“Great, and if we can refer back to the last message you read out for the defense. Can you read it out one more time?”
“Umm, yes.” I clear my throat before continuing. “I’ve been watching you. I know how you touch yourself at night. I know that pink vibrator that you use to get yourself off. I’m going to fuck you withthat vibrator until you beg me to stop. I’m going to fuck you so hard, you won’t be able to walk for a week. I’ll carve my name into your skin so everyone knows you’re mine.”
“To some of us, more vanilla in the courtroom, I can understand how that might be a little jarring. And this is on a burner phone, I understand?”
“Yes.” I cough. “He wanted to provide the full experience.”
She smiles, and I glance at Jonesy, who has gone bright red.
“Well, let me know if he has a brother.”
I grin, and she goes to turn back to her seat before swiftly turning back around in dramatic fashion.
“One more thing, and I’ll let you go, Dr. Murphy. Can you read out your most recent message from the gentleman in question from his real phone number?”
“Oh, yes, hang on.” I pull my phone out and pull up Jonesy’s contact. “Hi princess, you ran out of coffee, so I’ve ordered some for you. See you at dinner club. Get ready for me to kick your ass at charades. Don’t forget the wine. JJ. xo.”
I glance at Jonesy, looking so hot in his suit pants and a white button-down. He’s not wearing a tie; his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, a button below decent undone. It’s so unlike him, given that his army uniform is so neatly pressed, edges so sharp they could cut. But he’s here withme today, and despite blushing at the previous remarks, he’s relaxed. It’s helping me relax too. With his eyes fixed on mine, his lips crook to the side in an almost boyish smirk as he shrugs. And in a completely un-Jonesy-like fashion, he mouths,I love you.
That asshole.
He knew I wouldn’t be able to stop him from saying it when I’m stuck in the witness box.
Goddamn him.
His teeth flash into an all-out grin that spreads across his face.
I fight the urge to return the smile, which at a serial murder charge appeal probably wouldn’t look great to a jury, but Jacob freaking Jones loves me, so they can go ahead and get over it for all I care. After all these years of fighting and arguing and wanting to tackle him every time he opens his goddamn mouth, now all I want is for him to say it again. Whisper it in my ear, yell it so everyone can hear. Scream it so loud it has to go on the record so it’s forever on the court transcript. Before I can even think to respond, the judge brings me back to the present.
“You’re free to go, Dr. Murphy.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Katie
Lottie’s home envelops me in a warm hug the second I step through the door. She’s uncharacteristically wearing leggings and a long T-shirt, but I know she’ll likely change into something fancier before the rest of the dinner club arrives. The glow of the afternoon sun filters through the forest trees, casting warm shadows into her library room, my favorite room in the house.
“How are you feeling?” she asks.
What a monumental question. So much has happened in the last month alone that it’s hard to compartmentalize it all.
“I’m actually okay, I think. It’s hard to tell one minute from the next.”
She smiles, sipping her wine. “What was it like seeing Thomas Vale again?”
My heart beats steadily, and the growing chill I used to feel clinging to my nape doesn’t come when she mentions his name.
“Actually, not as bad as I thought it wouldbe. I think I’d built him up in my head to be this awful monster when in reality he looks just as pathetic in orange as everyone else.”
“Traffic cone?”
“Exactly. Total traffic cone.” I pause for a minute, thinking about the appeal yesterday and how his lawyer tried to slut-shame me into believing I was a mad therapist. Had it not been for the last month and exploring those fantasies, I never would have felt strong enough to defend my search history to the jury. I never would have been able to deal with the appeal itself had it not been for Jonesy. He’s made me stronger in a way I couldn’t even imagine a month ago.
“The appeal is continuing next week, and I don’t have to go back unless I want to hear the verdict. But I think I’m okay. I don’t think they’ll release him. Harper Halliday did an unbelievable job in making my sex life look interesting but private and completely normal between two consenting adults.” I try to hide the smile that tugs at my mouth whilst taking a sip of my drink. She clocks it immediately, her face lighting up as she adjusts herself on the couch to settle in for a debrief.
“Speaking of...you’re really having all this freaky sex with Jonesy, and you didn’t tell me? I mean,finally,but still, I’m your best friend, and you didn’t want to give me a heads-up so I could finally burn that stupid cot I left in the cupboard room.”
“Wait...you knew that cot was too small for Jonesy.” A slow realization dawns on me that we’ve been played.
