Page 97 of Trust Me With Forever

Katie:Of course she will. And if you need us at any point, we’re all waiting on standby at the main Wolfe house.

Amber:And I brought all of your favorites, including some of my secret coffee beans, for when you’re done.

Me:Thanks, all of you. I might end up a slobbering mess once I get back to the house, and I’ll need you all.

Katie:If so, we’ll be here to hug you and wipe your tears.

Emmy:And we’ll do our best to keep Aunt Lori from going on a rampage. She’s still determined to go to San Jose and take care of that asshole herself.

Me:Still? Do your best to keep her from doing that. We talked her out of the flamethrower, but I don’t know what else she has stashed away.

Emmy:Your brothers are on it now. They’ll ensure she doesn’t head out with murder in mind.

Amber:I do have a few ways we can make his life miserable, though, if you’re interested.

Me:Maybe later. Rafe’s about to park. I’ll talk to you all after the interview!

Emmy, Katie, and Amber:Good luck!

The next week flew by and felt like a dream. Being completely myself with Rafe, both of us lowering our guards completely for the first time, had been far easier than I’d expected. There was something about a person accepting all your moods—from grumpy to sad to ecstatic—and never having to wear a mask that was freeing.

I’d even shared more with the BFF Circle about Travis and everything I’d gone through. That had led to Amber telling us about how her life with her stepmother hadn’t been as great as she’d made us believe. And Katie, Emmy, and I all vowed to help her more once I’d finally dealt with Travis Doucey.

To that end, Nolan’s assistant, Jenn Jackson, had suggested who to give my interview to. Not CGN, because they wanted to keep the gossip running and would probably edit everything to fit their agenda. No, she’d recommended a smaller but more reliable woman named Penny Rogers. Her video channel, Gossip: Facts and Fiction, broke down rumors and gossip in a funny, entertaining way, using humor to make her points. After watching a few of her videos, I’d seen how laughing made me remember things easier.

It was hard for me to see the humor in my past, but Nolan trusted his assistant’s judgment completely, and I trusted my brother. So I’d just have to see how it went.

The day of the interview, Rafe drove me to my family’s house. And as he finally pulled into the rear parking lot, I took a deepbreath and checked my appearance one last time in the visor mirror.

He said, “You’re going to nail this interview, love.”

I smiled and reached out a hand, touching his cheek. “Thanks, Rafe. I hope so.”

“No hoping, Abigail. You’ve practiced a million times about what to say, have the receipts, and Penny should be able to do the rest.”

“Well, that and hoping Jenn gets the word out.”

“Nolan Drake still has a big online presence, despite the whole showdown with his ex. Katie refused to let him give it up.”

“She’s definitely braver than me. I haven’t been able to check social media for weeks now.”

Rafe took my hand and gently squeezed my fingers. “I’d say agreeing to this interview is pretty fucking brave, love.” He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “I’ll be in the same room, waiting, if you need me.”

We had discussed a solo versus joint interview, and I still thought a solo one would be more effective. It might give any of Travis’s other victims the courage to come forward, too. “Thank you.”

I tugged my hand. He released me, and we both exited the car. As we headed toward one of the guest houses where the interview would take place, I asked, “You double-checked with Mark that this is okay?”

“Yes, love. I assured him I would buy him out, if it came to it, and help him find another good position. Although, given how sign-ups from within Sonoma County have gone up, I don’t think it’ll come to that.”

Even though Rafe had assured me that he could find another calling if his training facility failed because of the scandal and rumors, I still felt bad. “I hope the numbers keep rising, until you reach capacity.” I bit my lip and added, “I also meant it when Isaid that if me running the tutoring center prevents kids from signing up, I’ll help you find someone else.”

He stopped us, pulled me close, and leaned his forehead against mine. “No matter what happens, we’ll find a way to make everything work out. Together. However, today is about you getting to tell your story and finally revealing that piece of shit for who he really is.” He kissed me gently. “Ready?”

Nodding, I took his hand again. “Yes. Let’s not keep Penny waiting.”

We walked the rest of the way in silence, and I took in the familiar scenery, doing my best to calm my racing heart and get my emotions in check.

Because this wasn’t going to be easy. Not even close.

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