Page 87 of The Wrong Side Of Us

The only reason I maintained my sanity was because of his lawyer. He was a no bullshit type of guy, and everyone knew that well enough, judging by the way they were respectful while he was around. Jessica and Thomas had given him the information needed and were cooperating, and though I was thankful, I hated the way Jessica was acting distraught, like Nathan was her significant other and not mine. It irritated me.

But in that moment, all that mattered was to get Nathan out of there.

“Here,” Damian said, giving me a water bottle along with chips. “Figured you’re probably a bit hungry.”

I thanked him, unable to take a bite despite the hunger. The accusation against Nathan upset me, and the stress didn’t do me well, either. We all got angry, but there was a huge leap from that to doing something to hurt someone else.

“Does anyone know the state Derek is in?” I asked, looking from Damian to Thomas. Both shook their head, but Jessica spoke up.

“Does his condition really matter?” she spat harshly.

I felt the tension in the room rise, especially when I tilted my head to the side. “I think you should go home,” I stated. “You’ve given all the information the lawyer needs. You should leave.”

She looked pissed, and though perhaps immature, it gave me plenty of satisfaction. I knew she wasn’t there as a friend but as a woman who had feelings for him. I didn’t accept it. Thomas sensed this and let her know it was time to leave, and so they did.

“Clearly she’s not welcome here.” Damian smiled, sitting next to me.

I shrugged. “I don’t usually care, but the last thing I need right now is to see a woman who has feelings for my fiancé flaunting it. I get it.”

“Yeah…well, this should all be over by tomorrow.” I looked up at him, not allowing myself to feel hope. I didn’t want to get them up because if things didn’t work out…I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

The thought of raising a child while Nathan was in prison—it was too much to bear.

Damian noticed it, so he kept talking, explaining what he believed would happen. “They don’t have evidence other than what they ‘assume’ Derek meant by mentioning his name. Thomas testifies he drove him home. There’s nothing they can go on. As soon as they finish reviewing the surveillance videos and they see he’s not there, he’ll be out of here, at least on bond. There is nothing to worry about.”

He was persuasive. I looked for any doubt in his words, almost wanting to find it, but I realized he wouldn’t have said it unless he believed it. I nodded, sighing.

“I’ve called Nathan’s parents. They’re coming to pick you up because, honestly, this does you no good and it doesn’t help him, being in there tense during questioning. He needs to keep himself in check.”

“I don’t want to leave, though. I—I want to be here for him and—”

“I understand that,” he interrupted. “But there’s nothing else to do. You’ve given your statement. His friends have given theirs. Let me handle the rest. It’s my job, after all.”

Too tired to argue, I didn’t say anything.

A few minutes later, the Maxwells were at the station. Deborah greeted me with a much-needed hug, her eyes sad and worried. If I felt bad, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what she felt. I put my happy face on to reassure her, even if I didn’t fully believe everything would be okay.

Frank drove us to their home, where I cuddled up on the sofa, falling asleep almost immediately after.

***

I woke up later covered up in a blanket and my whole body sore from the awkward position in which I’d slept.

Never sleeping on a sofa while pregnant again.

“Good morning,” Deb’s voice called out from the other side of the living room. “We tried to wake you up, but you were deep asleep.”

I grimaced, clearing my throat. “Sorry.”

Gaze softening, she took a seat next to me, placing her warm hand over my own. It was the comfort we both needed.

“I need you to tell me what’s going on with that man—Derek—and Nathan. I think we have the right to know, especially given the situation.”

They needed to know. But how could I explain it to them if even I didn’t know completely? Derek never got the chance to tell me what was really going on. He never gave me the explanation I needed. Regardless, I couldn’t keep them in the dark anymore.

“You don’t have to believe a word I say, but I am one hundred percent sure Derek never accused Nathan. To me, it was more of a warning,” I confessed nervously.

“Why a warning?”

---