Page 54 of The Starlet

“Then I won’t sign the statement, and I’ll find a way to get a restraining order against him myself. I’m sure I can find a lawyer who is friendly with a judge or two.” I look at Judy, and she gives a small nod. I have the money; I can afford it. I’ve been dying to ask where he is and if I can see him. I gather my courage and ask. “Where is he? Is he here now?” The detective nods. “I want to see him.”

“Ms. Conners, that’s really not a good idea. It’s an open case, and you shouldn’t be speaking with him,” Judy interjects.

“It’s not an open case if it’s going to result in a restraining order. I want to see him.”

Bradley squeezes my hand, and I look at him. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t want him thinking I don’t care. That’s what got us into this mess in the first place. I need him to know I didn’t do anything on purpose.”

“You’re too nice. Anyone ever tell you that?” He kisses the top of my head, and we both look at the detective.

He sighs and pushes up from his chair. “Follow me.”

I lace my fingers with Brad’s and squeeze his hand. He grinds his teeth and holds my hand tighter. It means so much to me that he’s not stopping me. I need to end this my way; otherwise, I won’t move past it. Judy talks a mile a minute about not saying too much to him, but I’m too nervous to listen to her.

We stop in front of a holding cell, and Josh is lying on the bed, a bandage wrapped around his leg.

“Hansen, you’ve got visitors,” the detective says.

He sits up, and when he sees me, lies back down. “What do you want?”

I stand up straight and look at his form. “I want to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say to you, Elena. Go away.”

I pull my hand out from Brad’s and step up to the bars. The metal is cold under my fingers, but I wrap them around the secure bars anyway.

“I never meant to hurt you, Josh. What you did is inexcusable, and I should let them prosecute you.” He turns his head, giving me his full attention. “I’m not going to do that. You’ve wasted enough of your life on me, and I don’t want your life centered around me anymore.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“It means I’m not pressing charges, but I’m filing for a restraining order and for you to seek some help.”

He sits up, swings his legs off the squeaky bed, and stands straight. He adjusts his glasses and stares at me. “You’re not pressing charges?”

I shake my head, my hair sloshing around my shoulders. “No, against the advisement of Detective Greene, I’m not. I don’t want you to have this reminder of me for the rest of your life. I want you to move on. Find someone who loves you, someone who makes you happy.”

He takes a step forward, and I drop my hands, moving back.Just because I’m letting him off the hook doesn’t mean I want him near me.He stops, giving me a breathy chuckle, and sits down again. When he doesn’t offer anything else, I turn to leave.

“Thanks, Elena,” he says.

I turn back to him. “Just don’t come around again, and don’t invade my privacy.”

We leave him alone and finish up with Detective Greene. He’s still upset with my way of handling things but complies anyway.

Brad keeps his hand firmly in mine and only lets go to get in and out of the car. Other than that, it’s constant contact from the station to his place. I help him pack a bag that he can keep at my place, and then we’re off.

New adventures await.I’m nervous when he pulls up to my house. It all looks the same, yet somehow, it’s different. Maybe it’s because I know what happened last night, or maybe it’s because he’s going to be here for more than just friendly visits. I’ll get to wake up with him every morning.

The butterflies in my stomach erupt as we walk through the house. The cleaners did a great job, and I’d never know what happened except for the sharp smell of cleaning chemicals. We enter the bedroom, and I stop, pulling my hand from his.

He turns and cocks his head to the side. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Everything about this feels right. You being here, in my—our house. It’s nice. I’m just taking a moment for everything to settle in.”

He cradles my face in his large hands and pulls me to him for a slow, dreamy kiss. Neither of us is in a rush. We have all night, and I fully intend on wearing him out tonight, and every other night.

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