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“You are, Ronan. For me. Because you can’t leave me feeling like shit. I worked hard to earn this so you’re going to take it.” She slid the envelope back and crossed her arms, a single eyebrow arched.
I nodded once.
“Lord, you’re a stubborn man. But a good one.” She rested her chin in her hand. “If only you were twenty years older. Don’t take that the wrong way. I’m not a…what do they call it? A cougar? But you’d make an amazing dad for my girls. They love you.”
I sat back and quickly returned the peas to my face to cool the strange rush of warmth that flooded me.
“You’ve never thought of yourself that way?”
“No.”
“You have a lot to offer, Ronan. More than you think.” Maryann got up from the table and came around to me. “Get back to school as quick as you can.” She pecked the top of my head. “And for God’s sake, take care of yourself. We need you.” She touched the pendant that lay against my shirt. “I’ll bet she does too.”
After Maryann left, I lay stretched out on my couch and called Shiloh.
“How are things?” she asked.
“Good, I guess. Maryann thinks Dowd’s going to jail.”
“Maryann is right. Bibi talked to her detective friend. Someone sent in a video that clearly shows Dowd attacking an unknown victim. He’s been arrested and will most likely face jail time. And he’s been kicked off the force, effective immediately.”
“Even without my testimony or pressing charges or whatever?”
“I asked about that too. Apparently, the victim is basically just a witness. They don’t have to press charges if there’s another witness. Like a video.”
“What about Frankie?”
“No word. Bibi says Mitch isn’t talking, which is weird. He seems like the kind of guy who’d rat out his own son.”
“He hates snitches,” I said. “Told me personally. But…he’s in custody now?”
“He is. So you can rest easy, okay? Everyone you want to keep safe is safe.”
I let out a breath and sagged deeper into the couch.
Safe. They’re all safe.
I wondered if my mom knew that too.
“You know there is an upside to all this madness,” Shiloh said in my ear.
“What’s that?”
“We don’t have to hide at school anymore.”
My eyes widened. “I thought you hated people being up in your business.”
“I do, but no sense in pretending if we don’t have to. Right? I haven’t been a…girlfriend to anyone. Ever. But I want to try.”
Girlfriend. Holy shit.
I felt her holding her breath, waiting for my reply. I knew it took a lot to show this side of her—the side that was unsure and unguarded.
“I’ve never been anyone’s boyfriend,” I said.
A small sigh came over the line and I heard her smile. “What do you think? Want to give it a go?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”
