Page 119 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

“I brought you a coffee.” Officer Brentley hands me a hot cup before dragging a chair beside me. “It’s from the cafeteria. Not the greatest concoction.”

I stifle a slight chuckle, bringing the Styrofoam cup to my mouth. We sit in silence for a few minutes, watching as Summer sleeps peacefully in the hospital bed.

“How long has she been out?” Brentley asks.

I shrug. “A couple of hours. They stitched her up and took her for an X-ray. It wasn’t long after that that she drifted to sleep.”

He presses his lips together and nods. “She’s a tough girl.”

I barely smile. “She’s a warrior. I don’t know who could go through everything she has and come out even remotely alright.”

Even I’m still trying to wrap my head around how her father could clock her in the face and not be apologetic one bit.The room falls quiet, the only sound being the monitor beeping steadily. I sip my coffee for a few minutes, thinking to myself.

“Officer,” I start.

“I think we’ve reached a point where you can call me Allen.”

I wet my lips, nodding. “Allen, you don’t think the judge will let him off the hook, do you? She’s handled everything thus far, but if they let him go, that’ll destroy her.”

Allen sighs, shifting in his seat. “The judge holds all the cards. Do I think they will completely let him get away with what he did? Not a chance. But, there is a chance he’ll have a smaller sentence.”

“And what happens if he’s released?”

“I can set her up with protection, a restraining order.”

He watches me carefully, my insides screaming at me. They can’t let him walk away. I know a lot about restraining orders; but, those who are determined to get to who they want will find a way. I’m solid proof.

Allen rises, patting me on the shoulder. “Keep positive. She needs you to be.” He goes to walk out of the room but stops at the door, turning back to me. “Oh, when she wakes. Let her know I have everything covered for testimonies. The lawyer is taking care of everything. She doesn’t have to be there if it’s too much.”

When he leaves, I finish off my coffee and toss it into the small bin underneath the sink. My lips drift upward when I turn back around and see Summer’s gentle eyes flutter open.

“I want to be there.” Her voice is hoarse. Her tongue runs along her dry lips as she stares over at me.

I shuffle over to the table cart, pour her some ice water, and put a straw into the cup so she can sip it. “You heard that?”

“Some of it.” She leans forward just enough to take a drink. Her plump lips formed the perfect ‘o’ before clamping around the straw. When she’s done, she lays her head back down on the pillow and sighs. “It may be silly, but I need to see for myself. I need to hear the words come from the judge. I just… I need to be there.”

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I nod in agreement and place the cup back on the table before climbing into the bed with her. She snuggles into my chest, breathing in softly as I hold her close.

“How’s your foot?” I ask, drawing lines across her arm.

“It’s good. They said it wasn’t broken. It’s a small sprain. I should have come sooner.”

I chuckle quietly. “If you weren’t so stubborn.”

“My mother was very stubborn, too. I must get it from her.” There’s a long pause before she adds, “Alec, I know you hate when I say it, but thank you. Thank you for protecting me and for being there before Allen showed up. I don’t know what else he would have done to me if you hadn’t.”

I let out a long sigh. “Thank Chloe. She’s the one who got Allen there.”

“How exactly did you get a hold of her?”

“Tyler.” I smile. “There is a perk to having friends that are coincidentally dating, you know.”

Summer giggles. “I’ve come to accept that, thank you very much.”

She nestles closer, not wanting a centimeter of space between us. I lean down, breathing her in. “I’m never letting you go, pretty girl.”

She hums. “I love you,” she whispers against my chest.

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