Page 111 of Love in the Storm

They pulled up at the police station, and a chill rushed down Lyric’s spine. Asa got out and opened the door for Lyric, offering her a hand.

When she was standing, Asa whispered, “It’ll be okay. Olivia is on her way.”

She looked up at him and saw the assurance in his eyes. She nodded slowly, and he kept hold of her hand as he led her into the building. The entry area had a desk and chairs lined against one wall. They took a right and walked down a hallway. He turned into a room with offices where Asa usually swiped a card to let her in when she visited him at work. He gestured for her to take a seat in a chair before he started texting someone.

When he put the phone down, he sat in the chair beside her instead of the one across the desk. “Dawson is coming.”

Dawson walked in and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “You can go now.”

Asa turned to her and squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right back.”

Lyric looked from Asa to Dawson and back. “What? You’re leaving?”

“Olivia is on her way. She’ll stay with you until Asa gets back,” Dawson promised.

She swallowed a lump in her tightening throat. “Okay.” Letting go of his hand was the last thing she wanted to do, but he’d asked her to trust him.

Asa pressed a kiss to her forehead and turned to go.

Dawson hummed for a second before singing, “Everything’s gonna be all right.”

Surprisingly, Lyric laughed. The tears had stopped, and she appreciated Dawson’s attempt to lift her spirits. She also remembered to pray, and closing her eyes helped her distance herself from the mess of reality.

Kendra walked in, and Lyric stood quickly. Kendra had her arms open as she approached. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not mine,” Lyric said as she fell into her friend’s embrace.

“I know. Asa said he’s handling things.”

If he still trusted her after this, it would be a miracle. Even if she’d been telling the truth, she still somehow ended up with drugs in her car. What if they’d still been there when she picked up Jacob? What if they’d been there when she met her parents for dinner like she’d planned earlier?

Camille barged in with a sheen of sweat on her temple. “I’m here.”

“Did you run?” Dawson asked.

“Practically.”

“I’m so sorry,” Lyric said quickly.

Camille held up a finger. “I’m your attorney. Don’t say anything.”

Dawson crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not sitting in this office with you three if we can’t talk.”

Camille shrugged. “Maybe a little talking. How’s the fam?”

“Great,” Dawson said. “Little bro is in town this week.”

Camille reached for Lyric’s hand. “Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.” She still wasn’t sure what Asa and Camille had planned, and it seemed she’d have to wait to find out.

Kendra wrapped an arm around Lyric’s shoulders. “I’m so glad he knows what to do.”

Lyric let her head rest against Kendra’s shoulder. “This is undoing all the trust I’ve been building.” She’d have to tell her parents about this, and she’d lose them too.

Kendra rubbed a hand over Lyric’s back. “Don’t worry. You have plenty of people who believe you.”

“They won’t believe anything I say after this.” Lyric pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ll lose Asa and Jacob too.”

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