“Only Heather …” I murmured, closing my eyes and resting my head against Charlie’s.
After a few seconds, silence filled the room, and my eyes became heavy. Maybe Sun was right. I did need some rest after what had happened today. The past twelve hours felt like an eternity.
“We’ll let you rest,” Sun said. “Call us if you need anything.”
“Okay,” I whispered, watching as they headed into the hallway.
“Hey, you guys,” I called. When they turned around, my lips quivered. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER
FORTY-EIGHT
CHARLIE
“You’re going to do great today, baby,” I said, kissing just below Athena’s bandages on her forehead as I dropped her off at her test-taking facility so she could do the bar exam.
She had been studying nonstop for the past two weeks since the incident.
“I hope so,” she whispered, clutching her stomach. “I’m nervous.”
I intertwined our fingers and squeezed, walking her to the door. “Don’t be nervous.”
She stopped on the stairway. “What if I don’t pass?”
“Then you can take it again in six months,” I said. “But you’ll pass. You’ve studied.”
Honestly, I believed that she had been studying so much to get her mind off what had happened. I wasn’t quite sure that she had processed any part of the incident fully yet, or maybe not at all. She didn’t talk about it, and I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up.
All I wanted was for her to be okay.
Maybe after the exam, she’d go to therapy, or at least talk it out.
After chewing on the inside of her cheek, she placed a kiss on my lips. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be here to pick you up in a couple of hours,” I said.
When she disappeared through the building doors, I slumped my shoulders forward. I really hoped that she passed. I think she would, but I was afraid that if she didn’t, then everything would hit her at once.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Steven: We still on for coffee in ten?
Me: Yes. Be there soon.
I swung my keys around my finger and headed back to my car. Steven and I had officially teamed up on the project, and today was the first day that we were sitting down to review a business plan.
When I reached the car, my phone buzzed again.
Heather: Look at this. =D
A moment later, an image of Derek popped up on the screen. Not only were there still huge gashes in his face, but his nose was broken in three places, and his forehead caved inward from Heather’s bashes.
Heather: Apparently, he wants plastic surgery to repair his face.
Heather: Good luck getting that in prison, asshole!
Thankfully, Heather hadn’t gotten into much trouble with the police after smashing Derek’s face in, but we had pressed charges on Derek for kidnapping and sexually assaulting Athena. He had been taken into the station immediately after we brought Athena home.
