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My jaw clenches. “Is it bad?” I can’t give Thea more bad news. Not now.
“It’s not bad. Do you want to get Thea on the phone with you?”
“Cole… are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.” As I walk back to the bedroom, he adds, “I would have called a meeting, but I thought she’d want to know as soon as possible. But trust me… it’s not bad.”
I’m still withholding judgment until I hear the news myself. Thea’s so sensitive right now—and rightfully so—I can’t help but worry.
“What is it?” Her eyes are wide, worry flickering through them.
I lift her into my lap, tucking a blanket around us, and settle back against the headboard. “Cole has some news.” A tiny tremor moves through her body, and I kiss her gently. “He says it’s not bad, sweetheart. And whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”
“Put me on speaker,” Cole demands. “And stop assuming the worst.”
“Okay.” I glance at Thea, and she gives me a little nod. So I turn on speakerphone and set the phone on the mattress. “Go ahead, Cole.”
“Hi, Thea.” His voice is calm, reassuring. “I promise, it’s not bad news. I know it’s hard to believe, but this is good news.”
She squeezes closer to me, eyeing the phone warily. “What is it?”
He cuts straight to the point. “The police found evidence that Stella was the one in your car. While they were searching her property, they found everything she used. The mask. The voice changer. The gun.”
Thea sucks in a breath. “Are they… do they… will it…”
Cole seems to know what she’s asking. “Yes. It’s enough to bring additional charges against her. Given that she tried to kill you already, she was already the obvious suspect. And with this evidence—”
“Is it over?” She cuts him off, her voice slightly shaking. “She’s the one? Behind all of it? It’s really over?”
I kiss her head, cuddling her body to mine. “It sounds like it, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, Thea.” Cole sounds almost as pleased as I am. “I think it’s safe to say it’s over, and the police agree. The person who was trying to hurt you is in jail. She’ll be going to prison. So you’re safe. You can go home”—he stops for a second—“or wherever you want.”
A tear works its way down Thea’s cheek. She swallows hard before saying, “Thank you, Cole. I can’t say how much…”
“Same,” I add, my voice going gruff. “Any time you need help—computer or otherwise—you can count on me.”
“I might take you up on that.” I can tell he’s smiling. “Now, I hear Laila is with Georgia for a few more hours. So I’ll let you two do some celebrating. And Maya wants to have you all over for dinner tonight. Before you guys pack up. Does that work for you?”
“It’s perfect.” I grin at the phone. “Thank you.”
Once I end the call, I meet Thea’s gaze. She looks a little shocked, but cautiously happy. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. It just… it doesn’t feel real, yet. That it’s over.”
“It is. And you can go home.”
Her features tighten. “Yeah… back to my condo…”
She doesn’t look happy about it.
Just ask. Stop being a chicken.
“Unless,” I start. “Maybe you didn’t want to go back to your condo. Maybe you would come back to my place instead?”
I can’t remember the last time I felt so nervous.
“Do you want me to?” Hope brightens her expression; a moment later, it dims. “But what about Laila?”
