Page 89 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“I thought you should know. Someone posted bail for Jay and Marissa,” he explains, his fingers drumming against the table.
My blood runs cold. For a moment, I forget how to breathe, and I instantly turn to Lauren, shooting her a glare that saysSee? Second shoe dropped.
“How?” is all I can ask, Henry’s arm around me tightening its hold.
“We were going to hold them until tomorrow,” Erik explains patiently. “The plan was to transfer them back to LA, where the actual crimes occurred. Since their co-conspirators would be there, and … well, we don’t have the resources in Wayward Hollow to handle a case of that scale. But before we could do that, someone paid their bail, and we had to let them go.”
“Youhadto let them go?” I ask, arms crossing tightly over my chest, hugging myself. “Erik …”
“I’m sorry.” He lifts his hands apologetically. “I promise, Nic, there was nothing I could do. But the court date in Los Angeles is set for next week, and if they don’t show, they will have a shitload of problems.”
His lips lift in a sad smile.
“I’ve given them a very strong suggestion to leave town and not come back. But if they do, and they harass you again, please tell me immediately. I’ll be all too happy to throw them right back into a cell, and I’m pretty sure half the precinct would cheer.”
“So … I see they’ve been a pleasure in jail,” I blatantly fish for information, but he shakes his head.
“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
“I really,reallydo,” I reply with wide puppy eyes, all but begging to know more. “This is the first time anyone besides me has seen their dark side. Let me have this joy. Hopefully, they embarrassed themselves.”
“I still can’t tell you how she demanded to have her holding cell decorated, claiming the feng shui was all wrong and that the ‘energy in there was tragic,’” Erik says as he gives me a pointed look.
“Honestly, I can kind of respect that,” Kieran points out, making the whole table burst into laughter.
“Or how she might have staged a one-woman protest by dramatically lying on the floor until someone brought her herbal tea. She lasted an hour.”
I snort. “You’re kidding.”
“And, of course, I absolutely cannot tell you that she kept quoting legal dramas and saying ‘Objection!’ every time someone spoke. Including other inmates.”
He gets up and glances at us over his shoulder, lifting his hand for a wave. “Totally cannot tell you any of that.”
“Oh, yes.” I grin, still imagining the whole thing vividly. It’s softening the sting that came with knowing she’s currently walking free. “Such a shame you couldn’t tell me. Thank you, Erik.”
“Of course,” he says, turning and leaving.
“Shoe dropped,” I can’t help but point out to Lauren. I knew something would happen, knew the universe would extend another hand and pull her out of a shitshow she created. I just knew it.
Kieran and Henry glance at me, confusion written all over their faces, while I take a deep breath.
“Well … though I can’t imagine they did, let’s hope they learned their lesson,” Lauren says weakly, in an attempt to cheer me up.
“You know, I’ve always admired your optimism.”
God, I hope she’s right.
Chapter 36
Henry
“Can we stay in and cuddle?” Nic asks me with wide eyes, her gaze darting between the couch and me. “I don’t feel like being in public.”
She’s been crestfallen ever since Erik gave us the bad news, most of her usual spark has dimmed. As always, she tries to mask it with sarcasm, but I know her better: she’s tired. Tired of dealing with her ex, tired of her sister, tired of never being able to check that box and be done with it.
It must be exhausting, never getting the clean break she deserves. Just when she starts to move on, something always pulls her right back into the mess.
“Of course,” I assure her quickly, following her to the couch. Jensen, Pumpkin, and Cinnamon are already waiting for us there, glancing up from their naps as we join them.
