Chapter 39

Grady

The soft light of early morning filters through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the bed. The four of us are a tangle of limbs and warmth, the sheets barely covering our intertwined bodies. I can feel the steady rise and fall of Ollie's breath against my chest, Kipp's arm draped protectively over her, his leg brushing against mine. It's a moment of quiet peace, a respite from the storm that's been raging in our lives.

The shrill ring of a phone in the living room breaks the silence. I try to ignore it, but it persists. With a sigh, I carefully extricate myself, making sure not to wake Ollie. Her soft murmur of protest as I slide away makes me smile. I tiptoe out of the bedroom, following the sound to its source.

It's Van's phone. I head back to the bedroom, nudging him awake. "Hey, man, your phone is ringing."

Van's eyes snap open, instantly alert. He scrambles out of bed, and I follow him back to the living room, both of us stark naked and unbothered. Our bodies are in sync, muscles taut with anticipation.

"It's the DA," Van whispers, his voice tight with anxiety.

"Answer it," I urge, my own heart pounding in my chest.

Van picks up the call, and I watch as his face pales. He nods and after a few short words are exchanged, he hangs up. "The jury is back. We have to go for the verdict."

Reality crashes back in. We move quickly, the remnants of last night's beer and whiskey making us a bit sluggish, but urgency pushes us forward. We stumble back to the bedroom and wake up Kipp and Ollie. Groggily, they start moving and everyone gets dressed.

I brush my teeth, the minty freshness momentarily masking the stale taste of alcohol. Ollie comes in and splashes cold water on her face, trying to pull herself together.

The clock is ticking. We grab our essentials, and with a quick glance around the apartment, we are out the door. The cool morning air hits us as we step outside.

We make a pit stop at the convenience store on the corner. Red Bulls are a necessity, not a luxury. We each grab one, the cans cold, promising a burst of energy.

With drinks in hand, we hustle toward the courthouse. The streets are busy, but our focus is singular. Each block brings us closer, the anxiety building. The courthouse looms ahead, an imposing structure that feels both daunting and inevitable.

Van takes a deep breath and pushes through the heavy doors, my adrenaline surging as we step inside. The air inside is cooler and more sterile, and the gravity of the situation hits us fully. This is it. The moment we've been preparing for, dreading, and now, finally facing.

We step into the courtroom, the tension thick. We take our spot on the bench behind the DA. As we settle in, Barbi and Jessica turn to glare at us.

Jessica must have been able to bail herself out after the incident yesterday.

I meet their gazes with a narrowed stare, feeling Ollie beside me, her presence a steadying force. Her wicked little smile in their direction almost makes me chuckle. My girl is fierce, no doubt about it.

The jury files in, the air crackling with anticipation, every eye in the courtroom fixed on them. As the foreman, a middle-aged man with a stern face, rises from his seat, a piece of paper clutched in his hand, the room collectively holds its breath, the tension palpable.

"Your Honor," he begins. "We, the jury, have reached a unanimous verdict."

The judge, an imposing figure in his black robe, nods gravely. "Please proceed, Mr. Foreman."

The foreman takes a deep breath, his eyes sweeping across the silent courtroom, settling briefly on the defendant before returning to the judge. "On the charge of first-degree rape," he announces. "We find the defendant guilty."

The words hang in the air for a fraction of a second before the courtroom explodes into chaos. Jessica and Barbi shriek, their voices echoing in the large room. Jessica clutches her chest, her face a mask of disbelief and horror, while Barbi's anguished cries pierce the air.

"Order in the court!" the judge barks as he tries to restore order to the courtroom.

Slowly, the noise subsides, leaving only the muffled sobs of Barbi and Jessica. The foreman, looking slightly pale but composed, hands the verdict paper to the bailiff, who then presents it to the judge.

"Thank you, Mr. Foreman," the judge says. He glances at the paper, confirming the verdict, before addressing the courtroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I understand emotions are running high, but I must insist on decorum."

Turning to the defendant, his expression stoic and his tone remains resolute. "Miss Johnson, you have been found guilty by a jury of your peers. You have the right to appeal this verdict."

"Your honor." Barbi's attorney stands. "I'd like to move to have the sentencing held in a week's time."

"Overruled. I'm ready for sentencing now."

Barbi slumps in her chair, her face drained of color. Her attorney places a comforting hand on her shoulder, whispering words that seem to fall on deaf ears.

The judge's gaze then shifts back to the jury. "Members of the jury, your duty here is done. You have served your community with diligence and integrity. You are now dismissed with the court's gratitude."

As the jurors file out, the foreman lingers for a moment, his eyes lingering on Van, offering what I can only imagine is a silent apology. He then turns and follows his fellow jurors out of the courtroom.

"Young lady," the judge addresses Barbi, his tone severe. "What you did was a heinous crime. You hurt that young man more than you can imagine. And to make it seem like he can't be assaulted or that you can't be a perpetrator is disgusting. It raises concerns about how many other young men have been in Mr. Michaels' shoes and not been brave enough to come forward. Therefore, I'm going to make an example of you. You have no previous offenses, and I will take that into consideration. So it is my decision that you will serve the minimum sentence of fifteen years, with the chance of parole, and you will be registered as a sex offender for the rest of your natural life."

Barbi starts bawling as the bailiff handcuffs Barbi and drags her out of the courtroom while Jessica screams, "We'll appeal the decision, baby. This won't stand!"

Judge Williams stands, signaling the end of the proceedings. "Court is adjourned," he declares, his gavel striking one final time.

Van stands as the DA shakes his hand. He turns to us, and Ollie wraps her arms around him, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so happy for you. This is the best outcome."

Kipp and I clap him on the back, and I notice Kipp's eyes are glossy with unshed tears. "Come on, babe," I murmur, pulling him toward the door.

"We'll meet you in the hall," I tell Van and Ollie. She nods, understanding.

We head to the bathroom, and I lock the door behind us. "Talk to me, Kipp."

He wipes his eyes, struggling to keep his composure. "I'm glad Van got justice. I really am. But that's still my daughter that was just sentenced to fifteen years in prison. It's harder than I thought it would be. I just can't believe this has happened. I can't believe my child is a sex offender."

"It's gonna be okay, baby," I reassure him, pulling him into my arms. "We'll figure it out. We can visit her if you want or send letters. Just because she's a shit person doesn't mean your love for her vanishes. She is still part of you, part of your heart. That doesn't change. Ollie and Van will understand that. You just need to talk with them."

"I know," he mumbles. "It's just a lot, you know."

"I do," I whisper, kissing his lips gently. "I'm here. No judgment from me, you know that."

A knock on the door interrupts us, and we hear Ollie's voice. "It's me. Are you two in there?"

I look at Kipp, and he nods. I open the door. "Yeah, we're ready. Sorry, we just needed a moment."

Ollie pushes past me and wraps her arms around Kipp. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how you must feel. I know you wanted her to serve her time and learn a lesson, but it still can't be easy to watch her get taken away and know she's going to be locked up for over a decade."

"It's harder than I expected," he admits.

"What do you wanna do, Kipp? I'm here, no matter what," Ollie says softly.

"I don't know yet. I need to think and process."

We head home, picking up some sandwiches from Jimmy John's on the way. Back at Ollie's place, we eat in relative silence, the weight of the morning still hanging over us. We talk about anything and everything, trying to distract ourselves from the harsh reality.

But then Van clears his throat, drawing our attention. "I think it's time, now that the trial is over and things will start to settle down for us, to talk about our future. My future with you, Ollie."

Ollie's eyes widen, her breath catching. "Okay," she whispers. "Let's talk."