Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sunday and Monday werea whirlwind of working with my lawyer and financial advisor to make sure we sent over all the right documents subpoenaed but nothing extra.When my lawyer Amy heard about it, I had to let her curse for a straight five minutes.While she was a family lawyer, she was my go-to for anything related to the law and she helped me crawl through all the hoops dealing with my mother and with my emancipation.
She was more than happy to help me with this too.She already raged war against the police department when they had endangered me in order to arrest the Ryder gang, so she’d love to do it again if I needed it.I felt bad dumping this issue on Amy on Sunday, but she was determined to get it resolved quickly and she personally knew my advisor, so she lit a fire under his ass to get him working too.
By Monday night, the police had everything they needed to clear my name, and hopefully Hope’s Embrace too.
The next couple of days passed by a little too quickly, all my thoughts not just on Paxon now, but also on the danger that seemed to be looming over Hope’s Embrace.I went through the motions of going to school, working, and staying home.I tried not to notice how hollow everything felt.The guys did check in on me often, but there was still that empty space between us all.I tried to fill it with music and it kind of helped.Mostly.
By Saturday, clouds had rolled in, turning the sky into an infinite stretch of soft grey.It made me want to curl up inside and just drink something hot and lose myself to loud music.
Unfortunately, or maybe it was a good thing, but Toby wasn’t going to let me wallow around by myself.He came over just before noon, arms loaded with snacks and his backpack slung over his shoulder.“All right, candy drop, ready to finish this death march of a portfolio before our brains leak out?”
I laughed, stepping aside so he could come in.“You mean your brain.Mine’s already been mush for weeks.”
He grinned, kicking off his shoes.“Then we’re doomed.Guess we’ll just have to smile prettily for Mrs.Odera and show off our dazzling personalities.”
We spread out across the living room floor, surrounded by half-scribbled music sheets, pencils, and Toby’s steady stream of jokes.Between his humming and my playing the guitar, the house actually felt alive again.It reminded me why I liked working with him.Toby had this way of making all the heavy things in the world feel lighter.It was a great escape that I was scared of relying on a little too much.
This was so new to me.I had learned to survive by not relying on anyone.I couldn’t with my mother, my father, not even teachers or adults who turned a blind eye to my life or fell for Lindie’s lies.Hope’s Embrace had cracked that armor a little once I started working with them.
Toby and the guys...they were starting to do the same thing.
I stared at Toby, really looked at him.
He’d showered recently, his familiar scent that always clung to him was stronger today, brightened by a faint citrus note that made something in my chest settle.His light brown hair, streaked with blond, was still damp around the edges.He didn’t have his hair spiked up like he normally did, but it still worked with his chaotic energy.His hazel eyes were mostly brown today, like warm chocolate.But every now and then a flash of forest green cut through when he focused or took something seriously as he looked over the sheet music spread between us.
Toby Braden was a walking contradiction.He was most definitely a troublemaker who somehow made everything feel safe.He was a chaotic storm of silliness and pranks, but also the same guy who lived with his aunt to ease the burden on his parents.He was the boy who always pushed me forward when I stalled and reeled me back in when I spun too fast.He was someone who kept proving that people could be good.
I took in a slow breath, his citrus scent filling my lungs, and something warm unfurled in my chest.Toby didn’t realize what he was doing for me, especially for the last few months.
“You okay?”he asked suddenly, catching me staring.His voice was serious.
I nodded, though maybe it wasn’t entirely true.
He tilted his head to the side, knowing I was bullshiting him.
I sighed.“I’m working on it,” I finally admitted.
