Page 78 of Beauty and the Beard

The days have passed in a blur, and I can’t believe Friday is already here. The day to face Moe one final time.

Even though I know he’s going to jail and this is for sentencing, my guts have churned all morning and I’ve kept nothing down. Roman always wears his armour for both of us, but I notice the dark circles under his eyes and concern when he glances my way.

My phone buzzes with a text, and my one slice of silver on this otherwise dark day pops up.

Leaf:I’m finally boarding. I’ll get to you as quick as I can. Remember, you’re strong and people love you. I love you.

“Is that Leaf?”

“Yeah, his plane was late leaving and this will be over by the time he gets here.”

“I’m really proud of you for telling him how you feel. He sounds like a great guy. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Our taxi pulls up in front of the courthouse and my stomach does another somersault. Roman pays the driver and as he drives away, I stand frozen in front of the giant stone building.

“Is your lawyer here already?”

“Ourlawyer, Sasha. Yes, he said he’d meet us in the hall outside courtroom C.”

My feet move like giant blocks of concrete, heavy and loud. Sapping all my energy just to enter the building.

Roman takes my hand, his grip tight, and he bumps our shoulders together.

“We’ll get through this. Believe in us, okay?”

Nodding, I let Roman lead me and once inside, the halls suffocate me. Both of us wear conservative suits, although Roman refused to not wear his trademark business corset. He said he wanted Moe to see him as a force and not a boy he couldtake advantage of. Roman wasn’t dressing down for someone in the wrong, and he was proud of who he was.

I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself. I’d camouflage into the carpet if I could. It already felt like I was a beacon with the number of looks we got when people walked by. Part of the price you pay for having a somewhat famous face.

“Roman. Sasha. I have a room for us to wait in so you can be more comfortable.”

“Thanks, Morgan.”

Morgan has been Roman’s lawyer since he started modelling when we were just kids. He’s been like the dad neither of us ever had. When he offered to take this on for me as well as Roman, I couldn’t have been more grateful. I was completely useless with this stuff. Moe kept me sheltered from the world as much as he could when I first became somewhat famous. He kept me with him all the time and monitored my internet use and even what news I read. He censored my entire life.

I trusted him and never questioned it. He was my mother’s friend, and she’d never let anyone harm me. Which is why today is more difficult than anything I’ve ever done. Mom would be crushed if she knew how he wronged both of us.

“You look a little pale, Sasha. Would you like some water before I give you the rundown on what will happen?”

Morgan gently squeezes my shoulder as I ease into a chair.

“Please. Thank you for this.”

“I wish we met under different circumstances.” He places water in front of Roman and me before sitting at the end of the small table.

“Let me tell you what will happen and what you should say once we’re in there.”

Morgan explains to us how Moe will arrive and where he’ll sit. What the judge will ask me and possibly what Moe’s lawyer will ask if he does. But today is a formality, mostly. He’s goingto prison for a long time. Morgan wanted me to give a victim impact statement to be sure the judge knew the severity of Moe’s actions. He’d prepared it along with one for Roman and all I had to do was read it.

Sounds easy, but with Moe a few steps away, I know I’ll be stammering like a fool.

“Just read off the paper, Sasha. This should all be over in thirty minutes or less.”

“And I don’t have to do this ever again, right? It’s done?”

“It’s done.”

And I can finally begin to heal.

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