Chapter 53
Ibarely remember Royce placing me in the backseat of the SUV. I’m just sitting there, my hands on my face, beside Lauren.
“We’re moving,” Savage calls out from the front as if warning me and my stomach.
“Are you okay?” Lauren asks, her hand settling on my back.
“Lauren?” I whisper, her presence really hitting me.
“I’m right here.”
“She’s ruined everything,” I whisper, turning to face her, and then it hits me that Savage is here. I can’t talk about this. But I need to talk about this.
“She hasn’t ruined anything,” Lauren says. “I know you. You won’t let her. Neither will Reese.”
“But it will always cloud this moment in our lives.”
“It won’t,” Lauren says beside me. “He didn’t do this. You know that, right? I’ve been around this man often. He is madly in love with you.”
“I don’t question Reese or who we are together, but it’s still happening,” I say. “Everything I try to make perfect is getting crushed. I wonder if he knows yet. He can’t know. He hasn’t called me.”
“Royce went to him,” she says. “Royce will handle this. How are you feeling?”
I glance toward the front of the car and back at her. “I’m fine.”
“Right. We’ll talk at your place.”
I rotate and settle against the seat. “I just need to rest my eyes.” I lower my lashes.
“We’re about to be at your door,” Savage says, because of course this time we aren’t going by Dana’s place so the drive is much quicker.
I sit back up, grab my briefcase and purse that are somehow next to me and prepare to get out of the vehicle. As soon as we are at the door, Savage calls out. “Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you.”
He’s acting like I’m about to be murdered when the crazy woman is back at the courthouse. That idea jolts me. “Do we have eyes on Debbie? She can’t get to Reese and hurt him, right?”
“Royce is with him,” Lauren reminds me. “He’s safe.”
“Bullets have a long reach,” I say and my door opens as Savage appears, all big and intimidating, which makes me want him to be with Reese. “Why are you here and not with my husband?”
“Your husband is just fine, and bullets have to get through us to get to him.” He offers me his hand. “And she can’t blackmail him if he’s dead.”
“Right,” I say. “That’s comforting, I guess.” I accept his hand and let him help me out of the car. “Can you just confirm he’s okay?”
“He’s fine or I’d know,” he says. “I have an earpiece. Royce is with him.”
“Does he know yet?”
“No,” he says. “He’s with Dana and his team in a conference room.”
I swallow hard and nod while Savage shuts my door and another man I don’t know climbs in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. “Is he stealing your ride or does he work with you?”
He laughs. “He works with me. If he tried to steal from me I’d mess him the F up, like I will anyone that tries to hurt you.” He motions me forward. “Let’s go inside.”
“Right,” I say again, because it seems I have a limited vocabulary at present, which really doesn’t suit a writer on deadline.
Lauren meets me on the other side of the car, and I’m just glad there are no reporters here. For some reason, we have been lucky to be spared that at home during these big trials and it feels like a real blessing right about now. I ride up the elevator with Savage and Lauren and when we reach the apartment, I’m in the door and darting up the stairs to the bedroom immediately.
I end up on the floor in front of the toilet, on my knees, my shoes left somewhere along the way. When the hell is over, I lean against the wall just trying to think. Lauren appears beside me and sits down against the opposite wall, her shoes gone as well. “He didn’t do this.”
“I know,” I say. “That’s not my issue. I wanted this to be special. I was going to tell him on his birthday.”
“Don’t change anything because of this woman.”
“I’m keeping a journal of every moment since I found out. Am I supposed to include Debbie? It was supposed to be such a special gift.”
“Leave her out and it is special.”
“It can’t even be true to what I feel without her in it.”
“Then leave her in and document the trust you have in him. That matters. I wouldn’t question Royce either and that is not something every couple could say.”
My cellphone rings in the other room and I jolt. “Reese,” I say urgently.
“I’ll grab it,” Lauren says, moving quickly and returning with my phone right as it stops ringing.
She hands it to me and joins me on the floor as the ringing starts all over again. “Cat,” Reese says the minute I answer. “I didn’t do this. I would never—”
“I know,” I whisper, tears springing to my eyes, because as much as I trust him, hearing his voice, hearing the words, apparently matter. “I never doubted you. I just—it’s still hard.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’m on my way there, but I love you more than life itself. You know that, right?”
“I do,” I whisper. “I love you, too, but don’t rush here. Take care of business. She doesn’t get to screw up your trial. Dana’s future depends on you. We’re okay.”
“Cat—”
“Reese, do not rush here. Do what you need to do, but please be safe.”
He hesitates. “I won’t be long.”
“Be as long as you need to be. I’m going to write my column and Lauren is with me. I’m not delicate. You know that.”
“I love you, Cat,” he says again and hangs up.
I breathe out and let the phone settle on the floor. “I need to write this column so when he does get home, I can be free.”
Lauren’s hand settles on my legs. “You have to eat. Trust me, I learned that an empty stomach is dry heave hell. How about soup from the place you love down the road? Or ice cream. Remember? That worked for me.”
“I don’t know what works for me. I don’t want to eat.”
“Soup and ice cream it is.” She stands up again and helps me to my feet. “Where are you going to work?”
“In here. I’m going to change clothes and just settle on the bed where I can rest if I need to.”
“That’s sound good.” She hugs me. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.” She pulls back to look at me. “I promise.” She releases me and leaves me alone.
I change into sweats and a T-shirt and give my belly an inspection. It’s still flat and I’m glad. I don’t want Reese to know yet. I want Debbie to be dealt with by his birthday and I’ll make telling him special. A few minutes later, I walk into the bedroom to write my column, when Reese is suddenly walking into the room. Clearly having ignored my order to take care of business first, and the minute I see him, in all his tall, dark, perfection, tears prickle my eyes.
“Cat,” he breathes out, and then I’m in his arms and we’re holding onto each other like we’re both afraid we’re going to lose each other.