Page 107 of The Truths We Find

I give her arm a good smack. “Zip it.”

And just like that, the energy feels lighter than before. Work awaits, but so does tonight. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can really breathe.

Gavin’s place feels peaceful when he, Alexa, and I get there. The lights are dim, the music low, and something warm and smelling of herbs drifts from the kitchen.

I look up at Gavin, a little confused. “Is Emmett cooking?”

We step farther into the house and I feel it immediately. This is more than just us hanging out. Emmett knew I’d need something that felt normal without pretending everything was fine.

“Just in time,” he calls from the stove. “Dinner’s ready! I made stew.”

“Should we have poison control on standby?” Alexa asks, dropping onto the couch.

“Excuse me? I’ll have you know this stew is a culinary masterpiece. Crafted with love, rage, and whatever Gavin had in the back of his fridge.”

Alexa pats the seat next to her and I sink down beside her—my body heavier than it should be.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” she whispers. “But you can. If you want to.”

I nod. I know that, but I’m not sure how to start. I’ve come to a big decision, and these are the people I know will support me most. I just can’t get the words out.

Gavin walks over with bowls in both hands, handing them to each of us.

“Thanks,” I say, offering him a warm smile.

Emmett settles into the armchair, and Gavin sits on the floor below me. We eat in silence for a few minutes, before I find the courage to speak up.

“I think I’m going to quit my job.”

The clanking of spoons is deafening.

“W-what?” Alexa stutters.

Gavin turns around to face me. “Dani, you love your job. Where did this come from?”

“I do love my job,” I breathe, “but I think I want to do something that has a chance at actually making a real impact. I thought that was news, but maybe it’s something else.”

“What do you mean?” Emmett is leaning forward in his chair, the normal humor gone from his voice.

“I think I want to go back to school and study public policy. Maybe even law. When we got told how hard it would be for Sam to face consequences for what he did to us, it filled me with so much hate, I didn’t know what to do. So, I started reading. A lot. Did you know each state has a different law when it comes to revenge porn? And the fact it’s not even called that if it’s not actually posted online is bullshit. Then it’s just invasion of privacy or video voyeurism depending on where you live. And those charges are sometimes just misdemeanors that don’t even come with prison time. The law is broken. It needs to be fixed. I want to help do that. We couldn’t get justice, but maybe I can help someone else.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, the heavy feeling I’ve been dragging around is finally gone. Fine, maybe not gone. But it’s not weighing me down with every step anymore.

A long silence fills the room after I finish talking. The kind where it makes me wonder if I’ve said the wrong thing.

Next to me, I see Alexa’s eyes are red and puffy. Emmett, for once, is struggling to find words. And Gavin, the love of my life, sits up on his knees, and takes my hands in his.

“You really mean it?” he forces out.

“Yeah, I do.” I smile at him.

“Well, shit,” Emmett blurts from his chair.

I can’t stop the laugh that slips out, and everyone else joins in. Leave it to him to break the tension.

“I always knew you were smart and would change the world,” Alexa says, wiping under her eyes. “But do you have to leave me to do it?”

I reach over and give her a huge hug. “I’m not going anywhere.”