Chapter Twenty-Four
Rose sat in the back of the police car in the restaurant parking lot, waiting to be taken to jail and wondering what was taking so long. She didn’t know the exact process, but at some point a judge would arraign her and set bail. She’d figure out how to pay it and get out and go home. She probably needed to get a lawyer first, but she had no clue how to do that, either.
But right now she stewed in frustration, anger, and pain so sharp it made it feel like Marc had stabbed her right in the heart.
She sucked in a breath trying to stave off another wave of tears.
The car door abruptly opened, letting in some much needed air.
Just past the cop, she spotted Gray.
He stood there, a look of relief and apology and desperation in his eyes. He reached in, took her by the shoulders, and pulled her out of the back seat and into a fierce hug. “I’m so sorry I believed his lies even for a minute.”
He was about to release her, but she leaned into him and buried her face in his chest.
“Don’t let go.”
He wrapped her up and held her tight.
The tears came with the wash of relief that went through her. “I didn’t send those texts,” she rushed to reassure him. “I hate him. You can’t possibly believe I’d want to be with him when I had you.”
Gray brushed his hand down her hair. “Youhaveme,” he assured her. “I know it was all lies, sweetheart. We sorted it all out.”
“You did?”
This time Gray pulled back and held her by the shoulders. He twisted her to the side and stared at her hands cuffed behind her back, then set her straight in front of him again. Rage filled his eyes. “He will not get away with this.”
“He told them I pushed him into the wall. He’s bleeding. Who are they going to believe?” She couldn’t believe he’d accused her of such a thing knowing what she’d been through with her father. She really couldn’t believe the show he’d put on and how he’d made it look like she’d done it.
She’d wanted to lash out, but violence wasn’t the answer, so she’d spewed her hate at him. That she couldn’t and wouldn’t take back. He deserved it.
“There’s no getting out of this.” She yanked on the handcuffs, clanking them behind her back, and eyed the cop watching them. She went still and felt her stomach drop with dread.
Gray cupped her face and brushed away her tears with his thumbs. “Did I ever tell you my dad is a defense attorney?”
“Um, no. You did not.”
“Well, he’s one of the best in the state and between him and my uncle, they backed Marc into a corner he can only get out of if he drops the charges.”
She sucked in a breath and found some hope. “How did they do that?”
Gray stared down at Rose like he couldn’t stand not to look at her. “Maggie saw right through the whole charade. I wish I had, too.” He kissed her forehead. “Especially when I saw the devastation on your face right as I walked away.” He pressed his forehead to hers and looked deep into her eyes. “I know it doesn’t make up for it, but I didn’t go far. I just needed a few minutes to calm down before I...”
“Punched Marc in the face at his wedding rehearsal dinner,” Rose supplied for him. “Believe me, I know the feeling.” Though it distressed her to even think it.
Gray leaned back and tried to smile, but it fell short.
Rose dropped her gaze to his chest. “Why did he do it?”
“Because he’s an asshole,” Gray snapped, letting some of his anger out with his words.
Rose sighed. “He wanted to get back at me for telling Maggie that I spent the night with him.”
“He sensed something was off with Maggie and blamed it on that. Obviously he didn’t know that Joel had come back into the picture. Maggie didn’t care about what happened with youtwo. She knows you, Rose. You told her the truth, said you wanted to be with me, and that was the end of it for her. But Marc had another secret he was keeping from her.”
“What?” She’d wondered if Gray was keeping something from her at the dinner last night when Gray and Marc had that odd exchange.
“The night of the bachelor party when I was making sure everyone got an Uber home, Marc made his own arrangements. I figured he called for his own ride, so I didn’t think twice when I watched him get into a car. But then I sent his dad to his house to check on him and he found Marc in bed with a woman.”