“I don’t know. It was two in the morning, the street was mostly empty. I was focused on trying to stop them.” I pause. “But Seth gave as good as he got once Tanner started swinging. I won’t pretend otherwise.”
The sheriff grunts, setting down his pen. “All right. Let’s go sort this out.”
He leads me down another hallway toward a room that I can hear voices coming from. My stomach tightens with every step.
The room is small and harsh, all fluorescent lighting and metal furniture. Seth is there, sitting at a table with his armscrossed, tension radiating off him in waves. Leo stands near the door, looking uncomfortable.
And Tanner is pacing like a caged animal.
He looks even worse than he did last night. The bruise has spread across half his face, purplish black and ugly, his lip split and swollen. His uniform is rumpled, his hair disheveled, and there’s a manic energy in his movements that sets my teeth on edge.
When he spots me walk in, his expression twists into something vicious. “What the hell is she doing here?”
I force myself not to react. Not to shrink back into the invisible girl he always wanted me to be. “I’m giving a statement,” I state evenly. “About what actually happened last night.”
“Oh,right.” He laughs, harsh and bitter. “You’re here to protect your new boyfriend. To spread your legs for?—”
“Tanner.” Sheriff Cade’s voice cracks like a whip. “That’s enough. One more word and you’re suspended.”
Tanner’s jaw snaps shut, but his eyes stay fixed on me. Burning with hatred. With that same possessive entitlement that made me run from him in the first place.
I hold his gaze without flinching.
“We have a witness statement,” Cade continues, his voice clipped and professional, “indicating that you, Tanner, initiated the physical altercation while intoxicated. That you approached the defendants aggressively and threw the first punch.” He turns to Seth. “Based on this statement, we’re not filing assault charges against Mr. Benton.”
Seth’s whole body sags with relief, tension draining from his shoulders. He catches my eye across the room, and the gratitude in his expression makes something warm bloom in my chest.
“However,” Cade continues, “there’s still the matter of the drunk and disorderly charge from last night. That’ll need tobe investigated separately. If it’s found to be accurate, we may revisit the assault charges.”
“That’s completely—” Seth starts.
“That’s the procedure,” Cade cuts him off. “You’re free to go for now, Mr. Benton. Don’t leave town.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
The sheriff turns to Tanner, his expression hardening. “My office. Now.”
Tanner’s face goes red, but he doesn’t argue. He shoves past Leo on his way out. The door slams behind him, and suddenly the room feels twice as large. The sheriff follows. Leo mumbles something about paperwork and disappears, and then it’s just me and Seth.
He stands slowly, unfolding from the chair, and God, I forgot how big he is. How much space he takes up. How those blue eyes can make me feel like I’m the only person in the world.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey.”
We stare at each other for a long moment. The silence is heavy with everything unspoken—last night, the fight, the way he’s studying me.
“Thank you,” he says finally. “For standing up for me. You didn’t have to do that.”
I shrug, aiming for casual. “Just telling the truth. Seemed like the right thing to do.”
“Still.” He takes a step closer, and I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. “Most people wouldn’t have gotten involved. Not against a deputy. Not for a stranger.”
You’re not a stranger,I want to say.You fought for me last night. You called me your scent match.
But the words stick in my throat.
“Yeah, well.” I manage a small smile. “Never been great at minding my own business.”
