooked."

...........

  After making sure Nigel was well fed and taken care of, I went to the office and got things ready for my cases. I will be in court all week, so I need to keep my head on my body and focused.

  I manage to convince Mrs. Benjamin to be a witness on the case. With unusual persuasion she finally accepted. I also managed to manage to get one of the security guards to be a witness as well. I gave both witnesses a prep on the questions that I was gonna ask. I just pray to God that Seth didn't twist their responses.

  Speaking of Seth, we were meeting at my place tonight. He was going to do the cooking and I'll choose the movie.

 My mind suddenly went back to my mothers' words.

 You love him.

 I shook my head and laugh.

 There is no way in hell, I love Seth Freaking Parker.