Page 98 of Trust Me With Forever

As the wind blew, I took in a deep breath, feeling a little more put together. Later, I’d have to thank my brothers for keeping Aunt Lori busy. She’d wanted to be in the room during my interview. But as much as I loved her, she could be unpredictable when it came to protecting her family.

As soon as we reached the guest house, Nolan’s assistant opened the door and waved us inside. “Come in, come in. Everything’s set up, and she’s ready for you.”

I nodded. “Thanks for all of your help in setting this up, Jenn. I really appreciate it.”

The red-haired woman waved a hand in dismissal. “It was nothing. Assholes like your ex need to be held responsible for their actions. Let’s hope he gets fired, shunned, and maybe even charged.”

“I’d be okay with people just believing me and not his lies.”

Jenn patted my arm. “I know. My wife tells me I’m a little bloodthirsty at times and swears I must’ve been a Viking warrior in another life.”

I chuckled. “Given your height and red hair, I could see it.”

Jenn was nearly as tall as me, which was pretty tall for a woman.

She winked. “We can talk about my Viking roots later. Let’s get you settled. Oh, and if you ever need to stop the interview and take a break, let me know.” Rafe grunted, and Jenn raised her brows. “Yes, I know you would step in and do it, but I can be more tactful, since Abby isn’t my wife.”

I kissed Rafe’s cheek, and his muscles relaxed a fraction. “Save your growls for any trespassers.”

“I guess.”

After kissing his lips, I murmured, “I love you.”

He relaxed even more. “I love you too, Abby.”

He kissed me again, and Jenn cleared her throat before saying, “As happy as I am that yet another of Nolan’s siblings has found love, we don’t want to keep Penny waiting too long. Come on.”

We followed Jenn down the hallway to the guesthouse’s living room and kitchen area. While the hallway was enclosed, the living, dining, and kitchen were all one big open space.

While Rafe’s and my place was bigger, we’d all agreed it would be better to have a neutral space for the interview, in case someone tried to locate it and go after me. Yes, it was on my family’s property, but no one lived here permanently and the high tourist season wouldn’t start for a few months yet.

Not wanting to think of how many people the sheriff’s office had stopped from trespassing on Rafe’s land, I took a deep breath and walked toward the woman in the center of the room.

Penny was a little older than me, with pale skin, gray eyes, and black hair streaked with purple. She was known for cute but quirky dresses, and today was no different—she wore a white dress with cats and balls of yarn repeated as a pattern. Her shoes were bright blue, matching the yarn on the dress.

She extended a hand, and I shook it as she said, “Nice to meet you in person, Abby.”

“Same. Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it.”

We both sat down and Penny asked, “Do you have any last-minute questions before we start?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

“If you ever need to stop, just let me know.” Her gaze turned sympathetic. “I know this isn’t easy. And I’m beyond grateful that you want to share your story with me. But in the end, it should hopefully be worth all the pain and nerves and possible tears.”

I bobbed my head. “I’ve seen how you helped others before, so I’m going to be hopeful.”

“Well, it’s not a perfect track record, as much as I hate it. But if I can take down a liar every once in a while, I’m happy. And this guy really needs to be held accountable.”

“I won’t disagree, but I also wouldn’t hold my breath.”

She reached out and placed a hand over mine. “With Nolan Drake behind you, helping to spread the word, I’d say your odds are better than normal.” She leaned back and glanced at her notecards. “Ready?”

I glanced at Rafe. He blew me a kiss, and I looked back at Penny. “I think so.”

She motioned to Jenn, who was helping with the cameras. Once she finished turning them on, Penny said, “Thank you for sitting down with me to tell your story, Abby.” I nodded, and she continued, “Now, tell me about Travis Doucey…”

And so the interview began. The questions were hard at first, but soon I was at ease, laughing with Penny, and feeling a little freer the more I talked.

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