then, and I believe him now.”
I hug her.
“I know your Daddy will turn you out and I know how scared you are. But this is the right thing to do.”
“I could’ve saved her, Ari,” I whisper.
“No, Mia, don’t think that way. You couldn’t have done anything. You’re lucky you survived. You’re meant to take them down, so they can’t hurt anyone else again and so those they have hurt get justice. That’s what you’re meant to do.”
“I love you, Ari.”
“I love you, too, Mia. I’ll stand by you no matter what.”
She starts crying, and so do I. We’re still crying in my closet when Chris pushes the door open. I wipe my eyes and look up at him.
“The DA is losing no time. You’re going in tomorrow, after school. Your Daddy is on his way back from his trip abroad. I suggest you give the DA everything he needs as quickly as possible, before your father tells me to make this go away.”
His words terrify me. I nod. He says nothing else and walks away.
“You’re right. He is helping you,” Ari says, pulling away. She hands me her phone. “I saved the pic you sent me from that night. You can give my phone to them for evidence or whatever.”
I take it and put it in my purse.
Ari spends the night at my house, and I’m grateful to her. I can’t sleep, but knowing she’s there makes me feel less alone. I may lose my father, but I’ll never lose Ari, and beneath all my fear and guilt, I feel a little proud of myself for being the person she believes me to be.
I can barely sit still through school the following day. Ari and I talk at lunch, but I can’t focus on anything. Tons of people stop to tell me they’re sorry about the baby. It makes me tenser. Even Benji’s infectious smile does nothing for me. As soon as the final bell rings, I bolt to the locker room to change out of my uniform and into jeans and a sweater. I part ways with Ari at the front of the school and climb into the car.
Chris’s team is supposed to be waiting for me at the courthouse. The drive is like a death march; I can’t remember ever sitting in the backseat so long. It takes an eternity to get across town.
The car drops me off, and I check my phone to see that I’m early. My gaze goes to the police station beside the courthouse. I’ve got fifteen minutes, possibly more, because Chris knows I’m never early or on time. I don’t like standing on the steps waiting, because there are paparazzi and reports trailing me still. I feel exposed and alone.
I walk into the station, through the metal detector, and look around. For a moment, I look around, lost, until the two officers manning the information desk stop talking to each other and stare at me.
Clearing my throat, I approach them. “I’m looking for Dom.”
“Dom have a last name?” the woman asks.
I pull the card out of my pocket. I’ve never bothered reading his full name. Dominic Adriani. It’s a pretty name.
“Adriani,” I say out loud.
“Wait here. I’ll page him.”
I step away from the desk. A minute later, I hear Dom’s name over the speaker system. I tap my foot nervously. Part of me is hoping he’s not there. I’m embarrassed by the latest press reports about my miscarriage, and I’m not sure what to say to him. I don’t even know if I can tell him what I’m planning to do today. But it’s important that I see him before I do it, because I want to know if he’s truthful about being friends, no matter what I decide to do about reporting Robert.
I check the time and realize I’ll probably be late. The only good thing about being late: Chris might scowl, but at least everyone will be there, so I won’t feel alone.
“Hey.”
I turn at Dom’s quiet greeting. He gazes at me curiously and offers a small smile. He motions to the side, out of sight of the glass running along the front of the building, where paparazzi have already started to gather. I silently blame Fabio, who is standing outside the front door to the
I hug her.
“I know your Daddy will turn you out and I know how scared you are. But this is the right thing to do.”
“I could’ve saved her, Ari,” I whisper.
“No, Mia, don’t think that way. You couldn’t have done anything. You’re lucky you survived. You’re meant to take them down, so they can’t hurt anyone else again and so those they have hurt get justice. That’s what you’re meant to do.”
“I love you, Ari.”
“I love you, too, Mia. I’ll stand by you no matter what.”
She starts crying, and so do I. We’re still crying in my closet when Chris pushes the door open. I wipe my eyes and look up at him.
“The DA is losing no time. You’re going in tomorrow, after school. Your Daddy is on his way back from his trip abroad. I suggest you give the DA everything he needs as quickly as possible, before your father tells me to make this go away.”
His words terrify me. I nod. He says nothing else and walks away.
“You’re right. He is helping you,” Ari says, pulling away. She hands me her phone. “I saved the pic you sent me from that night. You can give my phone to them for evidence or whatever.”
I take it and put it in my purse.
Ari spends the night at my house, and I’m grateful to her. I can’t sleep, but knowing she’s there makes me feel less alone. I may lose my father, but I’ll never lose Ari, and beneath all my fear and guilt, I feel a little proud of myself for being the person she believes me to be.
I can barely sit still through school the following day. Ari and I talk at lunch, but I can’t focus on anything. Tons of people stop to tell me they’re sorry about the baby. It makes me tenser. Even Benji’s infectious smile does nothing for me. As soon as the final bell rings, I bolt to the locker room to change out of my uniform and into jeans and a sweater. I part ways with Ari at the front of the school and climb into the car.
Chris’s team is supposed to be waiting for me at the courthouse. The drive is like a death march; I can’t remember ever sitting in the backseat so long. It takes an eternity to get across town.
The car drops me off, and I check my phone to see that I’m early. My gaze goes to the police station beside the courthouse. I’ve got fifteen minutes, possibly more, because Chris knows I’m never early or on time. I don’t like standing on the steps waiting, because there are paparazzi and reports trailing me still. I feel exposed and alone.
I walk into the station, through the metal detector, and look around. For a moment, I look around, lost, until the two officers manning the information desk stop talking to each other and stare at me.
Clearing my throat, I approach them. “I’m looking for Dom.”
“Dom have a last name?” the woman asks.
I pull the card out of my pocket. I’ve never bothered reading his full name. Dominic Adriani. It’s a pretty name.
“Adriani,” I say out loud.
“Wait here. I’ll page him.”
I step away from the desk. A minute later, I hear Dom’s name over the speaker system. I tap my foot nervously. Part of me is hoping he’s not there. I’m embarrassed by the latest press reports about my miscarriage, and I’m not sure what to say to him. I don’t even know if I can tell him what I’m planning to do today. But it’s important that I see him before I do it, because I want to know if he’s truthful about being friends, no matter what I decide to do about reporting Robert.
I check the time and realize I’ll probably be late. The only good thing about being late: Chris might scowl, but at least everyone will be there, so I won’t feel alone.
“Hey.”
I turn at Dom’s quiet greeting. He gazes at me curiously and offers a small smile. He motions to the side, out of sight of the glass running along the front of the building, where paparazzi have already started to gather. I silently blame Fabio, who is standing outside the front door to the
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