It wasn’t Deacon.
Her heart sunk a little.
With a forced smile, she turned to find Newton running back over to her again. “I thought you went with my father to find the food.”
“Your father found someone to talk to and I decided to bring you a drink.”
She realized now that he must have had more than one himself. He lurched toward her, spilling the drink on her bare arm, and then making as if to pat her dry with his free hand, surprising her.
Gaby turned, jerking away from his touch. “Stop. I’m fine...”
It was then that she spotted Deacon. He noticed her at the same time. Newton was still talking, but she was no longer paying attention. Her full focus was on Deacon.
“Excuse me.” She moved past Newton and headed straight for Deacon.
Please let him listen to me before he throws me out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
GABY’S STOMACH SHIVERED with nerves.
As Deacon approached her, she forgot about everyone else around them. In that moment, it was just the two of them. She started moving toward him. Although the closer she got to him, the more she noticed the tenseness of his body and the rigid set of his jaw. She braced herself for a confrontation. She understood how he’d think that she’d turned against him.
They stopped in front of each other. At the same time, they said, “I’m sorry.”
Gaby’s gaze searched his. “Do you mean it?”
He nodded. “I never should have told you to leave like that.”
“And I should have stayed. I need to tell you how sorry I am—”
“You!” Newton wedged himself between her and Deacon. “You killed her aunt. You should be in jail.”
A hush fell over the growing crowd.
“Newton! Stop.” Gabrielle saw the pain that his words had inflicted on Deacon.
Newton turned on her. “How can you defend him?”
Gabrielle’s gaze went from Newton to Deacon. If there were ever a time to be honest with herself and everyone else, it was now. “I’m defending Deacon because I’ve come to know him. I know that he’s a good man with a big heart. He would never intentionally harm a person.” She turned to Deacon. She stared deep into his eyes. “I know this because I love him.”
“You can’t. He’s a killer.” Newton shouted the accusation.
By then a crowd had formed around them. People were pulling out their cell phones and filming the scene. This mess had gone from bad to worse.
“He’s my best friend,” she countered.
“Don’t,” Deacon said. “I can defend myself.”
“I’m only speaking the truth,” Gaby said, feeling very protective of him.
Before Newton could say another word, Gaby’s father rolled his wheelchair between them. He turned to Newton. “That’s enough.”
“But he is a—”
“Hero,” her father said.
“What?” Newton stared at her father like he’d spoken another language.