45. Sam
SAM
“Hey, Cassidy!” Remi shouted across the diner as we walked in. “Ready for the big fight?”
I felt her tense in my arms, but the smile on her face never faded. “Of course! He’s gonna kick Joe Rubin’s ass!”
The whole diner went up in cheers, half of them coming over to shake my hand like I was some hero.
I’d never had this before. Wandering around from fight to fight, I mostly lived on the road, and trained in gyms wherever I was currently staying.
I’d never had roots to put down, and Deke said I fought better when I didn’t have anyone to go home to at night.
Clearly, he’d been mistaken about that. I’d never been in such good shape as I was now. I had something to fight for—someone. And even though she was terrified for me, she put up a good front and never stopped cheering me on at any point over the last six months.
I tugged her over to a table in the corner, looking for just a little privacy, even though that was highly unlikely in this town.
“So, are you really ready for this?” I asked, taking her hand in mine.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Cass, you can hide a lot from me, but I still see that fear in your eyes. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
Sighing, she let the facade fall. “I know. I wish I could tell you that I’m not worried. I mean, I’ve watched you a lot over the last six months. I know you’re good. I just…I hate this guy!”
“Me too,” I chuckled. “But I’m ready. More ready than I’ve ever been in my life.”
“I just wish it was over. I hate the lead-up to it all. My stomach is churning and I’m constantly worried. I just don’t like this part.”
“But you like the part where I come home a winner,” I grinned.
“Well, yes, but I can’t say I like wiping blood from your face. I really wish you would allow someone with a stronger stomach to do that.”
“Duly noted.”
“Ready to order, hotshot?” Cora asked, winking at me.
I still wasn’t used to so many women older than me flirting with me. But I’d been reassured on multiple occasions by Mav that none of them would actually put the moves on me.
Honestly, I was pretty sure he was lying to make me feel better.
“Give us a minute, would you, Cora?”
Speak of the devil…I jerked my chin at Mav as he pulled a chair over and sat between us.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Can’t complain. The judge came back with a verdict.”
I gripped Cassidy’s hand, hoping this came back in our favor.
“He gave him a year.”
That was not what I was expecting. “A year? That’s it?”
“We could only get him on the hit and run. Cassidy’s testimony helped, but the rest—”
“He set fire to the apartment building,” I snapped. “Archer and Cheyenne could have died.”
“I know, but—”
“And what about my sister and her family? What about everyone else? Roy and Kasey are dead!”
“We have nothing that linked Austin to those crimes,” Mav said calmly. “There were no money transfers, no emails, nothing in his phone records. However he did it, he didn’t leave a trail. The jury had nothing to convict him on.”
Fury threatened to overcome me, but when I saw the disappointment and fear on Cassidy’s face, I held it back, squeezing her hand tighter.
“Well, that’s a year we don’t have to deal with him.”
“And he’ll be on probation when he gets out. One foot wrong, and he’s back in prison.”
That wasn’t the best news, but it did seem to relieve some of the tension in Cassidy’s body.
“It’s better than we hoped for,” she smiled tightly. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure the jury would take me seriously when they found out how long it took me to remember the accident.”
“Well, everything lined up with witness accounts. Other than the fact that Austin was driving, your memory was spot on.”
“Still, they might have chosen to believe that I made up the part about Austin, so I guess we should call this a win and be glad he’s out of our lives for now.”
“Exactly, and—” Mav paused mid-sentence when John Callahan stopped at our table. Dressed in a suit, he looked equally depressed and angry.
I shoved to my feet, worried he was about to start something, and placed myself between him and Cassidy.
“I came here to offer my apologies.”
His words were sincere, but that didn’t mean I trusted him. “For what?”
“For my son. I just came from the sentencing.” His eyes flicked to Cassidy, and as she stood, she stepped out from behind me. “I know my words aren’t enough, but I’m so sorry for what he did to you. That boy has always been on the wild side. I guess I just didn’t realize how bad it had gotten.”
To my utter shock, Cassidy stepped forward and wrapped her arms around John, pulling him in for a tight hug. “It’s not your fault. He didn’t do this because of you.”
“No, but—”
“No buts,” Cassidy cut in. “His decisions are not on you.”
I wouldn’t go that far, but I also wasn’t about to ruin everything by opening my big mouth.
Besides, everyone in the diner was staring at the interaction, taking cues from them, just as they did when Ellie’s shop was vandalized.
So, as much as I wanted to punch John in the face, I held back my temper.
The town needed the General Store, and if he went out of business because I refused to accept his apology, everyone would suffer.
“Well,” John cleared his throat, taking a step back. “I’m not sure I deserve your forgiveness, but thank you. You’ve always been very kind to me.”
With a nod, he walked away, and to my utter surprise, more than one person went over to talk to John—something that hadn’t been done since the town found out about his involvement with the girl who died at Murky Falls.
“That was very nice of you.” I pulled Cassidy into my arms and gave her a kiss.
“He’s not Austin. And I know the Parkers have this fight with them, and you should probably take their side, but I can’t hold onto that much hate. It would ruin my life.”
“I’m not asking you to, and they wouldn’t either.”
“Good, because there’s only so much anger a person can take when the sun is shining and it’s warm outside.”
“Well, fall is just around the corner. We wouldn’t want to squander it,” I said, snaking my hand up her body.
“Sam!” she hissed. “Everyone’s looking!”
I shrugged. “Rumor has it I’m in love with you.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “You’re so cheesy.”
“Only since I met you.”