34. June
CHAPTER 34
JUNE
B ill is gone by the time Jake, Lachy, and Ryan are released from holding. When I see him, I run to Jake and jump into his arms, hiding my face in the crook of his neck. I want to hug Lachy and Ryan too, but unfortunately, I’ll have to wait until we’re home to do that.
“June...” Jake whispers my name, pressing me to his chest. “I’m so sorry.”
I slide down his body and look up. “No, I’m sorry. It was my fault Bill showed up at the school in the first place. If I hadn’t ignored his calls?—”
Jake places his index fingers over my lips. “Don’t ever take the blame for what that weasel did. You were right to block his number.”
“How did you convince him to not press charges, lass?” Lachy steps closer.
“He needed a favor... it wasn’t a big deal,” I lie.
It totally sucked having to tell Bill’s great aunt he did nothing wrong and that I was to blame for the downfall of our relationship. But it was a small price to pay to save my boys, especially Jake, who’s already on thin ice with the administration. Melissa told me as much when I spoke to her on the phone earlier.
Jake frowns as he watches me closely. “What favor?”
I shake my head, stepping away from him. “It doesn’t matter. It’s done, and we don’t have to worry about Bill anymore. Let’s go home.”
The police officer who took my statement approaches. “The press is outside. Just thought you should know.”
“Great,” Jake grumbles.
The sliding doors to the precinct open, and Melissa walks in, sporting a steely don’t-fuck-with-me expression. Her eyes widen when she notices we’re about to leave.
“You’re already out?”
“Yes, June used her charms.” Ryan smiles and winks at me.
“I don’t know why you’re amused. This situation is no laughing matter.”
“We know, Melissa,” Jake replies. “Did you drive here?”
“No, Doug did. I told him to park, but since you’re ready to leave, I’ll tell him to park in front of the building again. It’s a zoo outside.”
“Can we all fit in one car?” I ask.
“It’s a big SUV,” Melissa replies with her phone already glued to her ear. “Hey, change of plans. Park in front. We’re ready to go.”
JAKE
“I’m not even going to bother yelling at you all for fucking up a simple PR assignment,” Melissa pipes up from the shotgun seat as soon as we’re in the car. “Thank God Banksy had the good sense to not follow you to the police station.”
“I told him to not come, and I take full responsibility for what happened,” I say. “If the administration wants to punish someone, it should be me.”
“Bullshit!” Ryan complains.
“Yeah, total horseshite,” Lachy adds.
“One hundred percent what they said,” June chimes in.
“That’s very noble of you, Jake, but no, I won’t let you be the martyr in this situation,” Melissa retorts. “June, I understand your ex has been stalking you, and he displayed aggressive behavior today.”
“Yes... but I can’t throw him under the bus.”
Melissa turns in her seat to look at us. “Why not?”
I’m not sure if she can see June well, since we took the back row in the SUV, but I can. “It’s part of the deal you made with that son of a bitch, isn’t it? You can’t smear his image.”
June drops her gaze to her lap. “I didn’t change my story to the police. They know Bill has been harassing me, but I can’t say anything to the press that will make him look bad.”
I rub my face, trying to control my anger. I’m not mad at June, I’m mad at myself for losing control at her school.
“Did you sign anything, or did Bill record you agreeing to that?” Melissa asks.
“No.”
“Then you don’t need to keep your end of the bargain.” Melissa grins. “Bill already declined to press charges, and the police have on record that he was harassing you previously. We have the report from the security at the arena as well.”
June hugs her middle. She seems conflicted about Melissa’s response. I throw my arm over her shoulder and pull her close to me.
“I’ve already drafted a press release indicating Jake was protecting his girlfriend,” Doug adds. “But we need an excuse for Lachy and Ryan.”
“Wait—does the press know we got arrested too?” Ryan asks.
I snort. “Why are you surprised?”
“Why did you get arrested?” Melissa asks them.
“We felt left out?” Lachy answers with a question.
Melissa narrows her eyes. “What’s the word you like to use a lot? Eejits. That’s what you are.”
“Oh, Tammy got back to me. She’s keen on doing that profile interview. It’s the perfect opportunity to clean up their image,” Doug tells Melissa.
“What profile interview?” I ask.
“Something I put in motion a couple weeks ago. I want Tammy to come to your apartment and interview all of you.”
“What?” Lachy blurts out. “When were you planning to tell us that?”
“When I got confirmation. There was no point in freaking you out beforehand,” Melissa replies.
“I don’t need to be in this interview, right?” June asks, her voice small and a little panicked.
“No, hon. It’s only for the boys. I want to shift the attention from your relationship with Jake.” Melissa looks at Ryan and Lachy, then faces forward again. “It’s the smart thing to do.”
“Yes, thank you,” June replies, then looks out the window.
I take her hand and link our fingers together, but she doesn’t glance at me. Hell, is she reconsidering our relationship? I’ve never been in a situation where I worried about a woman walking out on me, and I don’t know how to read the signs.
I can’t lose her, not now, not ever.