Chicks, Man

by J. D. Hollyfield

  “No evidence shows Connor set the fire. Who’s to say Miss Matthews didn’t set it and her self-inflicted injuries refrained her from fleeing the house? Connor was still in the house. He wanted to help Hannah, but was brutally attacked before he was able to do so.”

  “He ran out of fear. And when he came to see if Hannah was okay at the hospital, he knew he had to sneak in or they wouldn’t let him see with his own eyes. That’s when he was brutally attacked for the second time.”

  It only took their own witness to alter her back into the person she was: the victim.

  “Clara got what was coming to her.”

  “I thought I killed her, sure as hell didn’t expect her to show up in court today…”

  The jury wraps up, and we’re notified of the quick verdict. We’ve been summoned back into the courtroom for deliberation. Everyone is silent as we make our way from the cafeteria, Hannah tucked to my side. She’s been quiet since the break. It’s driving me mad not to drill her on what’s going on in her head, but now isn’t the time. I stall while Jim and Cheryl, then Kip and Stacey, enter the courtroom. Blocking the entrance, I turn around, needing just a bit of reassurance.

  “You sure you want to sit in on this?”

  She nods, unable to hide the tiredness in her eyes. “I’m fine.”

  She’s not. I sense it in the way her shoulders slightly slump. “Listen, we’re all running on a low battery here, but soon it will be over, and I’m going to take you home. Run us a bath. Then, if you ask nicely, we can watch all my old high school football games since I know you love them so much.” That earns the smile I’ve been craving all day.

  “I’ll accept your offer, but only if I get to wear nothing but your hoodie. It’s kinda a thing for me when I super fan over you. Amongst other things I do.” Resilient. Sexy. Mine.

  “Deal,” I reply as Jim calls for us to take our seats.

  I escort Hannah down the center and stop at the aisle directly behind my seat as the jurors make their way back to their own. I’ve had wins under my belt in the courtroom, and I’ve had losses. Today is not about winning or losing, because I know how this unfolds. It’s about justice, and for all the innocent lives lost. It’s about Hannah finding peace and allowing everyone affected to move on.

  Benjamin Miller used his son as a pawn to do his dirty bidding. He may have been a victim too in some way, but he chose his path. He chose, on his own, to kidnap Hannah and torment her. He chose to go against the law when he walked into that hospital determined to finish what he started.

  Before I take my own seat, something or someone grabs my attention. My eyes focus and lock on Gregory Hill seated in a wheelchair at the back of the courtroom. A sudden onset of guilt shoots through me at the thought of him having to hear Connor’s testimony about his mother. Our eyes lock, and we share a silent moment.

  “All rise,” the bailiff calls, and Judge Foster enters the courtroom. “You may be seated.” I break our contact and stand alongside Jim. Judge Foster takes his seat. “I have been notified the jury has reached a verdict.” He peers at the row of jurors.

  “We have, your honor.” A woman sitting at the end stands, handing the bailiff a thick piece of paper. He walks it over to the judge, who takes it and reads the ruling. “Proceed with your findings.”

  Silence lingers in the air as the woman unfolds a piece of paper holding Connor Miller’s fate. My eyes flicker to the defense table, Connor’s expression cool and collected. He’s so lost in his head, he thinks he’s getting away with this. My head buzzes with anticipation while we wait, the woman taking her damn time. I see cases all the time. Her expression. Fuck no. He’s actually going to get away with this. My lips form a rigid grimace as hers open and begin to speak.

  “We the jury, find the defendant guilty of the charge of kidnapping, attempted murder, and murder in the first degree. Guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud, including false claims of identity, corporate fraud, and bribery.”

  My heart stops for a moment when the first round of guilty praises my ears. Shit, I actually thought…

  My fist clenches tight. I turn to Jim as we embrace. I slap him on the back and reach over, heartily shaking Justin’s hand. “Good work.”

  Justin nods. “Thank you, Mr. Dent. Coming from you, that’s quite a compliment.”

  I heave a sigh of relief, finally feeling the weight of this nightmare start to dissipate. We can finally put this behind us and move on. There’s so damn much I want to do with Hannah, experience with her. She needs time to heal, but one day, I’ll put a ring on her finger and make her completely mine. The only thing I want now is to get her home and naked. The thought of having her all to myself stirs a need in me so strong, I may throw her over my shoulder and run out of here.

  A deafening uproar of chaos breaks out.

  A gunshot blasts through the courtroom.

  My heart seizes as the world around me slows. Like molasses, I fight my body to shift toward Hannah. Our eyes collide like magnets, and I hold her stare as time speeds up. I jump into action, throwing my body over the barrier between us and tackle her to the ground. My hands are quick, brushing up and down her quivering body. The courtroom erupts into panic, screaming wails coming from the front of the room. I pull up, searching her raw, tear-filled eyes.

  “I’m fine. It wasn’t me.”

  Thank Christ. I pull her off the ground, my attention to the back of the courtroom where two officers restrain Gregory Hill to his wheelchair. My eyes wide, I cock my head to the defense table. Connor Miller lays across the table, a bullet lodged between his dead eyes.

  Levi

  Two weeks later…

  “Stop! I swear to God, I’ll give you another whooping if you throw me in!” Hannah squeals, dodging Chase’s attempt to toss her in the pool.

  “For the record, I hardly call that a whooping. You’re a little girl. I’m a man,” Chase argues, attempting another lunge and missing.

  Kipley, who’s sitting next to me outside on the lounge chair of his parents’ pool, laughs, shaking his head. “Chase really has a death wish today I see.”

  If he gets my girl in that water, he’s as good as dead. “You’d think he’d learn his lesson, since he’s still limping from their last go-around.” We both bust out laughing. The day had finally come for Hannah to get her revenge on Chase and the years of torment he’s bestowed on her. Ever since Hannah, in her amazing, fierce way, put Chase in his place, their relationship has been quite entertaining. Him still trying to poke. Her always getting the upper hand—or upper cut, as the case may be.

  We watch as Hannah jumps over a float, her smile radiating as bright as the summer day. Her cheeks are already flushed from the heat, and I shake my head, knowing how horrible she is about putting on enough sun block. She runs past Ben, bends down to pick up a noodle, and twists around. “Told you not to mess with me anymore. And for the last time, I’m not little.” Then she whacks Chase in the face.

  “Ouch.” We both wince as Chase stumbles and loses his balance, falling into the pool.

  Her vibrant laughter echoes across the pool, filling my soul with promise. Her hands grab at her belly, unashamed of the white scar that illuminates in the sun as she barrels over, fat tears racing down her sun-kissed cheeks. I love seeing her happy and carefree again.

  Chase pops back up from under the water and whips his head around like a wet dog, throwing his hair out of his face. “Jesus, woman!”

  Hannah’s eyes shine with triumph. With her hands on her hips, she continues in short gasps of unstoppable giggles. Her eyes finally search out mine, and she steals my breath.

  “How’s she doin’?”

  Kip’s voice grabs my attention, and I unwillingly pull my eyes away from hers. I had imagined many different scenarios on how Kip would learn about Hannah and I. Each one resulted in him kicking my ass, but they all ended with uncertainty of where it would leave our friendship. Kip’s not just my best friend, he’s my brother, my family. And even though
it did end with him cleaning the floor with me, what followed was nothing I could fathom.

  It was shortly after Hannah had been released from the hospital. We’d been keeping a low profile, mainly because I was too obsessed with monitoring her every emotion. I needed her to know I was there for her. Kip had come by asking to speak to me privately. After swearing to Hannah I’d be alive when she got back, she left and let us be. That’s when he handed me the worn, rolled up piece of paper, throwing me back to when we were twelve.

  “Do you think my dad will come for me here?”

  Kip kicks off his muddy shoes and tosses his jacket on the makeshift hook of their tree house. “No way. No one knows about this place. Plus, if he shows up, Pops will tell him to get lost.”

  I wish that was true. “I never want to go home. I hate him.”

  Kip lights the candle, bringing a dim glow into the small fort, and hands me a Hostess Twinkie from the stash of junk food he keeps hidden up here. “Maybe you don’t. Mom and Pops love you just as much as Han and I. We can ask them to adopt you. You can share my room. I have plenty of clothes.”

  He makes it all sound so easy. So promising. But I know he’ll come for me. Needing a punching bag or a servant to fetch his addictions. He won’t let me be happy. “Hey, don’t worry. He’s not going to hurt you anymore. You’re family, and we don’t let family down.”

  “I’m not your real family.”

  He pauses for a second in thought, then grabs a notebook off the desk and sits crisscross in front of me. “You are to me. You’ll always be my brother. Whether we share the same parents or not.” He opens the notebook and begins writing.

  “What are you doing?” I lean forward, trying to read his words, but he doesn’t reply until he’s done. Lifting his head, he hands it to me. “What is this?”

  “It’s a legal document between us. No matter what, this letter states we are brothers. Through thick and thin, we will always be there for each other.” He grabs it from me, draws out two lines, and signs his name to one. “Sign.” I fill the other line with my scribbled name. “Now, we seal our bond with blood.”

  “What!”

  “Yeah! I saw it in a movie. Here.” He unsnaps the safety pin from his backpack and pierces the top of his finger, drawing a drop of blood. “Just like this.” He presses his finger onto the paper, placing a red fingerprint next to his signature. “Now, your turn.”

  I take the safety pin and prick my finger, squeezing until a drop of blood surfaces. I take the piece of paper and press my finger next to my name.

  “There. No one can ever tell us we’re not brothers. No matter what, as long as we have this seal of blood, we are. We will always be there for each other. Promise?” I fight to hide the emotions surfacing. No one has ever cared about me like this. I suck in a deep breath and nod, unable to find my voice. “Cool! Let’s look at the comic—”

  “Boys!”

  “Crap. Dinner’s ready. Race you. Last one to finish their Twinkie has to sit next to my sister at dinner.”

  I couldn’t believe he kept it. A makeshift document swearing us as brothers. He told me he meant what he said that day. Through thick and thin. The lies hurt. But knowing his sister was with someone who would do anything to protect her, he wouldn’t want it any other way. When Hannah returned, she found us on the couch like any other day watching sports, talking stats. She never questioned anything or pointed out how my eyes were red-rimmed, and didn’t press on the emotional moment between her brother and I.

  Bringing my thoughts back to the present, my gaze returns to Hannah, her happiness the center of my world. She laughs at something Ben says, sticking her tongue out at Chase. I finally answer him. “She’s good. Better. Happy. I’m not sure her battle is over, but she’s a fighter. And I’ll be right next to her the whole way, helping slay her demons.”

  We sit in silence for a bit before he speaks again. “Heard Pop offered you partner.”

  I nod. “He did.”

  A few seconds pass. “Heard you also turned it down.”

  I nod again. “I did.” I can’t take my eyes off my girl. A slow, mischievous smile spreads across her face as Ben says something, then throws himself out of his chair and dives into the pool after Chase. “I would love nothing more than to work side by side with your dad, but the long hours…it’s not where I need to focus my time right now. She needs me. I need her. My decision was an easy one. It was the right one.”

  Jim’s response made it even easier.

  “I’m sad to know you’re turning it down, but I’ve never been prouder of you, son.”

  His response shocks me. He’s coached me for the position since the day I decided to become a lawyer, and then when the time comes, I turn it down. “You’re not disappointed?”

  Jim laughs, surprising me even more. “Disappointed? Well, of course I am. You’re the best. This firm would thrive with you in the seat. But I’m more thankful to call you my son. A man who’ll take my place one day as the most important man in my daughter’s life. I entrust you to keep her safe. And knowing that’s where your heart is, I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve always been a son to me. You don’t have to share the same blood as my children to be just as significant. You’ve been a part of this family since the day Kipley brought you home. And I have a feeling one day you’ll make my little girl one happy bride. Be her strength. Her comfort. Help guide her just as I would, because she is miraculous and the most extraordinary thing in my life.”

  The Matthews family was hitting me left and right with such love, it was hard to keep my emotions in check. Even Cheryl got me one day, cornering me with hugs and tears, thanking me. But she didn’t need to thank me. I’d give my life for her daughter’s—always.

  Hannah skips around the pool, stopping in front of us, her cute little body shielding us from the high sun. “What are you two up to, looking so serious?”

  Kip snorts. “We’re on the edge of our seats, waiting to see if Chase makes it out of that pool alive.”

  Hannah shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t have it in me right now to make his life hell. Not sure about Ben, though. Chase told him his new girlfriend looks like his mom. Didn’t take well to that.” She looks at me and winks. “I’m going to go to the bathroom real quick. If Ben doesn’t drown him, maybe I’ll make an attempt to finish the job.” With that, she walks off toward the house before disappearing inside.

  “Dude…can you not look at my sister like that when I’m around?”

  That gets a good laugh out of me. I shake my head. “Sorry, no can do. Better get used to it.”

  A gush of water shoots from the pool as Chase jumps out, shaking off in front of us. “Dude, you two look like a bunch of girls. What, are you two pussy-whipped jerk-offs sharing recipes and shit? Get in the water. Let’s play a game of volleyball.”

  Kipley gets up and dives into the pool.

  “I’m gonna grab some beers. Anyone want anything?”

  “Yeah, grab the tequila. Losers drink. Wait...winners drink. Just grab the booze. And hurry. We gotta get Kip drunk before his mom-wife shows up and puts the kibosh on all the fun—shit, I swear women make you all violent.” Even I hold my stomach feeling that hit Chase just took from Kip as I laugh it off and head inside to search for my girl.

  Hannah

  “Shoot,” I grumble, leaning closer to the mirror, pressing my fingers to my rosy cheeks. I swear, no matter how much lotion I apply, the sun always wins. I assess the rest of me, noticing my chest is beet red, along with my thighs. My eyes scan down my stomach. Twisting to my side, I take in my red shoulders. When I scan down my back, I notice my two-inch scar, the sun accentuating the whiteness of the faint stitches.

  You know too much.

  You know too much.

  I shake my head, ripping my eyes away from the permanent scar, and wash my hands, wishing I could as easily wash away the memory. I’m better. I’m getting better. He can’t hurt me anymore. Physically at least. Some days, I still fee
l as if he’s stabbing me all over again in my mind.

  I found closure during the trial, but it also left me with new demons, one being uncertainty. How had I been so naive? Were they right? Had I been leading Braydon…Connor on? They painted me to be this awful person. And maybe I was. I hold the weight of Clara’s death on my shoulders. A secret I can’t share. My family…Levi…they’ll try to convince me it’s not my fault, but it is. She would still be alive if I hadn’t been so eager to prove my credibility. I lie to my family and Levi once a week. My counseling sessions take as long as they do because I secretly visit Clara’s grave. I make sure she knows what an impact she’s made on her town. I tell her how sorry I am she’s not here with us and keep her updated on her son, even though I’m lying. His life is forever ruined. Not only will he never be able to walk again, he will spend the next few years in a juvenile center until he’s old enough to be transferred to an adult facility. After what he’s been through, he doesn’t deserve that life, but he accepted his fate the second he entered the courtroom with a manmade weapon, untraceable by metal detectors, with intent to kill Connor Miller.

  Levi has changed my life in so many ways, I’ve started to lose count. His dedication is something I don’t or may never know how to truly thank him for. This can’t be easy. My nightmares aren’t easy. A lot of my worry stems from him giving up on me. How is someone as messed up as me what anyone signs up for? But for some reason and blessings above, he loves me. His heart is so big, I don’t know how to repay his affection. But it’s something I need. Crave. It was the truth when I confessed he was my medicine. Every single day that goes by, I feel better, smile a little more, and feel closer to being my old self. I’m grateful to him.

  My therapist says stuff like this takes time. It’s been four months. I wish my scars would fade along with the memories. Levi says it’s a war wound that shows how strong I am. Sometimes I wish I could tell him how weak I really am. Times when he’s at work and I cry, worry, panic. But in every low moment, there’s a high. Levi’s selfless love. My family. The baby who’s about to arrive soon. Connor took something from me that day. He stole a part of that carefree piece of me, and I hate him for that. But I’ll grow to be a stronger person. That, I promise everyone.