Page 55 of Rafferty

Callum sounds skeptical. “I’m not sure I can get her on a Sunday. Are you sure you just can’t tell me?”

“I think you should be there as well, but Brienne has to hear it. It sort of has to do with her.”

We can’t see Callum on the other end of the line, but I can almost feel his shock by the heavy silence. It’s evident he’s now taking this seriously when he says, “Hold on. Don’t hang up. I’ll be right back.”

“Oh shit,” Farren mutters. “This is moving fast.”

“Do or die,” Rafferty says, stroking his jaw in contemplation. I reach out and put my hand on his hip, just a touch for him to know I’m here.

We wait in silence, staring at the phone in Rafferty’s hand. It seems like an hour but can’t be more than a few minutes, and Callum is back on the line. “Brienne will meet you at her office at the arena. She’s heading there now,” Callum says, a note of surprise in his tone. “I’m on my way too.”

“Oh wow,” Rafferty breathes out, and I can hear his relief. It’s a scary prospect, but I know he’s glad that everyone is taking this seriously. “I’m on my way too.”

The call disconnects and Rafferty heads to his front door, nabbing his keys off the small table there. I follow him, grabbing my purse from the floor where I’d dropped it when I entered. He looks at me in surprise.

“I’m coming with you,” I advise.

He looks unsure, worry on his face. “I don’t know, Tempe. It’s business—”

“I’m a witness, Rafferty. I know the entire story and I can attest to the crazy-ass shit she’s done. You need me to corroborate.”

“She’s right,” Farren says, standing a few feet from us with her arms across her chest. “Having Tempe there will bolster your story.”

Rafferty nods. “Yeah… you’re right.” He then turns to me, grabbing me by the waist and jerking me closer. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have by my side in what might be one of the scariest things I’ve faced.”

“I’ll always be by your side,” I assure him, reaching to touch his cheek. The words of long-term commitment feel so right and good. “I’ve got you.”

“And I love you,” he says. There’s no describing the punch of euphoria that sweeps through me.

“You love me?”

“I do,” he says earnestly. “Seems like it’s a day for truths, so I might as well lay that out there.”

I hear Farren sigh, a dreamy sound, and I know exactly what she means. I don’t have time to revel in the unfettered way my heart bounces around like a puppy. It’s time for my own truth. “I love you. Not sure when it happened, but I’ve been feeling it for a while. And if it took all this craziness coming to light for us to put our feelings out there, then I’m glad for it.”

“Me too,” he says, bending to kiss me. “Now let’s go shed some light on that crazy bitch’s schemes and clear my name so we can get on with our lives together.”

With one last affirming kiss, we grab our coats and head out the door. We’re solid.

United.

Ready to confront whatever lies ahead, fully strengthened by our confessions of love.

CHAPTER 22

Rafferty

The drive tothe arena is quiet, filled with the kind of tension that comes when you’re on the brink of something monumental. We’re both lost in thought, and yet it says something that I’m comfortable with Tempe in the silence, as she clearly is with me.

We hold hands the entire way, and that’s really all I need.

But as we pull into the players’ garage of the Titans’ arena, a case of nerves strikes and I wonder if this is a mistake. I push it aside though, because I trust in Tempe and well… I trust in myself.

It’s New Year’s Eve and there’s a rock concert tonight at the arena so there’s a lot of bustle and activity as we walk through the bowels to the elevator that leads to the executive offices. When we exit on the top floor, it’s quiet given it’s a weekend with no game. The main lobby’s lights are on but the hallways beyond are dark. Callum awaits our arrival and I reintroduce him to Tempe.

“Thanks for getting this together so quickly,” I say as we follow him back to the inner sanctum.

“Sounded like this was critical to your innocence, so it didn’t seem to leave any other options,” he says amiably.

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