Page 172 of Breakaway Hearts

But she is.

My head automatically turns to the doorway as Madison appears, like I’m drawn to her. I ignore Trevor’s “What the fuck?” and narrowly avoid what I think was going to be a punch before my body bridges the distance between me and my girl.

I take Mads in my arms and the stress leaves my body. I can breathe easier as she melts into me, letting out a breath that turns into a sob while I rub her back and tell her it’s okay. A random memory pops up, of Noah laughing at Darren for telling him you want the girl you can breathe around, but I think this is what he was talking about. I fucking love that exhale she does every time I wrap my arms around her, or the sigh when she reaches around the bed and finds me. I’m not suffocating when she’s gone, but the air is better when she’s there.

“They’re dropping the case,” she tells me, face still buried into my chest as Hales motions to say she’ll wait for us outside. “I think he might actually have to pay for what he did.”

“Would you be okay having to testify?”

“I’ll do what I have to do,” she says, and I can’t help but kiss her, this beautiful, strong, amazing woman in my arms. “But right now I want to go home, drink wine, and eat popcorn.”

I raise my eyebrow at her, because it’s a weird combination, and I have never seen her go anywhere near alcohol, but she can have whatever the hell she wants.

“I love you so fucking much,” I tell her, shaking my head, still in awe of her.

“I love you too,” she tells me, covering my lips with hers, before the security guard clears his throat, so I take her hand and lead her outside.

Chapter Eighty-Two

Madison

This is for me

It’s a beautiful, sunny day, and I want to enjoy it, as well as the relief of no longer being sued, or having to sit in a room with Trevor, but I’m mentally drained and emotionally exhausted.

That’s the only explanation I have as to why it takes me the entire length of the steps outside the courthouse before it registers. I pause on the last step, then turn around and see the space really is filled with people I know.

Mike, Colt, Dave, and Donovan. Sav, Tab, and Bree. People from the shelter…then I spot Jason with my mother, who’s crying, but that might be because I am.

“For me?” I ask, seeing no other reason for all these people to be here.

It hurts to leave the safety of Owen’s arms, but there’s something about a mother’s hug, even as I cry my eyes out, that heals the soul.

“I am so proud of you, sweetheart,” she tells me. “Your dad is too.”

That makes me cry harder, which Jason tries to tease me for, but his eyes are pretty glassy.

“I hope you don’t mind,” the woman from the shelter tells me. “We know how lonely it can be, how exhausting. But just because you have to be alone on the inside, doesn’t mean you can’t have a world of support waiting on the outside. Always made me feel better.”

I nod, taking it all in. Even Haylie, who I thought was with the other lawyers, is standing off to the side with Owen’s parents and siblings, who keep their distance, but smile warmly when I look over.

I smile, through a stream of tears, because these people are all here to support me. They believe me. And that means everything.

My stomach growls halfway through thanking everyone for coming, and while Owen hears it and looks like he’s about to tell everyone he’s taking me home, our moms do as well.

“We should get some food in you,” my mom says.

“I know a great place,” Haylie agrees.

Owen looks to me and nods his head in a ‘want me to get you out of here?’ way, but I shake mine and assure him it’s okay.

“One mention of tropical fruit, and I’ll bring you straight home,” Owen whispers in my ear, and my smile grows bigger.

“I think I can handle a couple of hours surrounded by the people who showed up for me.”

“We all care about you. Me most of all, but they get an honorary mention.”

“They includes my mother,” I remind him.