Page 181 of The Perfect Love

“I can drive her. If I can get the keys from my brother,” Hyla says.

The officer holding me takes half a step back. “Where are your keys?”

“Left front pocket.”

He reaches right in and grabs them, then hands them to Hyla.

“I’ll call Mom,” she says, meeting my eyes and conveying a hell of a lot more than words ever could.

She knows why I did it. She’s got my back. She’s got Chelsea.

Which is clear when she walks over to Chelsea, wraps an arm around her, and guides her back down the block, leaving me to contemplate how much I’ve fucked up my life.

It’s the middle of the night when I walk out of the police station, battered and bruised, surrounded by Hyla, my mom, and Randall, the lawyer who appeared ten minutes after I got to the police station and told me he was there to help. Apparently, he’s one of my mom’s graphic design clients and had offered her twenty-four-seven legal help if she needed it. If I had more than half a brain cell left that wasn’t thinking about how colossally fucked today—or tonight or yesterday, whatever—has been, I might wonder if he’s got some kind of crush on her, but I’ve got fuck all nothing left to considerthat.

“The good news is, the DA isn’t interested in pressing charges,” Randall says. “The other guy could potentially try, but with the information you’ve given me, he’d be stupid to do so, and I’m guessing he knows that.”

I look back at the building, thankful they aren’t pressing charges, but more worried about the greatest thing I have tolose. The girl inside, who has somehow been there even longer than me. From what Hyla told me, her dad and Robbie are both here, along with a lawyer.

“Thanks for your help,” I say to Randall, then look at my mom. “Can we wait?”

“Of course.”

“Do you need any help finding a place to stay tonight?” Randall asks.

“I booked a hotel,” Hyla says. “But thank you.”

The doors to the police station open, and my gaze snaps to them.

Chelsea walks out with Robbie, her dad, and a female lawyer, who is talking with her dad.

My stomach is in knots as they walk down the few stairs toward us, Robbie with his arm around Chelsea’s back.

“I’ll be in touch when I hear something,” the female lawyer says. She gives Randall a warm smile. “Randall. If you need anything, give me a call.”

“Thanks, Jacinta.”

Jacinta walks away, and my gaze goes to Chelsea.

Did I completely fuck this up?

“Are you okay?” I ask. I mean physically, because who the fuck would be okay emotionally after all this?

“I… will be.” She sniffs and grabs my hands. “I’m going to go home with my dad. I need a few days to process all this. And then we can talk.”

“Of course. Whatever you need,” I croak. Because what the fuck else do I say?

“Come on, I’ll walk you to the car,” Robbie says.

With a lingering look, she lets go of my hands and walks away with him.

Her dad steps in front of me, a serious expression on his face. Then Gene throws his arms around me, surprising the hell out of me.

“What’s this for?”

“You look like you need it. And I told you I’d be here when you need some dad energy. Definitely needed tonight.”

I force back the tears trying to burst out of me and hug him back. “Thank you.”

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