His grip on my face tightens. “You should. You’re his mother and he deserves that from you.”
I pull in a breath and admit what’s been eating away at me like a nasty rash, spreading through me and creating an itch I can’t ignore any longer. “Regretting anything up to the day he was born would be wrong. As much as I want to, Trig—for you. You deserve all my regrets. When I saw you at your mother’s funeral, it was the first time since the day you walked out of my hospital room. Regret has nagged its way into my soul but I can’t allow it to settle there. I look at Griffin and I’d put you through it all over again just to have him.”
“Shit,” he mutters and falls back to his ass, pulling me between his legs and into his arms. He puts his lips to my hair and strokes my back. “Stop. Others did this shit to us and it’s my fault I didn’t listen when you tried to come back to me. We can’t rewrite history even if we wanted to. I don’t ever want you to regret anything for me. Never. Especially Griffin.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into his neck. “I’m sorry for everything.”
He pulls me in tight and exhales what seems to be all his energy. “I am too, baby. More than you know.”
We sit here, Trig stroking my hair and me hanging on to my guilt, regret, and sorrow.
Finally, Trig pulls my head back and kisses me. “We should go to bed. We’ve got to be in court tomorrow and my client can’t look tired and strung out on tears and condoms.”
I pull back and manage a small smile. “It’s possible to be strung out on condoms?”
“It will be after tonight.” He leans in to kiss me one more time and stays there. “We have a queen size bed and I intend to use every square foot of it while we put a dent in that box of condoms.”
“I’ll go check on Griffin.”
His eyes turn dark. “I hope Griffin is a heavy sleeper. I intend to make you loud tonight.”
My stomach drops and wetness pools between my legs as I make another admission I’ve been holding onto much too long. “I’ve missed you.”
He stills before his mouth crushes mine, twisting my hair in his fist while tipping my head. When he finally releases me, he demands, “I’ll meet you in bed. We might not have regrets but we do have a lot of time to make up for. And baby, you’d better be naked when I come to you.”
I lick my lower lip and his eyes drop to my mouth. Having Trig want me again like this is like a dream I never allowed myself. Curled in his arms, I lean up and kiss the corner of his lips. “I will be.”
And we leave the boxes, junk, and who knows what else, in the room that seems to hold all Faye’s memories.
We have time to make up for … ten years of it.
* * *
I hear the heavy door to the courtroom open and when I shift in my seat to glance over my shoulder, my stomach drops. Fuck.
Teresa and Carl walk through, wearing all their arrogance as proudly as they ever have. What the hell are they doing here?
Carl doesn’t give me the satisfaction of even glancing my way. His eyes are on the front of the courtroom on the judge—but not Teresa. She’s glaring at me as if I’m on trial for first-degree murder instead of the misdemeanor someone has tried to frame me for.
Like I need them here. Paula, the bitchy CPS worker, and one of the police officers who read me my rights that day are also sitting in the crowd. But so are Jen, Eli, and my parents.
“Your Honor, three sets of prints were found on the plastic bag containing the drugs that were found in my client’s home and none of them match my client. Multiple people have had access to her home—a cleaning crew, a childcare provider, even her deceased husband who has only been gone for four months. Just because it was found in Ms. Ketteman’s home, does not make it hers. It was not found on her person.” He doesn’t look away from the judge as he points back toward me and the table I’m now sitting at all by myself. “I have a stack of cases citing instances just like my client’s where law enforcement stepped over the line for making arrests such as they did in this case, and they were all dismissed.”
Trig clears his throat and I look up at him. He’s standing in front of our table, commanding the courtroom, and I’m happier than ever that he’s on my team. If he wasn’t, he’d probably convince me the drugs were mine and I put them there.
The judge slides on a pair of reading glasses and looks over the paperwork in front of him. When he peeks up at Trig over his wiry rims, he states with all the authority granted to him, “I agree.” Shifting his eyes to the Assistant DA who was assigned the weak case against me, he raises a brow. “This could’ve been dismissed out of court.”
“Your honor,” the Assistant DA stands and holds out a hand. “This was not the first time CPS was called to the defendant’s home. I do think it would be beneficial to look at the big picture and—”
“This is not family court. We’re here for misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana. In this case, I use the term possession loosely.” The judge sits back in his seat and picks up his gavel. “Your evidence is circumstantial at best and insufficient at most. All charges are dismissed and the records will be sealed. Y’all are dismissed.”
I stand and take in a quick breath. That’s it? It’s done?
Trig turns and one side of his mouth perks up in a cocky smile that says I told you so and heads straight for me. I don’t get a chance to thank him, admit he was right, or even give him a high-five because he puts one hand to the table and reaches over with the other, tagging me behind the neck. I’m about to scream No! and explain that the in-laws-from-hell are here and to not touch me, but I don’t get the chance. He leans and pulls me the rest of the way, kissing me not-so quick but thank goodness with no tongue—still, it’s a kiss all the same. I’ve never seen an attorney kiss a client after getting the big W from the judge on Law and Order.
He doesn’t let me go when his satisfied blue eyes dance. “Told you so.”
Again, the thank yous should be my first order of business, but instead, I blurt in a whispered panic, “Robert’s parents are here!”
His eyes narrow and he still doesn’t let me go. He puts his lips on mine once again before adding, “Good. I want to meet those assholes for myself.”
He stands, stacks up the files on me—well, for this case anyway—and stuffs them into his briefcase. I pick up my clutch and dread turning on my spiked heel toward all the people who just saw Trig plant a celebratory smacker on me.
As opposed to last night, and again this morning when he was nothing but sweet and considerate of my feelings, it’s like he wants to shout it from the rooftops that we put a decent size dent in the giant box of condoms last night. And despite him keeping me up late in an effort of making up for years of separation, I managed to glue myself together and look like a shorter version of my sister—conservative dress, perfect hair, Jimmy Choos. Hell, my bra isn’t even showing. I’m not me at all.
Trig grabs my hand and pulls me to him. When my side is fit to his front and he puts a hand low on my hip to hold me there, he dips his face to my ear. “Where are the pompous jackwads?”
My eyes dart around the courtroom until I find them and my eyes widen. “They’re in a huddle with the CPS worker. What the hell?”
Trig’s head pops up and he glares at the threesome deep in conversation, most likely about me since I’m sure I’m their only common denominator. Trig is about to head over there when my parents appear in front of us and Trig stays by my side.
My mom is ecstatic, like I was just named homecoming queen. My dad, on the other hand, is incensed. He’s glaring at my attorney who just kissed me at the defendants’ table and now has his hand curled around my hip in a way it’s comfortable there and everywhere else on my body—which isn’t a lie.
My mother gleams. “Well now, that’s one less thing to worry about, right? By the way, you look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I try not to roll my eyes, because I guess being beautiful is important when trying to
prove one’s innocence.
“It’s not a beauty contest, Mom.” Jen has the nerve to speak her mind to our mother. With Eli standing at her side, she reaches through all of us and squeezes my hand. “It’s over and once CPS pulls their heads out of their asses, you can move on, once and for all.”
“Jensen.” My mother glares at my sister at the same time I shush her.
“Ellie,” my dad bites not taking his eyes off Trig. “Was that display necessary?”
I don’t move from Trig’s hold and lower my voice. “I’m not doing this with you right now. Robert’s parents just walked in.”
My mother gasps and turns to find them. “Shut your mouth and deliver me to heaven’s gates! Where are they?”
I grab onto her arm and pull her back around. “Stop it and be quiet. The last thing I need right now is a scene,” I pause and look back to my father, “about anything. Teresa and Carl are the ones who made reports about me to CPS and they’re over there right now with the same worker who was at my house—twice.”
“Hattie, Kipp, excuse us.” Trig puts his hand to the small of my back, giving me a nudge. “Let’s say hello.”
I stop and turn to look up at the man who’s clearly lost his mind. “Are you serious?”
He leans just far enough to whisper in my ear. “You’ve done nothing wrong and I want them to know that we know they’re in contact with the social worker. Look at her.” He juts his chin to the other side of the room. Paula might as well be holding a cocktail instead of the overflowing file on me. “Her job is to make sure children are safe, not to entertain socialites who are used to getting what they want by writing a check, which I know is true thanks to Eli’s investigations.”
I don’t know why this surprises me. People with money tend to get what they want thanks to shortcuts they can afford. I should know, my own parents are examples of this. Hell, I’ve probably benefited from it in some way during the course of my life because they’re that overbearing.
I turn back to Trig. “You think they’re paying off the CPS worker?”
Trig tips his head like it’s no skin off his back if they are and sort of like he hopes it’s true. “Hold your head high, angel, and work the room with me.”
Like we’re at a fundraiser for bitchy in-laws all across the land, Trig gives me another nudge that doesn’t allow me any space to argue. We move through the room and the next thing I know, I’m standing in front of Robert’s parents for the first time since after he died. They walked into my house under the pretense they wanted to see how I was doing but instead, accused me of all sorts of horrible things—from being an awful wife and mother to blaming me for the situation Robert clearly orchestrated himself. Jen kicked them out of my house with her nude Louboutin and told them they weren’t welcome there again.
It was a dark time for me, almost as grim as when I lost Trig and our baby within a matter of days. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best way to handle them despite their actions, but I was reeling with the havoc Robert caused because I brought him into my family.
Teresa glares down her pointy nose and I don’t know what to say, but I shouldn’t have worried. Trig takes the lead.
He doesn’t offer a hand and his tone isn’t warm, nor is it welcoming. “Paula Watson. I had no idea CPS workers were required to show up in court when it isn’t their case. You’re obviously dedicated to the mission.” His eyes move over Carl and Teresa with blatant interest before looking back to her. “Whatever mission that might be.”
Paula stammers as she tries to justify her presence. “I’m only following up on my case, you know, with Mrs. Ketteman and her other … issues.”
“Like I said, dedicated,” Trig clips, unimpressed and turns to Robert’s parents. When he speaks, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him so cold. “I’m Easton Barrett, legal counsel for Ellie Montgomery.”
At that, Carl’s malevolent eyes narrow, slicing to me.
That doesn’t stop my former, and now current, lover. “This is interesting—your involvement with Paula, whose only job is to ensure the welfare of children in our county. It almost appears that she’s representing you and not the child in question.”
“I’d never,” Paula interrupts, flustered. “My only interest is the child—”
Trig doesn’t afford her a glance and keeps speaking. “My file on you both is growing by the day and I plan to make sure the court sees who you really are and how your influence over Griffin would be,” he pauses and tips his head, “let’s just say, less than righteous.”
“Do you know who I am?” Carl seethes. “Don’t talk to me that way.”
Teresa doesn’t waste a moment—extending her sharp and manicured claws in my direction. “I saw that public display of tasteless behavior—allowing this man to kiss you in a court of law. You obviously didn’t waste any time moving on, which only proves our point that your dedication to our son was shoddy at best.”
My breath catches at her audacity but Trig grabs my hand and pulls me tight to his side and I try not to cringe. “You’ll deal with me and only me. Don’t speak to my client and tell your lawyer to get ready. You’ll learn soon enough that when it comes to Ellie and Griffin, I’ve never been more serious. You do not want to mess with me in the courtroom. If I see you anywhere near Ellie’s home or business, I’ll slap the two of you with restraining orders faster than a Texas tornado.”
Teresa straightens her already stuck-up spine. “Don’t you dare threaten us.”
“You say that as you continue to make false allegations against Ellie and threaten her with what she loves most, her son. If you put the heat on her, I promise to throw that back at you tenfold in court. Be ready.” Trig looks back at Paula, who has paled and is white-knuckling her memo bag, shifting her weight on her clunky, low heels. “Good luck convincing a judge why you needed to be here today,” he nods to the Kettemans before returning his glare to Paula, “with them.”
With that, Trig turns me, gives me a gentle push, and without a goodbye to my parents, Jen, Eli, or the three people who’ve created hell on Earth for me, we walk out of the courtroom.
“Holy shit, Trig. Was that necessary?”
He picks up his pace and I have to double-time it to keep up with him in my heels. After pressing the elevator button, he turns to me and he’s not angry anymore, turning off the intense litigator like a light switch. A smirk plays on one corner of his mouth and his laser-sharp eyes warm. If they were capable of sparkling, they just might. “No.”
The elevator opens and his hand tightens on mine, pulling me in. My back is pressed to the wall where I’m now caged. “Then why did you do it?”
“It wasn’t necessary but it sure was fun.” His smirk disappears and he’s all tough-guy counsel again. “No one’s going to fuck with you and they sure aren’t going to threaten you with Griffin. I’ll make damned sure of it.”
I grab onto his lapels and pull as I lift to my toes. When my lips hit his, I kiss him with a force that equals my gratitude.
“Thank you,” I utter against his lips.
His hands dip into my hair, messing my smooth locks I worked so hard on this morning. “I don’t want you to worry.”
I shake my head and pull back. “No. I’m talking about Griffin. Thank you for being there for him as much as me.”
He stills and I might not know exactly what he’s thinking but I have an idea. Or I hope I do.
Because if he wants this to happen, him and me—to be an us again—it has to include my son. Griffin might not be ours, but he could be. The hints he’s given me that he knows this too might be small and subtle and even insignificant, but they’re there.
Trig knows and he’s trying.
I didn’t think it would be possible to love him more than I did ten years ago. I did everything I could to poison every feeling I ever had for him when he cut me out of his life. But now, he’s doing everything he can to be present in the life of another man’s child?
I’ve never loved
him more.
“Let me take you home.” He leans down to kiss me again when the doors open to the elevator. He takes my hand and adds, “No more drug charges. This calls for french fries and condoms.”
I squeeze his hand and smile. And it’s genuine and real and comes straight from my heart.
23
Fancy as Fuck
When evil rears its ugly head, meet it head-on. Fight for what you love.
Ellie
Stars.
I grip at the pillow I’m face down on as Trig works my clit, sending me to a place I’ve visited more in the last ten days than I have in the last ten years.
I have no idea what time it is, but Trig woke me by rolling me to my stomach and pulling my panties off. Since I’ve been passing out barely dressed every night next to Trig in Faye’s guest room, there was nothing else to do to get me naked. His lips hit the skin below my ear at the same time he dipped his hand between my legs.
“Shift for me, baby.” His voice was heavy with sleep and his cock, heavier with need, pressed into my thigh.
He woke me slowly with his fingers and lips as his long, muscled leg pinned me to the bed. And just like he’s done every time he lays a hand on me since that day in his office, he made me desperate for him. This morning was no different.
I moan into my pillow, doing everything I can to muffle the orgasm Trig is wringing out of me so I don’t wake Griffin. I have no idea what time it is but waking a baby before the sun rises goes against every parenting law, says every mom who’s ever dealt with an overly-tired child.
“Love you like this, angel.” His words settle into my body as he lifts my hips and sinks into me from behind. There’s no rip of a condom and I feel him, skin-to-skin, stretching and filling me just like he has my heart lately—so full. It’s thoughtless and stupid and if anyone has learned this lesson the hard way, it’s us, but I can’t seem to bring myself to complain the few times he’s pushed the boundaries. This time his voice is gruff and practically desperate—a sensation I can relate to since I’m totally down with his ho-hum, easy-going, willy-nilly approach to birth control just so I can have him like this, with nothing between us. “Just need to feel you. I’ll pull out and then put you in the shower.”
Broken Halo: The Montgomery Series, Book 2 Page 21