“Hey, pumpkin,” Dad says, his voice bright. “We got some great news. Hud’s charges were dropped.”
Hadley’s eyes snap to me, a slow smile curving her lips. She lets out a screeching “yes!” then runs at me full force, bowling into me and knocking us both to the ground. I grunt when she smashes into my still sore arm, but laugh when her eyes go wide as saucers, realizing what she’s done.
“I’m so sorry, Hud. I just got excited.”
I laugh harder, getting to my feet and holding out my hand to help Hadley up. “I’m okay. It didn’t hurt as much as it surprised me.”
She gets to her feet and gives me a proper hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Hads.”
“What does this mean for Hudson’s place at Ashbridge?” I turn to look at Cullen, the question planting a small seed of hope.
“That’s something that is out of my hands,” Uncle Eli says. “But, I explained to the judge your situation, and he was willing to write an official letter stating what happened, giving the evidence that proved your innocence. It’s about all I can do on my end. The rest is up to the university.”
I shake out some of the anxiety that began to build. A letter from the judge is more than I was expecting, and I’m grateful that he was willing to do that for me.
“We should celebrate!” Hadley says, her hands clapping together in excitement.
“Yes! Let’s go to Rosa’s for chicken tacos,” Cull pipes up, disarming me with that lopsided dimple I love. “Only if you’re ready, though,” he tacks on when he sees the look on my face.
Public places still feel overwhelming most days. Aside from therapy and my doctor’s appointments, the only place I’ve gone since getting out of the hospital is Cullen’s house.
Almost everyone in town knows who I am now. If not because of my rape charges, then because I jumped off a bridge. Last week, two older women in Maria’s waiting room kept whispering behind their hands and cutting glances at me when they thought I wasn’t looking.
It sparked the first panic attack I’ve had in months, but thankfully, Maria was there to talk me through it.
Taking a deep breath, I hold it for a few seconds before releasing it slowly, letting the feeling calm me. I want to get better, and hiding in my house isn’t going to get me there. Old fears and new ones are going to keep coming for me, but it’s up to me to overcome them.
No more running away.
“Yeah, let’s go to Rosa’s.” I wait for the panic to hit, but I let the look of pride and love on Cullen’s face anchor me.
“Yes!” Cullen grabs me around the waist and slams his lips to mine. He pulls back just as quickly, his cheeks pink with embarrassment. “Uh, sorry.” He apologizes to the room, but he’s looking at Hadley. She’s smiling, genuine happiness radiating from her.
“You’re fine, Cull,” she says, giving his arm a small squeeze. “Why don’t I go on and get a table? I’ll call Ella and see if she wants to come with me.” Hadley kisses my cheek, then heads for the door, phone already pressed to her ear.
“Count my parents in!” Cull yells to Hadley’s retreating back. She tosses a hand in the air to acknowledge what he said, then shuts the front door behind her.
The adults drift into their own conversation, the sound of it light and easy in a way it hasn’t been for months. Some of the tightness in my chest finally loosens.
Cullen’s arms are still wrapped around my waist, so I melt into him, breathing in his familiar scent.
“I never thought I’d feel happy again,” I murmur into his neck. “When I was in the thick of my depression, everything felt cold and hopeless. Even the short bursts of warmth you gave me weren’t enough to pull me out of it.” Cullen tenses, but lets me keep talking. “I regret what I did. For how it has affected all of you, but I can’t regret the place it has brought me to.”
He draws back slightly, his eyes searching mine.
“Thank you for pulling me from the river so I could be here for this moment." I say it with hushed reverence, to give it the respect it deserves. “There is still more ahead I have to deal with, but I know I can face it now. It’s because of you that I’m here breathing, smiling… loving. So, thank you.”
A tear drops onto Cullen’s cheek, his lips wavering like he’s trying to hold back the floodgates. He cups my face, brushing his lips across mine. “We have a future,” he whispers, reminding me of something he said to me during my darkest days.
“We have a future,” I repeat back, deepening the kiss he’s been teasing me with.
“Alright, lovebirds, that’s enough for now. Let’s go celebrate.” Dad’s teasing tone cuts through the moment, but it doesn’t dampen my mood.
“We need our shoes.” Cull tugs me back upstairs so we can grab what we need for dinner.
Once inside my room, we busy ourselves putting on our shoes and collecting our wallets and phones. I run a hand through my hair, then reach for my bottle of cologne on my dresser.
