Silence descended, as if the news crews were completely unused to being addressed with the same blatant disrespect they used on others. Nina could have laughed at the unanimous look of shock had she not been so focused on the man walking away from her.
Before she could yell again, a kid, a young man with a patchy beard and a small recorder said, ‘I’ve got you.’ He shoved the tiny device into her hand. The moment his own hands were free, he cupped them around his mouth and whistled.
The whistle was loud. It pierced the beautiful day. People on the sidewalk stopped to look in the direction it had come from. Others glanced over their shoulders.
Nina was watching Maverick walk away, so she saw the exact moment he registered the sound.
He turned.
Even though she was too far to see the look in his eyes, she knew that their gazes met. She could feel that connection, and it was so strong and vital.
Still, she raised one hand, almost tentatively, and waved, and when he turned and started making his way back to the courthouse, she passed the recorder back to the reporter. ‘Thank you.’
The kid beamed.
The others started shouting questions again. And this time Nina answered them as she walked.
‘Miss Keller, what is the nature of your and Maverick Hunt’s relationship?’
‘He’s my boyfriend,’ she replied, her eyes glued on Mav as they got closer and closer.
‘Miss Keller, is it true that Alexander Cane sexually assaulted you?’
‘Yes,’ she rasped.
‘Nina, what do you have to say regarding Alexander Cane’s assault allegations against you?’
‘I’m five-four and one hundred and ten pounds. Do the math.’
A round of chuckles followed that.
‘Miss Keller – what now?’
Maverick had reached the other end of the pile of people so that now they were separated by twenty-odd reporters and cameramen.
The question ‘What now?’ ricocheted in her head.What now? What now? What now?
‘It’s going to be a long, ugly process,’ she replied. ‘But I’m strong. Resilient.’ Her eyes locked with Mav’s, and he smiled. ‘And my support system is infallible,’ she finished.
Nina’s heart didn’t race or lurch or swan dive. It settled, calmed. Found peace. Because he was exactly what she needed – always.
She had expected him to keep his distance. She had even hoped he would. But her expectations had been grounded, always, in her own experience of the world. Nina, who had grown up without trust and love and communication, had fully expected Maverick to let her battle her demons alone. Except here he was. And, she knew, here he would be until this nightmare was over. He would keep showing up for her, even to his own detriment. And if he was going to show up anyway, she wanted him at her side, his hand linked with hers in the courtroom imparting all the strength and comfort she couldn’t summon for herself.
The reporters started making space for him to pass through.
Maverick held her gaze until they were standing face-to-face.
Every single person was eerily quiet, as if they had agreed to capture this moment by tacit agreement.
Nina wondered what to say.
But she didn’t have to.
‘I’m so fucking proud of you.’ Mav’s voice was husky with emotion.
Nina nodded though her eyes blurred. ‘I did it.’ Her voice shook, but she said the words proudly and for the world to hear. Because even though the road ahead would be long and bumpy, she had half dragged her broken body, half been carried, up the biggest hill already. And it had been the most difficult thing she had ever done – and probably would ever do.
‘Yeah, you did,’ Mav affirmed.
