He pulls a sheet from the folder on the table. “Does Heather Hill ring a bell?”
“No. I don’t know any Heat—” I stop, turning into a statue.
“You’ll regret that, asshole.”
My mouth goes dry.
This can’t be real.
Uncle Eli watches me closely. “You do know her, don’t you?” he presses.
“She was part of a group we met at the lake during spring break a few weeks ago.”
He nods and starts making notes. I swallow hard, realizing I need to confess something to my uncle.
“Uncle Eli, there’s something you should know.” He looks up from the legal pad and waits patiently. “I’m gay. Cullen is my boyfriend, and he’ll tell you that we were never far from each other that entire trip.”
His brows shoot up, but he smiles. “I knew it. I saw the way you looked at him for years.”
I blink. “You… knew?”
He chuckles and explains. “Hud, I’m a lawyer. I’m good at reading people. I’m glad you two finally figured it out.”
My mouth gapes like a fish.
“I’m happy for you, kid. I always knew you two were meant for each other.” He flashes me another smile, then gets back to business.
“Alright, according to the complaint, Heather woke up the morning after a party feeling sick and disoriented. She laterfound an empty prescription bottle with your name on it in her purse.”
He looks at me, waiting, like I can give him an explanation, but I’m just confused. “I take anxiety medicine, but why would I put them in her purse? That makes no sense.”
“Exactly. Seems like a stretch, but you need to prepare for this to go to trial, Hud—unless we can get them to drop the charges.”
My stomach drops.Trial.
Uncle Eli keeps moving forward, unaware of the storm brewing inside of me. He asks about the party, and I tell him about the truth or dare game, the drinking, and Heather’s threat when I refused to kiss her. He jots it all down, leaving no detail out.
He finally stands, putting his files away. “That’s good enough for now. Let’s get you out of here. The judge has already agreed to your release, but you have a hearing in two weeks.”
I nod and follow him out of the room and past the fuming detective. I keep my head down, just wanting out of this place.
We step into the well-lit waiting room, my steps faltering at the sight of everyone waiting—my parents, my grandparents, Cullen and his parents, Archer… even Theo.
Hadley is noticeably absent.
Cull sees me first. He’s on his feet, then on me, almost knocking me over with the force of his hug. “Are you okay? This is such bullshit. It killed me that I couldn’t stop them from taking you,” he blurts in nearly one breath.
He grasps my shirt, and I don’t want him to let go. I’m scared that once he does, I’ll lose my shit again.
When he finally pulls back, he scans my face, frowning. “What the hell happened to your face?”
I touch the sore spot, the pain evident now that I’m out of that icebox. “Oh, I uh… passed out in the police car. Hit my face on the partition.”
He starts to fuss, but I cut him off. “I’m fine. Just a small panic attack.” I give him a tight smile. His frown deepens, not happy I’m downplaying it.
I get a round of hugs from everyone, then glance toward Archer and Theo. “Not that I don’t appreciate the support, but why are you here?”
Archer gives me a bro-handshake. Theo lingers behind him, his weight shifting and fingers fidgety. “We didn’t know if you needed, like, character witnesses,” Archer says. “Word spread fast about your charges, but I knew it was bullshit. Theo lives up here, so it made sense to come and help. Matt wanted to come, but his parents wouldn’t let him.”
