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Tom called me at nine to inform me we have an emergency court hearing at three p.m. today and that Katy will be required to come.
He wasn’t happy, nor was he hopeful about my chances of keeping Katy. He also told me the judge was fucking pissed. Asher came over at five this morning and dragged me from the house, forcing me to go to his gym to try and work off some of my nervous energy.
By the time I got home, Layla had to leave for the simulator lab, and while I knew she had to go because she can’t miss it—especially after yesterday—I wish she were here with me.
My friends came over—with the exception of Lenox since he’s in Maine—for moral support and to try and distract me. Fallon and Aurelia whipped up a spread of food that I hardly touched, and we ate while talking about nothing, and the day passed like that.
Now here we are, all of us entering the courthouse because according to Fallon, when your life doesn’t go as expected, you need your people there to either hold you up or help you celebrate.
Layla isn’t here yet, and that’s not helping my edginess. I told her I’d understand if she left me, and I would. This was the last thing she said she wanted to have happen. Her work is her life, and I get that. That’s how it should be for a young medical student and even a young doctor.
She didn’t plan on me, and she didn’t plan on Katy for the long term.
And while uncertainty with Layla slashes a new gash into my already torn apart heart, I’ll have to figure it out later. For now, Katy is holding my hand and I have the strongest urge to run away with her. Something that must be written all over my face because Mrs. Bible is here, standing right outside the courtroom door.
“Katy needs to come with me. I have another court liaison who will sit with her during the proceedings.”
Immediately I shake my head.
Zax’s hand meets my shoulder. “It’s just during the hearing, right?” he checks with her.
“For now,” Mrs. Bible says without even a hint of emotion.
“No,” Katy cries, clinging to my side. “I don’t want to. I want to stay with you.”
I glare—and I glare hard—at Mrs. Bible before I kneel down so I can look into Katy’s eyes which are the same color as mine.
“You have to, honey. I’m so sorry.” My voice catches, and I cup her face in my hand before I drag her into me, holding her, kissing the top of her head, smelling her sweet scent. “I will do everything in my power to keep you, Katy. But if the judge decides that’s not what’s best for you, I will talk with your grandparents and work something out. You won’t lose me, Ladybug. I swear it, you won’t.”
“But being with you is what’s best for me.”
She clings to me, and I wrap my arms tighter around my girl, fighting my emotions that are already threatening to overtake me.
Mrs. Bible comes in and snatches Katy away, prying her from my arms, and my insides are being ripped away with her.
“No!” Katy screams, reaching for me. Tears well up in my eyes and my heart shatters as I stand.
“You’re wrong on this,” I tell Mrs. Bible, no longer caring. “You’re wrong. I know you can see it.” I shake my head at her. “I’ll see you soon, Katy. It’ll be okay. However this goes, I promise, I’ll make it okay for you.”
Mrs. Bible turns a corner with Katy, and even though Mrs. Bible is wrong for not seeing what’s so blatantly in front of her, I have no one else to blame for this but myself. My actions have hurt Katy. My lies have hurt her, and I don’t know how to reconcile that.
Slowly, I shuffle along, my heart in my feet, and drag my miserable ass into the courtroom.
Asher’s hand is on one shoulder. Grey’s is on the other. They’re holding me up because I would absolutely fall apart if they weren’t. I don’t know what I did to deserve them in my life, but I thank my lucky stars each and every day that they are.
As we make our way inside the courtroom, the attorney for Katy’s grandparents is standing, chatting with one of the court officers. When he sees me, he gives me a pompous look that I’d love nothing more than to knock off his face. Somehow that twists into awe and he immediately sprints over to us, which takes me by surprise.
Even more so when he rushes out, “Can I have your autograph? I realize this isn’t the right place to ask, but after today, I’m worried I won’t get another chance.”
I look over my shoulder to where his gaze is locked and stumble upon Asher, who looks like he’s ready to knock the guy out. “Nah, man.” He waves him away. “No way. You’re fucking with my guy here.”
The lawyer blushes and shifts his weight, covering his mouth as he says, “Sorry, I didn’t mean you. I was asking Lia Sage.” He points to Aurelia. “I’ve followed your modeling career and am obsessed with your couture. I’m such a huge fan. Your gowns are everything.”
I bark out a laugh, and it’s the first one in I don’t even know how long. Asher is affronted, which is part of what is making this so humorous. “For real?” he snaps. “You want her autograph over mine?” Incredulous Asher might be one of my favorite things ever.
The lawyer shrugs, still slightly embarrassed. “Football isn’t really my thing. I run drag shows in the South End.”
Zax, Greyson, and Fallon choke on their own laughter at that. I don’t know if Asher’s ego can handle that blow. “I like drag shows, bro. I support the hell out of that. I just don’t like you.”
