THIRTY-ONE
DAKOTA
“Finally,” my mom half giggled as we entered the apartment.
“Home sweet home,” I happily sighed, plopping down on the couch with my legs in the air before dropping them.
My mom placed her shopping bags on the kitchen island, finding her place at the end of the couch, allowing my feet to rest on her lap.
After a stressful few months, my fathers hearing was next week.
He promised me he’d plead guilty, not only because of the evidence against him, but because he didn’t want to hurt my mom and I more than he already had. He was ridden by guilt and shame and couldn’t even look at me.
He wasn’t the most emotionally available father, but when it came to providing, he didn’t hesitate. In any aspect; safety, financially, advice, mentally readying me for any situation I was up against.
Though, that didn’t necessarily apply when it came to being a husband because mom and I experienced two different versions of him.
As my father, I absolutely adored him. But as my mother’s husband, I despised him.
I always believed that my dad was never a bad man, he just… had really bad anger issues. I didn’t want him to be a bad man. I just wanted him to be my dad.
“I’m sorry,” my mother apologetically said, tears brimming in her eyes. “I know how much you love him—”
“No, don’t apologize,” I cut her off. “All I want is for you to be safe. And happy,” I assured her, and she nodded.
I’d been staying with her most nights as she cried herself to sleep. I needed to be with her, and the guys understood that.
My mother really loved him and wanted him to be better. She had hoped for it every single day.
“How are you feeling?” she suddenly asked, gently rubbing her hand up and down my leg.
“Me?” I asked, sitting up. “Mom, you just lost your husband because of how abusive he was. How are you feeling?”
A sad smile played on her lips. “Sweetheart, I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me, and you know that.”
“You’ll call me if you need anything, right?” I asked, taking her hand in both of mine.
“Of course, I will.”
Relief washed over me, and my mom’s face twisted into something mischievous. I narrowed my eyes, patiently waiting in suspicion.
“Or I could just call Kaden,” she casually said, flicking her hair over her shoulder and my eyebrows lifted at the mention of his name. I swallowed hard, nodding.
He’d been a tremendous help throughout the entire process, and I could tell my mom was starting to like him.
“Oh my God,” she laughed, throwing her head back. “Do I need to beg you for the truth?”
“The truth?”
“You. Kaden. Together?”
“Oh—mom, no,” I immediately shook my head, laying back down. “It’s not like that.”
“Sweetheart, it might not be, but a man doesn’t act or react the way he does if he doesn’t feel something strong for a woman.”
“Mom,” I pinned her with a look.
“Dakota, I’m your mother,” she sternly said, getting up.
“You can’t lie to me,” she practically sang and headed into the kitchen.
“But,” she yanked open the refrigerator door.
“If you’re not ready to tell me, I won’t force it out of you,” she looked back at me over her shoulder. I really wish I could tell you, mom…
* * *
Shit, shit, shit.
Scurrying down the hallway, I took a sharp left and then rushed into the classroom. My eyes snapped down to my wrist, and a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Two minutes to spare.
I smiled, lifting my head to Logan’s desk, but he wasn’t there.
I glanced around the classroom, and my eyes landed on Solace. She raised her arm high, waving at me. I headed over, greeting Darnell on my way.
“Who are you, and what have you done to my best friend?” Solace asked since I was on time for once.
I playfully rolled my eyes, sitting down beside her.
“I think we’ll have to grill the hell out of Professor Hale for being late,” she leaned in to whisper.
I had come straight from the apartment to campus this morning. Logan would have let me know if he wasn’t going to be in today, if that were the case, so I’m guessing that he’s just very late.
Everybody got so lost in conversation that we barely realized that Logan still hadn’t gotten here almost thirty minutes in.
“Okay, now I’m officially concerned,” Daisy rushed over, crouching down between us.
My brows pinched together. “What’s going on—”
“Shh!” Daisy immediately cut me off. “Quiet. Come closer,” she signaled us lower. Solace and I cast each other a confused glance but lowered ourselves to Daisy’s level, nonetheless. What piece of gossip is floating around now?
“Miss Dakota King?”
I immediately snapped upright, looking in the direction of the classroom door.
Hesitantly, I lifted my hand to see Professor Madeline smiling at me.
“Please, come with me,” she motioned toward the door, and I grabbed my things, leaving the classroom with one final glance back at a worried Daisy and Solace.
Madeline closed the classroom door behind herself and hesitantly approached me. “I’m going to need you to make your way to the dean’s office, sweetie. Right now.”
I swallowed hard in uncertainty, nodding with a smile. The dean’s office? Have I done something? Stolen something? Lied? Cheated on a test? Oh my God, Dakota, you did none of those things and you know that.
Professor Madeline slipped back into the classroom, and I made my way to the dean’s office. I had no idea what this could be about. I’d say I was a fairly well behaved student.
I knocked then entered her office, and she sat idly behind her desk, dressed in her usual pantsuit. Her black curls were pulled into a neat bun, and her black rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose.
I glanced around. There are way too many pot plants in here. This office could pass as a greenhouse.
There was a man in uniform—a cop—to her right and my heart started racing. Am I being framed for a crime I didn’t commit?
“Dakota,” Mrs. Greene got to her feet. “Have a seat, please,” she motioned to the chair in front of her, but my heart dropped, looking at the person on the chair next to it.
He got to his feet, turning around to face me with apologetic eyes.
My eyes grew wide in uncertainty. “Daddy?”
“My baby girl,” he sorrowfully said.
Daddy’s bail was set at $150K as though he couldn’t easily cough up that amount. Of course, he wasn’t able to come anywhere near my mother.
While he was out he called me every day, but I didn’t answer until I eventually blocked his number. So, I’m guessing this was another stunt of his to see me.
“What’s going on?” I asked, and the dean motioned for me to have a seat, so I did. My heart raced as I caught their pitiful gazes.
My stomach flipped. “Is it my mom?” I fearfully asked, feeling my heart rate pick up.
“No, no, no,” Mrs Greene suddenly said. “It’s not that,” she shook her head. “Dakota, I have to ask you a few questions.”
I nodded, secretly fiddling with my fingers on my lap.
She glanced over at my father, and I could see the rage behind his eyes. “We have reason to believe that you and one of your professors have a rather… intimate relationship. Is that true?”
My heart dropped. No. No, no, please—no.
I had been so wrapped up in my family drama that I hadn’t realised… oh my God hadn’t I been careful enough? Was I too distracted?
Instantly, I shook my head in denial. “No, of course not,” I looked between the two of them. “Who told you that—it’s not true.”
“Princess, you can tell us,” my father calmly said, reaching over to grab my hand, but I jolted away.
“That’s crazy. What are you even talking about?”
“Dakota,” Mrs Greene slightly tilted her head to the side. “If it’s true, you need to tell us. You did nothing wrong, okay? If he came onto you and forced—”
“Jesus Christ,” I half laughed. “You think that I’m being taken advantage of?”
“That’s what we’ve been told, yes,” Mrs Greene confirmed, keeping her voice tiny. “So, if you could just tell us his name—”
“I’m not being taken advantage of,” I assured her, getting to my feet. “That’s absurd. Who told you that?”
“We can’t reveal their identity,” she explained. “But if it’s the truth, then Dakota, we need to know. We need to hear it from you.”
“Please, Dakota,” my father insisted, his unmissable anger slipping through. “Just tell me his name, princess.”
I opened my mouth to speak but got cut off as the office door slammed open.
“Oh, baby,” my mother cooed, rushing over to me. “What happened? What’s going on?”
“Someone is spreading gossip, and now they think it’s true,” I explained as my mother stopped at my side.
“Dakota,” my father seethed. “We have proof. Now, all we need is for you to give us his name,” he got to his feet as well.
“There’s no name to give!” I snapped.
“Tell me that bastard’s name so that I can put him in prison myself,” he seethed, stepping forward but the cop intervened and I breathlessly glanced between the three of them.
“What is going on?” my mom darted her worried eyes to Mrs Greene.
“We have reason to believe that your daughter has been having a sexual—“
“Jesus Christ,” I cut her off. “Mom,” I turned, grabbing her shoulders as my pleading eyes locked with hers. “Don’t listen to them.”
“Dakota, please,” my father insisted and I watched my mothers body still. She just realised he’s here.
“You’re not allowed to be near my mom,” I turned to face my father entirely, and his eyes softened. “Leave, or I’ll have this officer arrest you.”
I didn’t miss the confusion on both Mrs Greene and the cop’s face, but he inevitably stepped forward, backing up my statement and with pure rage, my father headed for the door, slamming it behind himself.
I turned to the dean. “Well, if you have proof, then you don’t need me,” I scoffed, snatching my bag as I too headed for the door.
“Dakota!” my mom rushed out behind me, but I didn’t look back.
This is—no. It’s not happening. It can’t be.
I hurried out, spotting Solace in the distance with Asher. I rushed over, and Asher looked down his watch, hugged Solace, and sprinted away.
“You promised!” I couldn’t help but blurt out and she whipped around.
“What are you—”
“How could you say anything?” I asked, tears brimming in my eyes.
She seemed taken aback. “Dakota, what are you talking about—”
“You know because you told them,” I cut her off. “Solace, I trusted you,” I hiccuped, feeling my throat close up.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, D,” she shook her head with panicked eyes. “What happened?”
“What happened is that you betrayed me,” I choked out, shaking my head at her. “I trusted you! You said you wouldn’t say anything. That you wouldn’t tell anyone about him—about what you saw!”
Her eyes softened. “No, I didn’t mean to—I’m sorry,” she stepped closer, but I rushed past her. I need to get home. I need to get to Logan.
With tears swelling in my eyes I hopped in my car, speeding off campus. Frustration boiled inside of me as my fingers tightened around the wheel. This can’t be happening. Please, let this be a dream. A really, really bad dream.
I slammed my car door shut, running into the house. Chase was talking on the phone in the living room, and Kaden was talking on the phone in the kitchen.
He was still in nothing but gym shorts, glistening in sweat, so I assumed his fitness was just interrupted.
I rushed back to the living room, pacing up and down as I waited for Chase to finish.
My heart had been racing all morning, and my chest ached at the thought of Logan getting in trouble because of me.
Kaden entered the living room with a hand on my lower back, and my panicked eyes shot up to him.
“Logan’s fine,” Chase said, drawing our attention back to him.
“What happened?” I shifted my eyes between the two of them. “Where is he?”
“Don’t worry about him,” Chase gave his head a slight shake.
Kaden ran a frustrated hand down his mouth, answering my other question.
“Someone mailed your father a letter, reporting your relationship with Logan,” he explained, and my brows drew together. “Your lawyer father, Dakota,” he emphasized.
“No,” I shook my head in denial. Solace… no, she—
“How could they know my father’s a lawyer?” I asked in confusion, completely brushing off Solace who knew.
“Your father’s case was all over the media. They must’ve seen you too.”
My heart dropped. “What else do you know?” I clutched my trembling hands in front of me.
“Whoever it was, cared more about getting Logan in trouble than about you or your safety,” Kaden replied.
“But, it wasn’t mailed to your father directly, instead, it was mailed to his law firm under a company name,” Chase explained with a hint of confusion, as though he didn’t quite understand it.
“What company?” My head snapped up.
“Greene Haven,” Chase answered, and it was as though the entire world around me had stopped as my body stilled.
Clicks echoed in my brain as I stared ahead allowing the puzzle pieces to slip into place one by one.
Steadily, my heart rate increased, and adrenaline pumped through my veins as my eyes stung with tears of anger.
“Dakota, did you tell anyone?” Chase questioned.
My fingers balled into fists at my side. “Fucking cunt.”