Page 161 of Pink

Which was stay.

Help Lev be free.

Get back to happiness.

At least, her mother was getting far better about keeping her thoughts to herself. Despite the occasional slipups that left the two shouting at one another, she was glad her mother was there in New York with her. Helping her. The more people she had around her, the better Gigi felt. She was still on the world’s stage—now more than ever as the public chased answers to all their questions—but it wasn’t a real connection. Not like the people she kept close every day.

Thousands of comments constantly flooded her social media feeds. Especially after she had dared to take back control of her accounts and then proceeded to post pictures of her injuries—without context other than to write, they know what they did to me.

She refused to name an attacker. Wouldn’t confirm the details of Mexico. Claimed to not remember. All things the police either couldn’t make her do or couldn’t prove she was lying about at the end of the day.

If there wasn’t a clear crime to find justice for, while she teased the threat of ruining the careers of many in the industry that had once launched her to superstardom, well … what were the police still doing holding Lev behind bars?

That was the question.

She had no answers.

“Well,” Cara said, standing from the bench with a soft smile, “I think that’s about it for me today. Next week, Gigi?”

She nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll see you then.”

“Don’t hesitate to call if—”

“I’ll call earlier if I need you, of course.”

“Good. See you then.”

It was only once Cara left the park that another presence joined Gigi and her mother on the bench. Nessa, that was. Technically, Arely’s current guardian until her father was finally released from police custody. The girl had basically taken over Lev’s Manhattan townhouse until further notice because she didn’t want to upset Arely’s life and schedule any more than it already had been. What was more surprising was how easily and quickly the woman invited Gigi into their home without a second thought.

No, she didn’t need a hotel.

She had a bed.

Lev’s.

Nessa offered friendship and companionship in such a frank, open way that it was hard for Gigi to say no. She hadn’t realized how much of that had been missing in her life. That she really didn’t have friends outside the industry. Not ones that expected nothing from her except her willing friendship in return.

“I think Arely’s about ready for a nap,” Nessa said with a laugh when she fell into the bench beside Gigi. “And if Lev calls to talk to her tonight, then she’ll be so much better to get to bed after, you know?”

“Totally,” Gigi agreed.

She hadn’t been able to get on the phone with Lev. The offer was on the table every time he called, either through his lawyers or when he used the jail’s phone. She just didn’t know what to say to him yet.

I love you was most obvious. But I’m not okay would soon follow.

She couldn’t do that to him.

Not now.

“Wanna get going?” Nessa asked her, no judgment staring back from the younger woman at the question. “You looked about ready to puke a few minutes ago. Don’t you have that interview with the detective later? You probably need a nap before that, too.”

Gigi laughed.

So did her mom and Nessa.

“We all need naps,” Gigi muttered, pushing up from the bench. “But yeah, let’s get her home. I’m kind of hungry, too.”

And lonely.