Chapter 68 Theo
The first night that Adela was in the hospital, I went home because I had to find my sister.
I fucking hated that she did this to Adela. This is entirely her fault, yet my own, yet Cody Ravenshaw's.
I stormed into my house, and the first face I saw was my mother's.
"What is it, Theo? What happened?" she asked, and I hated that she could see right through me.
"Where is Nessa?"
"In her room." My mom stepped in front of me, blocking me from walking away. "You're going to stop right now and talk to me before you go up there. I can tell something's really wrong, so sit down, Theo. Now!"
I power walked through the house until we were in a room far from where Nessa could hear.
My mom closes the door behind us as I stop in the middle of the room and exhale. "She hit a girl with her car tonight.” I wipe my face, trying to hide my emotions. “I'm going to turn her in."
My mom walked in front of me and said, "What do you mean she hit a girl tonight? What girl?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I haven't been completely honest with you and—"
"It's time to come clean, Theo. You're telling me everything right now. What did you do?"
I ran my fingers through my hair. She always knows. Always.
"I started an OnlyFans."
"A—what?"
"OnlyFans."
She blinked at me.
"Not the good side of it. It got out of hand with one of the guys.
He went after Nessa, and that's who she's been infatuated with.
Turns out the guy had a girlfriend, and I got involved with her.
Nessa saw her with me. Nessa knew it was her boyfriend's girlfriend.” I sigh.
“Then she saw her on the side of the road tonight and drove right into her.”
It sounds so fucking dumb when said out loud.
"Are you serious, Theo?"
I nod. "She put the girl in the hospital, and I don't know if she's going to survive. The boyfriend already kicked my ass tonight." I wiped my bloody lip.
"I can see that," she said with furious eyes. "What kind of–– Why would you do this?"
I smiled. "The therapist is speechless."
"What would drive you to go to this extent?"
"You should ask your fucking daughter. She's the one out of her goddamn mind. I had the entire thing under control until she lost her shit when her boyfriend broke up with her."
My mom stepped forward. "You are completely out of control. I will take care of your sister, and then I will handle you."
"The guy I put in a coma will not be pressing charges, Mom. You don't have to worry about me."
She leaned in. "You're proud of that? I can't even believe this right now, Theo!"
I stood as she turned on her heel. "Mom."
She turned to look at me.
"I did everything I could to protect Nessa, but it turns out I’m not the problem child after all. I handled my shit. Don't worry about me, but Nessa? You need to turn her in and get her checked into a mental facility. If you don't do it, I will. The girl she hit— she's the mayor's daughter."
My mom's eyes widened.
Then she left the room.
Three days later, Cody called me.
I was surprised to see him calling, but I assumed it was regarding Adela.
"Yeah?"
"I made my dad drop the case against you."
I remained quiet.
"Now, I need to talk to your sister."
"Fuck no, you're not."
"Is she home? Because I'm outside."
I walked out my front door and saw him at the gate. "What makes you think I let my sister get off scot-free?"
"I assumed because you protected your ass, so why wouldn't you protect hers?"
"She's at the mental hospital."
"Then take me there."
"My mom will need to come."
He laughed. "Mommy's boy."
"No, she needs to authorize your visit. Nessa isn't allowed visitors because she's mentally unwell."
"Fine, send out your mom."
"You're going to tell her that you and I have no beef."
"Don't worry, Theo." He ended the call.
My mom walked down to the gate in her heels and her head extra high. She didn't change when she caught Cody's face—the face of the boy her daughter is in love with, the boy who played her daughter like a puppet.
I walked beside her, and when I reached the gate, I opened it for us.
"You have nerve showing up here, Cody," I said.
He shrugged, looking at my mom. "Hi, Mrs. Rhodes. I'm Cody Ravenshaw."
"I'm aware."
I watched him try to use a professional voice to lessen the tension.
"Your son here put me in a coma," he added.
My mom didn't move an inch. Her eyes stayed on Cody's.
"I'm not pressing charges. I got my father, Judge Ravenshaw, to stop prying. Theo will not be going to jail."
She stared at him, waiting.
"And I’m here,” he claps, “because I would like to visit Nessa."
My mom inhaled.
"I need to apologize to her. I need to make things right. And I will do everything that I can to make sure that the Mayor doesn't press charges against your daughter."
"Why would you do that?"
"I've been asking myself the same thing, Mrs. Rhodes.
I've had a lot of time to think about what life's really about. When I woke up from the coma, I wanted real revenge, not just justice. I didn’t want Theo to rot in a prison cell, I wanted to put him in a coma, but I had something—or someone—who kept me grounded.
The girl your daughter hit is my girlfriend of two years. "
"Was," I added.
Cody scowled at me. "I want to do what Adela would want me to do, and this is what she'd want. I wronged your son under pressure, and I wronged your daughter when she was innocent, so I need to make it right with Nessa."
I ground my teeth.
"Okay," my mom said and walked back up the driveway.
I looked at Cody. "You're lucky she's agreeing to this."
Cody looked back at me. "She wants to see if it'll help her daughter, so I don't blame her."
He was always a cocky bastard.
We drove to the facility where Nessa was staying. It's a private hospital with a mental wing. I haven't even visited Nessa. I've been too fucking mad.
We wait in a room with my mom seated between us. She turned to Cody and said, "Do not say anything that will upset her. She's been through enough. No excuses. No promises."
"I won't," he replied.
By the time Nessa walked in, the room had gone cold.
Nessa stared at Cody and then looked at my mom in confusion. "What is he doing here?"
Cody leaned forward.
She looked at him. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here because I needed to talk to you in person."
"About what?"
The room fell silent. Nessa stared at him.
"I'm sorry, Nessa. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. You didn't deserve it."
Nessa leaned forward. "You think that's going to solve it?"
"No, no I don't, but I hope that in time you accept my apology. I would take it all back if I could."
"That's because my brother kicked your ass! And I hated him for it, but now I'm glad that he did."
Cody nodded. "I paid for my mistake, Nessa. I did, and I almost didn’t make it out alive, but I am sorry. Really."
Not once have I ever respected Cody Ravenshaw.
And in this moment, watching my sister process what Cody is saying, I realize that maybe I did knock some sense into him.
Now
I'm in the lake house now, and the morning light is filtering through the windows.
Adela is still sleeping between Cody and Beckett, her hair spread across the pillow, her breathing deep and even.
I watch her breathe.
I think about the pavement. The hospital. The waiting room. My mother's face. Nessa in that facility. Cody showing up at my gate.
Everything it cost to get here.
Worth it.
Every single moment.
Worth it.
Because as much as I’d hate to admit it, I really like Adela Kalkaska.
She’s a pretty little thing that I don’t plan on letting go anytime soon.