Her fingers trace patterns on my back. Gentle now. Soothing.
"We're such a mess."
"The best kind."
She laughs, the sound vibrating through both our chests. I ease out of her carefully, dealing with the condom before pulling her against my side. She curls into me, head on my chest, one leg thrown over my thighs.
"I don't regret this." Her voice is quiet but certain. "Any of it. Even the parts that are hard."
"Even me?"
"Especially you." She props herself up on one elbow, looking down at me. "I need you to trust me to handle the fallout. Not charge in like some kind of protective hero when things get complicated."
"What if I can't help it?"
"Then learn." She kisses me softly. "Because we're in this together or not at all."
I cup her face, thumb brushing her cheekbone. "Together."
"Good." She settles back against my body. "Also, you're burning that suit."
"Deal."
We lie there in comfortable silence until her phone buzzes on the nightstand. She groans but checks it.
Her body goes rigid.
"What?"
"Blair's team leaked something to the press." She scrolls, face pale. "They're calling for a formal review of the placementprogram. Claiming there's evidence of 'unsuitable matches' and 'public safety concerns.'"
"Evidence?"
"The video from the fundraiser. Plus apparently someone sent them photos of us together. Coming out of my building. At the farmers market." She keeps scrolling, voice getting tighter. "They're framing it as proof the program lacks oversight."
I sit up, anger returning. "This is a hit job."
"Of course it is. Blair's been looking for ammunition since day one." Lacy tosses her phone aside. "The hearing's in three days. They're asking the placement office to present files on all current pairings."
"Can they do that?"
"They're the city council. They can do whatever they want." She rubs her face. "Darius is going to have to testify. You might too."
My stomach drops. The thought of standing in front of a panel, being questioned about my worthiness, my control, my right to be here?—
"Hey." Lacy grabs my hand. "We'll figure it out."
"How?"
"I don't know yet. But we will." She squeezes my fingers. "You're not in this alone, remember?"
I pull her back down into my arms, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Together."
"Together."
But even as she says it, I feel the weight of what's coming. Blair isn't just attacking the program. She's attacking us. Everything we're trying to build.
And I have no idea how to protect it without making things worse.
