37. Monroe

THIRTY-SEVEN

MONROE

I nervously pick at my nails as I pace the floor, practically wearing a hole in the marble as I move across it. Riggs said he needed to go to a meeting two hours ago, and I've been a ball of anxiety ever since. I have no idea what it was about, or where he had to be, but I've played every terrible scenario over in my head since he walked out the door. I know he was being vague so I wouldn't worry, but it's having the opposite effect.

He asked me to trust him, and I do. But if he can't find a way to prove that he didn't attack my dad for no reason, I'll have no choice but to get on a plane to California. I refuse to let this be the end of Riggs' career, so I'm fully willing to do what I have to do for now, but I'm running out of time. If I take too long, that video will be uploaded to social media, and it'll solidify the public's wrong opinion of him.

Riggs Valentine is the best man I know. He may have made some poor, reckless decisions in the past, but he's not that guy anymore. He's fierce, protective and loving. He doesn't deserve to have his dream ripped away from him over some bullshit lie.

Just as I'm about to crawl out of my own skin, I hear the door open and close. I whip around to see Riggs standing there with a cocky smirk. He takes his time, dropping his keys into the dish on the entry table like I'm not over here dying with worry.

I stand there frozen, waiting for him to say something. Anything. I just want to know that he's okay.

He looks up at me, his smirk morphing into a wide smile. "It's over, baby," he says, and that's all I need to take off across the room and launch myself into his waiting arms. He laughs as I squeeze him tightly, lifting me off the floor and spinning me around.

"Wait!" I shout, kicking my feet in an attempt to get him to put me down. "What exactly does that mean? What's over?" He keeps me in his arms, walking us over to the sofa and setting me on the plush cushions before plopping down beside me.

"I decided that honesty was the best policy here. I tried to work out ways to prove that the video isn't what it looks like, but I knew without the audio, it wouldn't matter. So I went straight to Mr. Durst and I told him the truth." I wince, making him chuckle, and he continues. "I told him what happened that night, including the way your father spoke to you. I told him I had to protect you, and that's why I did what I did."

"He wasn't mad? You've been such a problem child over the years, and we knew he was ready to send you packing. What changed?" That video showed him doing exactly what he had done to Tanner when he found out about him and Grace. He was protecting his sister, but because the videos didn't pick up the conversation between them, it just looked like an unprovoked attack. Even after they spoke about it to the media, the public had already made up their minds. That was one of the reasons Riggs was in hot water when I got here, so I'm curious to know what's different between now and then.

"You did," he says softly, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against mine. "You make me a better man, Monroe. The whole world can see it."

Tears prick at the backs of my eyes and I press my lips to his, inhaling the scent of his woodsy cologne as it wraps around me. He can say it was me who made the difference in his life, but the truth is, we did it together. I may have been a catalyst in him wanting to show people who he really is, but that guy was always in there. He just needed someone to pull him to the surface.

"So, we're staying in Daytona?" I ask, swinging a leg over his lap so I'm straddling him. It's not sexual; I just feel like I can't get close enough. I'd crawl into his skin right now if I could, and I don't even care how creepy that sounds.

" We, huh? Is that your way of saying you want to move in with me, Mayhem?" he chides, grabbing my ass and squeezing.

"Ew, no," I say with a scoff. "I could never live with a guy who clips his toenails at the dinner table."

He rolls his eyes. "I still can't believe you called my mom about that. You really are a she-devil," he replies, a small smile lifting the corner of his mouth. "Move in with me. I know it's a lot, and if you want to keep your house, you can. But let's give this thing a real shot. We can stay in Hope Harbor during the offseason, and?— "

"I'm interviewing new tenants next week," I say, cutting him off. "I hired a moving company to pack everything up and ship it here. Your mom is supposed to be meeting them tomorrow to get started."

His eyebrows shoot up, nearly disappearing into his hairline. "You're fucking with me. Right?"

I giggle. "Nope. I decided weeks ago that I didn't want to leave. I just needed to work everything out before I let you in on my plan. Are you happy?"

"Baby, I'm the happiest guy in the world."

Two hours later, we're snuggled up on the couch, a chick flick queued up on the TV and a plethora of snacks in front of us. We decided to celebrate by ordering all the McDonald's fries we could handle and calling it a balanced dinner, then spending the evening with a movie of my choice. If I wasn't already feeling worshiped, I definitely am now.

I'm doing my best to push all the heavy stuff with my dad out of my mind, but I have to admit that I still have a few worries. We may have the support of the Fury organization, but if he decides to press charges, I'm not sure that'll be much help. That's a bridge we'll have to cross when we get there, but I hope it doesn't come to that. With any luck, my dad will back off and let us live our lives. He doesn't need me appearing as his doting daughter to run for governor when he already has the entire state of California fooled into thinking he's a good person. I'm sure my mom will portray the picture-perfect wife, making all sorts of excuses for why I'm not around. He'll win the election on a foundation of lies and get everything he wants, just like he always has.

"You good?" Riggs asks, pulling me into his warm body. "Something on your mind, sweet thing?"

I snuggle into him, letting all the stress melt away as he holds me tightly. "No," I sigh. "I just wish there was a way to take my father down a peg."

He kisses the top of my head, grabbing the remote and pressing play. "Karma has a way of coming back around. It'll catch up with him eventually, and I'll make sure you have a front row seat to his downfall."