“I also know that though a million women throw themselves at you, you politely decline because you’ve been pining over Jax for the last five years.”
He scoffs.
Oh, I have him now. But I’m not done because Jax and Evan are headed our way, and their timing couldn’t be more perfect.
I hide my smirk, knowing Declan hasn’t spotted them yet. “And if you just told him, he and Evan both aren’t against adding more people to their little group.”
Declan’s mouth falls into his lap, and Jax steps beside him.
I lean back in the chair, crossing my arms, a triumphant grin on my face.
Jax’s gaze catches on my smile before he looks between the two of us, Declan’s eyes widening the longer Jax lingers.
Declan shakes his head at me, as if asking me to shut the fuck up.
I laugh but don’t miss the hand Jax casually places on the back of Declan’s chair.
“Don’t listen to her, Dec. Whatever it is she’s saying,” Jax comments.
“You have no idea what I just said,” I argue. “I actually think you’d fully support it.”
“If it has anything to do with sex, I’m in,” Evan says, coming up to the other side of Declan’s chair and resting his hand on it with the same casualness.
I stifle a laugh, slapping my hand over my mouth, and Declan suddenly looks horrified.
I wink at Evan. “It might.”
Evan finally looks down at Declan, and I notice the instant it clicks, though Jax seemed to figure it out the second he picked up on Declan’s wide eyes and my grin.
I shrug, standing up and grabbing my food tray. “I’m going to find Ella.” I’m still unable to hide my smile.
“I’m going to kill you,” Declan says through clenched teeth.
This time, I laugh without restraint as I walk away, back to the courtroom. Back to Owen.
Chapter 36
Owen’s trial drags on for a week, and the ruling happens to fall the day before my own trial starts.
I’m nothing but nervous energy, my legs bouncing frantically while I sit on a crowded bench in the courtroom. Owen’s trial couldn’t have gone better than it did, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the hook. The best-case scenario is a reduced sentence or house arrest.
I’d take either one.
The courtroom silences as the prosecution enters. A minute later, Owen walks in with his lawyers, looking as though he didn’t get any sleep last night.
My heart clenches at the sight of him. All I want is to wrap myself around him so we both can finally sleep again. But I know that even if he gets to go home, I won’t be going with him.
Declan must sense my tension because he puts a supportive hand on my knee, easing it to stillness.
I blow out a breath when Owen finally sits.
The judge comes in next, followed shortly by the jury.
There’s a tense silence as the judge asks the jury for their verdict. I don’t think a single person takes a breath.
The judge scans the verdict, not a single muscle changing in her expression.
When she looks around at the jam-packed courtroom, she finally allows a small smile to grace her lips.
