I replied, “If I keep silent, CGN will just keep publishing their own crap, Travis will stoke the fire, and it could get dangerous for all of you. And I won’t risk anyone else I care about.”
Rafe searched my gaze. “Are you sure, love?”
I nodded. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what Nolan shared before….before…”
Rafe laid his hand on my thigh and squeezed. “Before I was hit by a car.”
“Yes. That.”
“And?”
I sipped some water before I could reply, “If Travis had manipulated and threatened another woman, maybe there were several. He’s a lot older than me, and the way he reeled me in, well, it was too thought out and planned to be a coincidence, I think.”
Emmy nodded. “I agree. And sometimes it takes the courage of one person coming forward for others to do the same.”
I replied, “Or so I hope. Even if no one does, at least my version is out there and maybe some people will pause before automatically hating me. I can’t guarantee it’ll ever clear me completely, but it’s worth a shot.”
Rafe studied me for a second, and I wondered if he’d try to talk me out of it. There were a lot of reasons—it was dangerous, it could further hurt his training center’s chances, and it was possible it made everything worse.
So when he said, “I agree,” I mentally breathed a sigh of relief.
Rafe really did have my back. I vowed to stop doubting him. The man had been hit by a car to save me, after all.
He yawned, and I placed my tray to the side. “You need to rest.”
“I don’t want to, but my body says otherwise.”
West grunted. “Welcome to the old man's club.”
Emmy gently slapped his arm. “You’re not that old.”
“You do help keep me young.”
As he waggled his eyebrows, I shook my head and Rafe said, “You two should go home and get it out of your system so I don’t have to see that.”
Emmy’s face turned serious as she went to the other side of Rafe’s bed. “I’m not going anywhere.”
West followed Emmy and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He said, “You heard the doctor, love. Rafe is awake and out of danger now. As long as he takes it easy, he’ll be fine.” She hesitated, so West whispered something I couldn’t hear, and she nodded. “Okay, just for a short while.” Her gaze shot back to her brother. “But I’ll be back soon. So no dying on me in the meantime.”
Rafe crossed his heart. “I promise, as long as you stop yelling at me.”
“Then stop being stupid, and I won’t yell.”
As the siblings bickered for about a minute, I smiled. It made me happy seeing my best friend and the man I loved getting along more each day.
Eventually, West intervened and convinced Emmy to leave. Once we were alone, I turned toward Rafe and asked, “Are you really okay with my interview idea?”
“It’s the only way, I think. The people Nolan and I hired might be able to find something eventually. But even if the truth isn’t as exciting as gossip, it might be enough to get more victims to come forward. Hell, if the one we know about does, it might be enough to get your ex fired. Maybe more than that.”
He yawned again, and I tried to stand. However, he grabbed my hand. “Lie next to me, Abby. There should be just enough room.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t, love. Please.”
Rafe gave me his puppy dog eyes, and I sighed. “Fine. But you can’t complain if I fall asleep and wake up kicking you in the balls.”
“I’ll just have to risk it.”