Leanne steps in then, her voice calmer but still strained. “Sweetheart, no one is saying you don’t love him. But this is permanent. Did you even think of what would happen if you two break up? You’re so young?—”
Ellie barks out a bitter laugh, cutting Leanne off. “Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I thought you were on my side.”
I stay quiet, feeling like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion. I don’t blame them for freaking out—I get it. I knew Jack would be mad, but he’s beyond mad. I’ve never seen him so angry and it’s fucking scary.
But Ellie isn’t backing down.
Her dad looks ready to explode, hands firm on his hips, eyes locked on me now. “And you?—”
I take a step back, my body bracing for a blow.
Ellie throws up her hands, moving to stand in front of me. “Oh, for God’s sake, stop it! Stop looking at him like this is his fault. He didn’t make me do it, in fact he tried to talk me out of it. Newsflash—I didn’t get it for him—I got it for me.”
She reaches for my hand, and I hesitate for a fraction of a second, knowing walking out of here right now is only going to make this worse. But when she looks up at me, eyes blazing with determination, I know there’s no stopping her.
I sigh and thread my fingers throughhers. “Ellie?—”
“No,” she cuts me off, tugging me toward the door. “I’m done with this conversation.”
Jack steps forward, but Ellie doesn’t waver. “I am NOT a little kid. You don’t get to make decisions for me, and you don’t get to keep us apart. If you’re going to try, then I don’t want to be here right now.”
With that, she yanks open the door, dragging me with her as she storms outside.
“Elyse Merideth Ledger, get back inside this house this instant!” Jack yells.
Leanne’s softer voice comes through, almost out of ear shot. “Let her go, honey, she’ll come back.”
I cast one last glance at her parents—Jack looking furious, Leanne looking worried—but there’s nothing I can say that will fix this right now.
So I do the only thing I can. I walk out with her.
Even if I know damn well, we’ll pay for this.
CHAPTER 16
Elyse
MY TERRITORIAL SIDE
PRESENT
“Can I just pay for this now, and get it over with?”
The courthouse clerk types away on her computer, her long acrylics clacking on the keys.
I got lucky. The judge was really lenient and let me go with a fine. After some online research I was expecting to be hit with community service.
“Hmm that’s odd,” she says, pinching her face as she stares at the screen.
My heart drops. If there’s another bench warrant out for me, I’m going to lose my shit. “What? What is it?”
“Says here, you’re fine was already paid.” Her hand reaches through the divider, long nails wiggling near me. “Let me see that paperwork again.”
I hand it to her, feeling just as confused as she looks. After a few moments, she slaps the counter, forcing a jolt out of me. Just being near the jail has my nerves buzzing with unease.
“I see it now. According to the note in your file, your fine was taken care of by Deputy Alvarez.” She looks up methrough the glasses resting on her nose. “Must’ve done something super sweet for that kind offavor.”
The way she says ‘favor’ makes it sound like I sucked his dick so he’d pay my fine. I fight a scoff while willing away the red heat creeping up my neck. She probably thinks I just got done working the corner, and based on the way she’s eyeing my black leather skirt and knee-high boots, I’m all but confirming her suspicions. Great.
