Free Power of Attorney by N.M. Silber Page B

tell you something,” he said, gesturing with French fry of his own, “I would rather be cocky than arrogant.”
    “So you think he’s arrogant.”
    “Yes, I do. And I think that he takes himself too seriously. He seems to think that sarcasm is juvenile and obnoxious, which is something that you should keep in mind considering that sarcasm is in the Roth DNA.”
    “Maybe he just doesn’t like sarcasm in court,” I answered.
    “Where else would you see him?” Adam asked suspiciously.
    “And this animosity on your part isn’t just about the fact that he dated Lily?” I asked, deflecting my brother’s curiosity by using Sachs’ own technique of just ignoring any question one doesn’t like.  Luckily, it worked.
    “He and I didn’t like each other long before I ever even knew that he briefly dated Lily. We just push each other’s buttons, you know? But it didn’t help that he dated her either, especially since I got the feeling that he would have been up for an encore.”
    “You mean you think he’s still attracted to her?” I asked, suddenly feeling a lump develop in my throat. Why did that bother me so much?
    “I could tell that was still wanted her when he saw her again last year. It didn’t matter though, because she wanted me .” I must have had a funny look on my face because then he added, “Don’t feel too sorry for him; he consoled himself by banging a different chick every weekend there for a while.”
    “What, he doesn’t do that anymore?” I asked trying to sound like I didn’t care. I pushed my fries aside. I seemed to have lost my appetite.
    “I don’t know.  I don’t keep up with his social life, but I’ve heard that he’s all about his job now and he doesn’t care about anything else. I can believe that.”
    “Yeah, actually I think that I’ve heard that too.”
    “Lily said that he always had this dream of being on the Supreme Court someday.  I guess he figured that he should probably focus on that and reconsider his lifestyle if he didn’t want to screw up his chances.”
    “He might actually have a shot, the way his career seems to be going.”
    “If he makes it he’ll be in his glory. He’s the kind of guy who thinks that when a judge ascends the bench, he’s three steps closer to God.”
    “Well, it wouldn’t be so terrible to have someone who has a great deal of respect for the legal system sitting on the High Court.” Apparently, I had no problem at all defending him .
    “Why do you care about Sachs anyway? You have a case against him?” I noticed that Adam was now watching me carefully.  He knew me too well.
    “Not against him. We’re working together on something.”
    “Working together ? He’s a prosecutor and you’re a defense lawyer.  How exactly does that work?”
    “A client of mine is helping out the prosecution, and I’m helping out my client.”
    “I see. Does he know you’re my sister?”
    “Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to hold it against me.” I smiled.  “So far we seem to be getting along okay,” I added casually.
    “ How okay?  He’s not hitting on you is he?” Adam asked, narrowing his gaze.
    “No.” Unfortunately .  “But if he were, what business would that be of yours?”
    “It’s my responsibility to protect the women of our family.”
    “Protect the women?” I laughed. “From who, Vikings?”
    “Assholes. It’s my job as the only man in the family.”
    “The only man in the family? What about Dad ?”
    “Once you join AARP, you pass on the torch to the younger generation.”
    “Okay, well how what Seth? You know, our brother-in-law?”
    “Okay, I’ll give him Hannah.  That still leaves you and Sarah for me to look out for, and Lily of course.  That goes without saying.”
    “You can look out for Lily, but Sarah and I can look out for ourselves.  We’re your big sisters; remember?  Let’s not forget that I’m the one who beat up Stan Horowitz when he stole your new baseball glove.”
    “I was