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I gripped her shoulders. “No, you haven’t. I’ve been a terrible friend to you. Just know I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” Mary grumped. “I hope Declan goes to jail. I’m going to put a protest together to boycott his business.”
She pursed her lips.
“All the way in New York? Stop, Mary. He was arrested, and I won’t speak to him again. I think that’s enough.”
I walked past her, and together we walked down the hall to her bedroom. I flopped down on the four-poster bed that took up most of her room.
“He will get the message and leave me alone. I really just want to put it all behind me,” I repeated.
I sat up and looked at her, wincing at the hostility on her face. While I was ready to move on, Mary wasn’t.
“Why are you so certain he won’t try anything else?” she asked. “He hit you in broad daylight. He came to your job.”
My stomach knotted. “Can we please talk about something else for a little while?” I pleaded.
“Okay,” she finally conceded. “You’re right. We should process.”
I closed my eyes and she hugged me. She paused as she eased her hand on the back of my shirt and felt along my spine. I edged away.
“Seriously. You’re perfect just the way you are,” Mary said quietly.
I moved my hair to hide my face and laughed. Mary didn’t join me, sitting down next to me instead. I reached in my pocket and checked my phone, looking for a distraction. I had two texts—one from Ian, and the other from Dani. No Jonas. My shoulders drooped, but I read the messages anyway.
Hi, Lily. My friend Diane will be calling you soon about pressing charges. How about dinner tomorrow night? As friends:)
Ian was persistent. I quickly texted back.
I’m in Boston with my friend Mary. I’ll have to pass on dinner. Sorry.
Next was Dani’s.
Hello, Lily I spoke with Jonas. I’m… sorry. Give him time. If you want to talk, I’m here.
The pain cut me down so far I wondered if I’d ever be able to rise up again. Knowing he had discussed my feelings with Dani, while keeping his own promise to stay away from me, hurt. But it was her “sorry” that gutted me. It made it feel so… final.
“Okay. Now the most important question of the afternoon.First ContactorThe Search for Spockas we work on my papers?” Mary asked, knowing I needed something else to focus on.
I climbed off the bed. “First Contact, of course. Duh.”
I lowered my head to protect my heart, as I wasn’t ready to discuss the texts. But the second I settled across from Mary at the workstation she created in the dining room, she had me telling her what was on my mind once more.
“Let me play the Devil’s advocate,” she said once I had finished. “Jonas helped your funding for the legacy, flew you up to Connecticut, took you to meet his family, and went all territorial sex on you at an event. I’d say he’s a bit more attached to you than he’s letting on. So give him time. Give yourself time.”
I focused on the computer screen without responding. Dani and Mary both wanted to give me hope where there wasn’t any. Jonas was pretty clear in his intentions and had always been open and honest with me, unlike I had been with him.
“Does he even know what happened to you?” she asked in a soft tone, bringing my attention back to her.
“No. And before you protest, I will tell him. But in my own time. When I feel better and have some distance from it all myself. And from what Dani and Ian said, he’d freak out anyway. I don’t want that.”
I shuddered.
“I’d pay to watch him go medieval on that asswipe,” Mary said, venom dripping from her voice.
I laughed. “You have quite the vocabulary there, Ms. Stoebe.”
“Why, thank ya very much, Ms. Salomé,” she said in her best Elvis impression.
