“Oakley,” Mum shouted. I jumped. She ran into the living room as I shot up.
“What?” My stomach lurched in anticipation. She held her hand up as she listened to someone on the phone. I looked at Miles, and he mouthed, David. David. Oh God, please say Cole’s coming home, please.
When Mum gasped and smiled I felt a pang of hope. “Okay, bye,” she said and hung up the phone. “They’re not pressing charges.”
“They’re not? Really? You’re sure?” I questioned. My heart soared. It was going to be okay. Cole was going to be okay.
She smiled and hugged me, her arms squeezing me in celebration. “Yes, he’s coming home now. They’re already on their way. David said everyone at the station was less than happy at the arrest. Because Cole and Oakley’s similar age at the time the charges against him have been dropped.”
I gripped Mum, sagging against her body with relief as she stroked my hair. I stayed hugging my mum like a child until I heard the front door open. I dried my tears just in time to see Cole walk in, closely followed by his parents and Linda. His eyes scanned the room and settled on me.
For a second I couldn’t move. He was really back. His face fell, and he took the few steps towards me. “Cole,” I sobbed, stumbling to him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. “I’m so—”
“Don’t,” he said. I closed my eyes and buried my head in his neck, needing to be close to him. “We’re gonna be okay now.”
“Are you okay? They’ve definitely dropped charges for good?” I took a shaky breath and blinked back tears of relief.
He nodded and squeezed his arms around me. “I’m fine. It’s over. I promise.”
“Definitely?”
Cole smiled and pressed his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes, savouring the moment. “Definitely. They were so apologetic after they’d finished the questioning. Nothing will go on my record. Think we can maybe keep our private life private from now on?” he teased.
All that mattered was that he was home and was staying home. “Think we’ll get a break now?”
He pulled a face. “Now where’s the fun in that?”
“Cole, man, good to have you back.” Jasper ripped Cole away from me and gave him a man hug, before pushing him my way again. “You can go back to feeling up my little sister up now.”
I rolled my eyes. Hugging was hardly ‘feeling up’.
Jasper turned to Linda and said, “So, love before we all sit down, is there anything else, anyone of us could be arrested for?”
She laughed a little and shook her head. “No. Well, just me for murder if you call me love again.”
“Awesome,” Jasper exclaimed, clapping his hands together. “I’ll crack open the JD.”
“Yes, do you want to stop for a drink?” Jenna offered Linda. “It’s the least we can do.”
“Thank you, but I have a lot to do.” And she probably needed to lie down after dealing with me and my family. “Now, don’t take this the wrong way,” she said to me and Cole, “but I hope I don’t see either of you for a while.”
I stepped closer to her and smiled. “Me too. Thank you again, so much.”
“You’re very welcome.”
We hugged and said goodbye. I tried to think of something I could do to repay her, but nothing would ever be enough for what she had done for me, Cole and the other girls and the ones that would have been at risk. She had given me freedom by putting Max and Frank away, and made it possible for me to move on.
As we closed the door behind Linda and the crowd that was still hanging around the house, I felt lighter. We were done and could just live our lives now. Smiling, I turned to Cole.
“Wine?” Mia said, giving Cole a sideways hug. “I could drink some wine.”
Cole feigned disapproval. “What kind of example are you setting Leona?”
Mia pointed at him. “A good one. Mummy only drinks in the evening when it’s Leona’s bedtime.”
Jasper fake coughed. “Apart from yesterday.”
“Oh, please, Jasper. You’re the worst role model ever,” Mia argued. “What would you show your son, huh? That Daddy can get laid by a different woman every night of the week?”
He grinned widely, and I was glad all our parents had gone in the kitchen. “Yeah, ’cause Daddy’s the boss.”
Cole laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. I loved it when he did that; I felt completely protected. “Daddy’s an idiot.” The three of them started bickering about who was the best role model.
I smiled to myself.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Oakley