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“She will. Cilla won’t say one goddamned word about me or Tyler.” Josh leaned over to her. “Got it? You say a single negative word about either of us in public to anyone, and I’ll bankrupt myself putting you in jail and keeping you there.”

Cilla stood. “If you aren’t going to charge me, then I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Wrong, sweet cheeks,” Elise hissed at her. “It looks like I just forgot who did all this… for the moment. But any minute my memory might come back with all this handy evidence, and officers will drag you downtown before you can get to a phone. They will be stamping out license plates with your bony ass for the next ten years. I bet the prisoners will love you.”

Carver crossed his arms. “Your lucky night, Ms. Miller.”

Josh smirked. “You get one warning. But we’re not clickbait. If you ever set foot in this school again, if you continue to harass me and the students or try to drag Tyler and me through your slime, I will drop you into the grinder faster than you can say ‘prison food.’” He exhaled slowly.

“She doesn’t deserve it.” Elise sniffed ruefully.

“What about her phone?” Hurley held up a bagged iPhone with a baby blue cover.

“Oh no! Not a chance.” Cilla stood, raising her hands in the cuffs, but Vasquez kept her where she was.

“Excellent.” Josh plucked the baggie out of Hurley’s hands. “We’ll hang on to that.”

Cilla’s eyes bulged. “You will do no such—”

“You’re right. I won’t.” Josh tossed the phone, and Elise caught it with genuine pleasure. “She will. It’s her blood, after all. She’s a witness and an assault victim who’s having trouble remembering. We wouldn’t want you getting any more bright ideas.”

Elise held up the baggie. “You give me one reason, one excuse, and I forward the contents to every station in southern California.”

Cilla’s smug expression faltered. She glanced at the police officers and Principal Carver, who were all eyeing her with distaste. “Crystal clear,” she said through gritted teeth.

Josh turned back to Carver and the police. “Please escort Ms. Miller from the premises. And formally warn her that if there are any further incidents, the school will prosecute her to the full extent of the law. You’ve been warned. Now get out of my sight.”

Hurley and Vasquez each took a pale arm and walked her out.

Josh watched Cilla’s retreating figure until the doors slammed behind her. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, suddenly exhausted. Somehow it was three in the morning, and he didn’t know how he would ever get to sleep again.

“I’m so sorry, Josh,” Principal Carver said. “Elise.”

“You two saved my bacon tonight. And Tyler’s,” Josh said. “I can’t even explain how grateful I am.”

Elise hugged him. “Oh, hon. What wouldn’t I do for my guy?”

“You did the right thing.” Carver nodded. “Call me if anything else comes up. I’ll be in my office making some notes while everything is fresh. Elise?”

She nodded. “Good idea. And I’m headed to a hospital. You going to be able to get home okay?”

Carver gave Josh’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Try to get some rest.”

Josh managed a tired smile. “I will. Good night.”

“Night, Coach.”

Josh stood alone under the dim lights of the hallway for a long moment. His racing thoughts slowed, but a weight had settled on his chest.

Cilla’s threats echoed in his mind, but he pushed them away. She was grasping at straws, and he wouldn’t give her lies any power over him. Still, he couldn’t ignore the worry that had taken root since Tyler went back to his real life. He knew that trust was fragile, that every detail of their relationship would unfold under a microscope, twisted by sleazoids who preferred scandal to truth.

He sighed and headed outside, the damp night air cool on his neck.

The old track stretched before him, a familiar comfort. How many times had he run that loop with Tyler? He swallowed hard, an ache forming in his throat as he wondered if they’d ever find their way back to that easy stillness again.

For now, Tyler was asleep seventy miles away, blissfully unaware of this ugliness. Josh hoped he’d done the right thing by not pressing charges. As much as he wanted to call and fill Tyler in, he knew he couldn’t ever.

The others wouldn’t mention tonight’s events, would they? He should have warned everyone to keep this quiet. Tyler didn’t need another thing to worry about. They’d understand. He’d make a point of touching base with both of them tomorrow.