35. Lily
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
lily
Six Weeks Later
T he Karma Crew group chat
Michele:
Bags are packed, mission is a go.
Jake:
We’re wearing black, right? Because we’re going to bury them.
Thoren:
Clever, I like it. I’m in.
River:
I like the crew name. Can we name Tyler something too? Tiny dick Tyler?
Michele:
Tyler the twat?
Jake:
Tyler the taint.
Thoren:
Terrible Tyler the tool?
River:
We’ll keep thinking.
Lily:
I love you guys. See you soon.
The last month and a half has flown by. I spent that first week at home hiding out from the world, much to Shadow’s pleasure. Michele finally showed up the next Saturday and dragged me out to get dinner and drinks with her and Amber. It’s a small town, and word travels fast, so I had a lot of stares, but it was worth it. We laughed until we cried as they caught me up on their lives.
It was the jumpstart I needed to get my act together. I focused on starting my next novel while Andrea and my team worked on marketing for the first one. Even though everything on my end was complete, the book release wasn’t until the middle of December. I decided against a signing tour, despite Andrea’s begging. Once the series is complete, I will do one.
For now, I want to focus on the next novel and spend my time doing things I love. I have spent so much of my life doing things for others that it almost feels selfish living for myself. Thoren tries to shut down those thoughts, asking me every morning ‘What would make your heart happy today?’ and encouraging me to do exactly that. I have spent so much time with Amber and Michele that I now have a writing station at the boutique and Michele’s office. I’m living my dream every day and crawling into Thoren’s waiting arms every night.
There’s only three items left on the list of things that would make my heart happy, and one of those things is getting taken care of this week. When we started packing for the trip to Phoenix for the trial, I wasn’t surprised when Thoren said he would book the hotel. I was surprised when I heard him book four rooms. River, Jake, and Michele all refused to stay home in case I needed extra support. I still don’t know what I did to deserve these people in my life.
Across the plane aisle, Jake and Michele are bickering over who gets to use the armrest. Life is more fun with them in it, and their antics keep my anxiety from spiraling. Thoren brushes his thumb over my knuckles absentmindedly as he reads my first ever written novel.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, putting the book down.
“Good, all things considered. Having you all with me means more than words can express.” Win or lose, justice served or not, I have my family behind me. The family that I chose, or more accurately, the family that chose me. At the end of this, that’s what matters. I can hope that justice is served on all accounts, but in three days, I will be back on this plane heading home with the love and support of these people. A life I fall more in love with every day.
“We’ve got you. Always.” His lips drop to my forehead, lingering a moment. Picking the book back up, he continues to read.
The flight passes quickly, as does our drive to the hotel. My mind isn’t focused on my surroundings as much as seeing Tyler again tomorrow. We get checked in, waiting on River, who flies in later this evening. The decision is made to go out to dinner and explore the city before the first trial tomorrow.
I slip on some black skinny jeans with a hunter green sweater, layered with knee-high boots, keeping it casual but stylish. Thoren steps out of the bathroom, and my mouth instantly waters. He’s wearing dark jeans and a cream-colored henley underneath a navy jacket with brown boots. His trimmed stubble is neat, his hair mussed on top, and his signature smirk pointed right at me. He looks like my every fantasy wrapped into one, and I suddenly have no desire to leave the hotel.
“Come on,” Thoren chuckles, handing me my purse and opening the door. “I know that look, and if we don’t leave now, then we never will.”
“Room service sounds amazing,” I pout as I walk past him to find our trio already in the hall, all giving me a knowing look.
My cheeks heat, but River doesn’t let my embarrassment stop him. He scoops me in a hug, swinging me around. “I missed you! The guys have been asking about you.”
“Stop it!” I slap his chest as he puts me down to the disapproving growl of the man behind me. “Don’t poke the bear.”
“But it’s so fun,” he whines, pulling Thoren for a hug, too. I link arms with Michele, leading the way to the elevator. She looks stunning in black leggings, a tight scoop neck sweater, and a long jacket overtop.
Behind us is a pensive Jake in his typical black boots, dark jeans, black tee, and, surprisingly, a brown jacket. “You can walk with us, since the wonder twins are in their own land,” I offer, Thoren and River walking behind him, lost in an animated conversation.
“They even dressed alike.” Jake rolls his eyes, looming over Michele and I. I look back again to see River also donning a henley and brown boots.
“They’re so cute,” Michele chuckles as we step into the elevator. “So, where are we heading?”
“Hear me out,” I start, because this will be hit or miss. “I’m a comfort food girl. There’s a grilled cheese place not far from here. It’s the second most amazing thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
“What’s the first?”
“Hell yes.”
“I’m in,” River, Thoren, and Jake all answer simultaneously.
I stand smiling, as River groans. “Gross. I’m in for the grilled cheese. Can I invite Kinsley?”
Two hours later, we are all a little wine drunk at Cheddar Charm, our stomachs and hearts full. Our round table is filled with empty plates and loud laughter. My anxiety over tomorrow is all but forgotten with Kinsley’s insistence that she and her team feel confident, and my friends constantly veering the topic to lighter things. Jake and River have been trying to convince us all to get matching tattoos, but I’m not sold.
“How about a picture of us all instead?” Thoren suggests, stopping a waiter to grab one for us.
As he sends the photo to us all, my mind wanders to how different my life has turned out from six months ago. I used to come here for dinner, but I was always alone. I would sit at a small table for two, often in the corner and out of sight, eating my grilled cheese in silence as chatter and laughter rang out around me. I felt isolated, a part of me wondering if that’s what life would always be like.
I thought city life fostered this community of being alone. That despite everyone living so close together, no one talked to each other, always rushing from one thing to the next. Every friendship and interaction seemed superficial, and that was just the reality of life as an adult. Looking at my friends around the table, I see how wrong I was. You can have real and genuine friends anywhere. You just need to find your people.
I found mine.
River picks up the tab, then we all head back toward the hotel as Kinsley heads to hers. Thoren lifts our joined hands, trailing kisses over my knuckles. “Ready for tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Good. We will be right behind you the whole time. I also got you something to wear, so if at any point you need to remember you’re not alone, you can look down at this.” He pulls a long thin box from his pocket and hands it to me.
I take the box and pop it open, my feet stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. Inside is a beautiful bracelet with a dainty chain, and in the center is a purple amethyst gem with an emerald on either side.
“It’s our birthstones,” he says, taking it from the box and fastening it around my wrist. “I will always protect you and keep you safe, and I will always be by your side.”
Tears sting as I take in the visual representation of his love. Words feel heavy in my throat, unable to come out in a way that I can express how much this means to me.
“I know,” he says, kissing my forehead, as he slips the box back in his pocket and takes my hand to keep walking. “I love you, too.”
“I love you,” I murmur, my voice thick with emotion.
“Love you all, too,” Michele calls from behind us. “Except for Vanessa, I don’t like her.” Her eyes trail over her shoulder where River is arguing with someone on the phone.
“What’s going on?” Thoren asks.
“He posted that picture of us at dinner on his social media. She doesn’t like that he was sitting by Kinsley,” Jake snickers.
I didn’t get the best feelings about her when we met, but it’s not my relationship, so I keep my mouth shut. My eyes travel back down to my wrist, the stunning bracelet glowing in the lights of the shops we pass. I feel bad for River, but nothing can ruin this night. Not even the looming trial in the morning.
Kinsley leans over, touching the bracelet on my wrist. “This is beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I smile as I look over my shoulder to find Thoren’s eyes already on me.
The first trial was not as scary as I thought it would be. Kinsley has been ensuring me for months that she will take care of me, but a part of me was still worried. My manager and the HR representative that let me go were called in and both of them defended me. They claimed I had a stellar performance, never did anything wrong, and were blindsided by my termination. That, coupled with the emails and texts that were discovered where Tyler blatantly asked for me to be fired because ‘my wife doesn’t want me working with my whore’, put the nails in their coffin.
Kinsley brought in a woman during the trial that had been terminated without warning two years prior. She recounted how she had been with the COO of the company, despite the man being married and her direct supervisor. Tyler had caught her and the man together, and she was let go the next day. The COO was questioned and admitted to letting me go, due to Tyler’s insistence and blackmail.
The case only took a few hours, and the judge called us all back in to deliver the decision. Tyler wasn’t here for this case, which made it a little easier, but I will have to face him tomorrow. The jury walked back in, and Kinsley nudged for me to stand with her as they took their seats. She grabbed my hand in hers, giving it a light squeeze as the judge read out the decision. The ringing in my ears and loud beats of my heart prevented me from hearing much outside of Michele’s “damn right” behind me.
I turn to a smiling Kinsley as she pulls me in for a hug. “You did it. They awarded you two million!”
I hug her back, tears of validation lining my eyes. It’s not about the money, it’s about the justice, and the stuck up men who think they can play women like puppets. I feel Thoren’s hand at my back as I turn to his embrace over the half wall behind me.
“I’m so proud of you, baby. One more trial and you are free.”
“I’m paying you back now.”
His laugh is loud and so full of ease. One hurdle done, one more to go.
The steps of the courthouse seem more daunting today, but I climb them anyway. Thoren’s hand is at my back, and Michele is at my side, the two hulking figures of Jake and River taking up the rear. They weren’t kidding about the outfits either, all of us dressed in head to toe black. I know we look intimidating, and as we enter the courtroom, all eyes turn to us.
Tyler’s wife sits in the front row, directly behind him, a deadly scowl on her face. Tyler looks between all of us, and when his eyes land on Jake, he cowers into his seat. I never asked what he said to him the day Thoren beat him, but now I kind of want to know.
“Did we ever decide on his nickname?” River asks, not too quietly, as they take their seats behind Kinsley and I.
“Toxic trash Tyler,” Jake responds.
“I’ve just been referring to him as a little bitch,” a voice I know well calls from behind me. I spin to see Andrea sitting down next to Michele.
I jump from my seat and lean over the partition to give her a hug. “I didn’t think you could make it!” Per her request, I have been keeping her informed of everything. She has two authors launching books this week and is swamped with marketing and signings with them.
“I can’t stay more than an hour, but I wanted you to know I am here. You’ve got this. Kick his ass. Again.”
Kinsley tries to cover her snort as we rise for the judge to enter. This trial is a little different from yesterday, and I find myself paying more attention. Tyler and I are both called to the stand, but most of the talking comes from Kinsley. Tyler’s lawyers can only say so much in defense when he violated a restraining order and assaulted me.
Kinsley presses for five years minimum for jail time on felony charges, as well as half a million in damages. Throughout the trial, I feel eyes on me, and am surprised to find they belong to Tyler’s wife, Angela. If looks could kill, I would be dead. I still don’t understand her hate and anger towards me, but I let it go.
At close to one, the jury is dismissed to deliberate, and we are free to leave. Andrea slipped out and texted me to keep her informed and that she loves me. That she made it at all means so much to me. Kinsley told us not to go far because she doesn’t see this taking long, so we all find a deli down the street for lunch. It’s a quiet meal, all of us in our heads, anxiously awaiting the results.
I lean over to Jake, whispering so the others don’t hear, “What did you say to Tyler?”
He smirks, a twinkle of mirth in his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I chuckle, taking another bite of my sandwich. I’ll let him keep his secret for now, only because it was glorious to see the fear of god on Tyler’s face earlier.
“Thank you,” I mutter, and he nods, then goes back to his meal.
“It’s time,” River says, looking at his phone. “They’re ready for us.”
We all walk back to the courthouse, but Michele and I veer off to use the restroom before we go in. I’m alone at the sink when I hear the door open, and Angela walks in. She heads straight for me, and I freeze, transported back to the bathroom with her at the work party.
“I put up with his blatant cheating and having to share with a little skank like yourself. His money is mine, and you don’t deserve a damn cent of it. I deserve the life I have been living in the house I have been in. How dare you try to take it from me,” she seethes.
All of my sympathy and empathy fly out the window for this woman. “You deserve the miserable life you’ve been living with a cheating husband,” I tell her as I turn and dry my hands. Michele is now at the sink next to me, calmly washing her hands. We don’t give her another ounce of attention, which seems to really piss her off. She harrumphs and turns to stalk off, but Michele kicks her foot out lightning fast, breaking the heel of her stiletto.
She flies forward at the unbalance, bashing her face on the wall in front of her, crying out. Michele looks down at her, blood dripping from under her nose where she cradles it, down to her broken shoe.
Continuing in a calm manner, Michele grabs some paper towels and tosses them on her. “You really should be careful in heels like that. They break so easily.”
She takes my hand, leading me out of the bathroom and tells a security member standing further down the hall that a woman broke her heel and fell in the bathroom and might need help. I follow her in stunned silence as she leads us into the courtroom. My mouth opens and closes a few times, unsure of what to say, before I pull her into a tight hug. “I love you.”
“You better. I wanted to smash her face in, but orange really isn’t my color. I know you weren’t going to dole out the punishment she deserves. It’s not assault if I didn’t touch her,” she winks, then takes her place next to Jake while I take mine next to Kinsley.
Thoren leans up, “Are you okay?”
I think it through, and no matter the outcome here, I am. Maybe extra okay when I see Tyler and his wife walk back in to take their respective seats, her limping on her broken heel with gauze held under her nose. “Yeah, baby. I’m okay.”
We all stand as the judge and jury make their way back into the room. My fingers play with the bracelet around my wrist as I smile over my shoulder at Thoren. My constant. My steady. My everything.
I keep my eyes on him as the judge reads out the deliberation, as both our smiles grow. Tyler will go to prison for four years, with the possibility of parole after three. He will also pay me the entire half a million dollars. It’s an absolute win, but suddenly I don’t even care.
All I want is to go back home, and have mundane days with Thoren and Shadow in our home as we follow our dreams and build our family. I got justice, but more than that, I got everything I ever wanted in the people seated behind me.