I smiled softly. “Thank you.”
He kissed my forehead. “It’s the least I can do for what you’ve done for me.”
My eyes fluttered closed and I melted into him. I let the sound of his kisses drown out the sound of D.J. and Mom fighting. I curled into him, letting him hold me. I cried softly against him, allowing myself to be weak with him. Part of me still felt stupid
. But the rest of me was thankful to have Clint there. It felt nice, having him support me like this. Having him weigh in on this issue and talk some real, solid sense into me.
Because some days, I wasn’t capable of doing it myself.
I felt something vibrate against the bed and figured it was my phone. Until I peered over Clint’s body and saw my phone still sitting on my bedside table. I furrowed my brow as the vibrations happened again. Only this time, Clint sat up. Taking me with him before his arms moved away from me.
“That’s my phone.”
I nodded. “Get it. It might be Cecilia.”
He looked at me. “Are you sure?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t want to interrupt what we’ve got going on right now. I mean, she’s probably just calling to see when to pick me up. I can easily call her back.”
I placed my hand on his knee. “Clint, pick up the phone. I won’t take offense. It’s fine, okay?”
“Are you sure?”
I cupped his cheek. “I promise. Thank you for listening to me. And for your reassurance.”
He turned his face, kissing my palm. “Anytime, Rae. Anytime you need.”
He pulled his phone out from his back pocket before his eyes widened. He picked it up in a hurry, and I wondered what was going on. Who was on the other line? It didn’t sound like Cecilia when he picked it up. I scooted closer to him, trying to take stock of what the man’s voice on the other end of the line was saying.
But, I couldn't understand a word coming from Clint’s phone.
“Uh huh. Yes. I understand. Really? You found them? I—thank—I can’t—thank you, Officer. Yes. Yes, I can. Just let me know what time and I’ll be there. No, no. I’m good. I’ll have a ride. My stepmom, yeah. I’ll make sure of it. Yep. Eleven?”
He looked over at me like he was searching for something. All I could do, though, was shrug.
I mouthed to him. “Who is it?”
And when he mouthed back ‘the police,’ my jaw dropped open.
“Yes, Officer. Just—let me ask someone something really quickly. Uh huh. Hold on.”
Then, he put his hand over the speaker of his phone. “They want me to come in at eleven in the morning tomorrow.”
My eyes widened. “Did they find those boys? Did they catch them?”
He nodded. “That’s what they’re saying. They want me to come down to the station tomorrow and try to I.D. them.”
“Holy shit, Clint. You have to go. You have to do this. Those boys deserve every ounce of justice the system can bring down on their fucking heads.”
“Cecilia’s probably going to take me.”
I nodded. “Do you think she’d let me come along? You know, to help I.D. them, or something?”
He breathed with relief. “I’m glad you offered, because I was struggling with the words to ask.”
“I’ll be there, Clint. Just confirm with them the time. Okay?”