Page 112 of Daring You

“Okay,” I soothe, coming closer, moving a hand to his neck. “Okay, I believe you.”

He lays his forehead on mine. “I’ve made my decision.”

My eyelashes brush against his nose. “You don’t have to tell me anything. After what happened this morning…”

“You’re here now. You’ve given me the files. You’ve compromised your career. I think you’ve gained my trust back.”

“You’re also drunk,” I say in a low voice. “I don’t know if now’s the time to come to conclusions on something so big.”

“I make my best decisions while drunk.”

A surprising bubble of laughter reaches my throat.

“It’s how I signed with the Giants and became the highest-grossing rookie receiver in the league.”

“Well, with that kind of rep…”

Ben sobers. Lifts away from my forehead so he can search my eyes. “Ever since the news broke of the arrest, of the suspects, I’ve known what the right move is. But I’ve been a coward. Confused. I had no idea I’d have to face my past like this. I’ve lived so long as another man, that it—it laid me out sideways.”

I squeeze his bicep, remaining silent.

“There is one thing that rings true. And it’s justice for my parents. The ones who only got to love me for four years. Who had their lives cut short because they were trying to do the right thing. For taking away my chance to grow up with them. To love them as much as they loved me.”

I nod slowly.

Ben’s mouth goes grim. “I want the fuckers to pay for what they did to my life. Their lives.”

I’m bracing for his next words, and I repeat them in my head at the same time he says them.

“I want to testify.”

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