Chapter 19 #3
“I snapped. She’s been harassing me for weeks. I know the guys like messing around, but I don’t. I’ve been intimate with one girl, and she died. I didn’t lead Claire on, I was very blunt with her. If I sat naked on her, she’d be hailed a hero for saving herself by waving a gun at me.”
“If they want to charge you with anything, I’ll counter-sue.
That girl was not invited into your space and it’s very clear that she touched you without permission,” Josie said swiftly, standing to get the chief.
“We’ll get this handled, boys. That horrid girl won’t be able to lie her way out of this. ”
I let Josie and the lawyer go over everything, only answering questions the lawyer told me to answer, and I bit my tongue when Claire’s parents showed up to defend her.
Not that it went the way they thought it would when they realized Josie was backing us and the footage was pulled out for them to see.
I was surprised to find Rory sitting in the main office when we went to leave, no one else with her.
“What did they say?” she asked immediately, getting to her feet and walking towards me.
“Her parents are furious, but with the video evidence that their daughter is the problem here, they agreed to sweep it all under the rug. Josie’s lawyer scares me a little, he was going after her for attempted rape and everything,” I said, still a little dazed on the entire situation. “What are you doing here alone?”
I’d expected a fight, to be kept here for fuck knows how long while a court date was pending, but it was already over. It was the only reason I wasn’t flipping out that it was obvious Rory had driven herself here, which wasn’t safe.
“I came to check on you. Caden said Claire was having you charged with sexual assault. You’re okay?” she asked softly, and I could tell she wanted to hug me but wasn’t sure if touch was the right way to handle this. I wasn’t traumatized, I was disgusted and angry, but never with her.
“I’m okay,” I promised, taking her wrist to pull her closer for a hug.
She happily hugged me back, that stupid familiar feeling rising inside me from the comforting touch.
“I’m fine too, baby girl. I know you were probably really worried, but Josie handled it,” Skeeter said dryly, grinning when she turned to give him a hug next.
“I was getting to you,” she scolded, giving him a quick kiss. “I assume you’re free to go too?”
“Yeah. The risk of us exposing Claire as a horny bitch that climbs on criminal cock was kind of enough to make them leave us both alone. Can you imagine what her future college would think if this went public?” he asked with a chuckle like it was funny.
“Skeeter,” Josie warned as she approached, not finding his comment amusing. “You two need to head home before you start another problem.”
“Thank you for coming down here,” I said awkwardly. “It might take me a while, but I’ll pay you back for the lawyer fees.”
“Nonsense. The family lawyer is for family. I’m glad Skeeter called me,” she said with a smile, making him tense up as she gave him a hug. “I’m always happy to help you.”
“Thank you,” he grumbled, staying stiff as a board until she pulled away.
She made sure we’d all walked out ahead of her to ensure we didn’t start another issue, and Skeeter pointed to the Corvette while looking at me.
“You go with her.”
“Where are we going?” I asked slowly as he walked towards the McLaren.
“Her place. Holloway’s blowing up my phone looking for information, and you’re going to go crazy in the office if I drop you off at the Shed.”
“Skeet—”
“Get in the car,” he warned as he climbed into his car and closed the door, waiting for me to get in the Corvette before motioning for us to go first.
“You smell like booze,” Rory noted as we pulled out onto the road, flicking her gaze to me. “It’s unlike you.”
“You don’t even fucking know me, Donovan,” I snapped, wincing the second it left my mouth. “Shit, sorry. I’m not mad at you. I’m having a bad day. Took it out on the bottle, and then Claire pissed me off on top of it.”
“I get it,” she replied, reaching over to pat my knee. “I have days like that too.”
I took her hand and her fingers clasped mine with ease, not hesitating in the slightest.
“Thanks for just listening when I need to talk,” I murmured, her hand tightening in mine a little.
“Everyone needs someone to talk to.”
“Who do you talk to? Can you talk to Skeet like this? Caden?” I asked, and she blew out a breath.
“I can talk to the guys.”
“Why did that answer make you hesitate?”
“I talk to Hunter sometimes too,” she mumbled, making me groan.
“Rory—”
“I know,” she huffed, letting go of my hand to rake it through her hair. “He just gets me sometimes.”
“He’s syphoning information out of you. You’re giving him your vulnerabilities on a platter,” I warned, and she shook her head.
“He talks to me too. I know stuff about him that other people don’t. It’s easy to fall into conversation with him.”
“Because he’s a snake,” I grumbled, crossing my arms. “He’s too charming for his own good. You’re not seeing him too, right? Be honest with me.”
Her head snapped around to glare at me, her voice sharp. “No. I’m not.”
“Babe, I ask because I give a shit. You have no idea what will happen if Skeet—”
“I know,” she growled, her hands tight on the steering wheel. “He just keeps showing up. It’s like he’s tracking me, even when I don’t have my phone on me.”
“He can hack into security cameras. He’s probably seeing you on street surveillance and following you,” I sighed. “Want me to talk to him? I’ll tell him to back off.”
“Skeet and Slash both told him to fuck off, so I doubt you’ll convince him either. I have it under control. We have an understanding.”
“Tell me if you need me to intervene,” I ordered, relief filling me when she nodded.
She parked in the garage when we arrived, both of us wandering back outside to wait for Skeeter to finish parking so we could head inside together to update the guys on everything.