Lucas

Ted is a vision—an absolute vision—in that navy blue jumpsuit. Especially sitting beside his lawyers, Duncan and Hynd. Their cheesy commercials and easily memorized phone number are probably the one thing that saved him after Mark dropped Ted off his attorney family plan. Ted is taking a plea bargain and is being sentenced, so he will forever have the criminal conviction on his record. In his case, he's given the prosecution enough information to keep Mark and Vivian in cells for a long time.

Ted has nothing to gain from Mark anymore, so he's willingly given up everything he has on the family. He's doing a good deed by spilling what beans he has, but it's only to help himself. It's not to do the right thing. He threatened Allie and Jadon at gunpoint with every intent to take them off to wherever. Kidnapping—that's what it is. One wrong move with his finger on that trigger, and he could have killed them—whether or not he meant to. Same with Vivian.

That's in addition to his association with the Vandenburgs after Vivian's first failed murder attempt on Allie and Jadon. Oh, and the fact he nearly ran me down with his car with them inside. My part doesn't matter, it's the fact that he would subject them to it.

All of this business with Mark's family has turned this town into a zoo. There are news vans and reporters everywhere outside the courthouse. The headlines range in this story from all the angles in it. They refer to Mark as the political hopeful, a wealthy man attempting to force his daughter and grandchild out of the country, and so much more. They're not entirely off, but they make it sound like Mark was this great rich villain in some epic movie. He's just a prick that needed to be put in his place.

This part of his downfall isn't on Allie or me, apart from our testimonies. It's for the lawyers to tear apart. We'll speak to what we know, Ted will do his job, Tom will offer what he knows, and the rest is legal shit that sounds boring as hell. In other words, we'll be here when they need us, but now we can start on this family journey together and Tom gets to keep smiling to himself every time he sees Mark and Vivian's mug shots on the television.

He really is a simple man to please.

The courtroom is full, and Mark isn't even here today. Joel doesn't think his trial will start for months. We're seated in the back, and Allie is beside me, fidgeting.

"Allie," I whisper while the lawyers address the judge. She wasn't sure about coming, but we're doing this. She's facing him and seeing what happens to people like Ted who do the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. It's called justice, and she's going to see that not everybody gets away with everything just because they have access to money.

She's having a hard time coping with the idea of it all, but every day that passes, Allie moves forward one step at a time. Ted was there when Vivian hit her the first time and tried to kill her, and then pretended to care about Allie and Jadon. Ted was protecting Vivian and Mark all along for the sake of money. I keep thinking about him holding a weapon against her, and I want to leave more bruises on his face. Maybe dent his nose just a little more than it already is.

Allie is still fidgeting, so I take her hands and set them in my lap. Instantly, she sighs and relaxes.

After I got released from the hospital, we took a month off to recover. Allie had to start her last semester of school during that time, and seeing the pressure she was under, I convinced her to do something for herself. She quit her job so she could work on the business she's building with Charity and finish her damn degree.

Yes. The answer is yes. She was freaky about it and didn't like the idea of a single income between two people not married. She was afraid we would wind up on daytime court television, but it's us and a few arguments later, she saw it for what it was: her time to focus on her goals. It's not a complete break from life, and it doesn't make up for the past few years she was busy being an adult, but she gets to do this for herself and I'm supporting it.

It's amazing seeing her focus on herself more. She's more relaxed and easygoing. The downside is no fun times at work. At least we got to have one good day in her favorite teacher's class. Who knows? Maybe she'll cater for the junior prom and I'll need to show her my favorite classroom.

Tom is still recovering, but he's getting around, sort of. Belinda, his girlfriend, has been helping him through his own recovery. He'll be back to work in a week. He's left the football team and will only do basketball starting now, so it'll be a change of pace for him. A good one.

John apologized profusely for trying to fire him because of Tom's confrontation with Mark. I lost some respect for John, but when he apologized to Tom and Tom could let it go, I did, too. Tom said he wouldn't be showing his daughter or grandson a decent character if they couldn't forgive people for falling for someone's silvery tongue. That I can respect. Mark was glitz and glamor and it's understandable how people fall for that million-dollar smile and whatever promises he may have made. He tried to make commitments with me occasionally, promising some lavish lifestyle if I worked for him, but it wasn't what I wanted.

"And you have pleaded guilty to the charges before you. Today you will receive your sentence."

Ted stands beside his lawyer up front in his jumpsuit that he'll be in for the foreseeable future. It pairs well with his growing beard that's poorly covering the bruises still on his face.

I keep imagining him with that weapon on her. Grabbing her arm in her office, leaving her in the city at night, all alone. When Allie first told me about the things he said and did while he had them in that car, I almost broke out of the hospital and into the jail just to wail on him all over again. But my shoulder would probably physically tear itself from my body and crawl away if I put it through anymore shit. Apparently, I need more physical therapy for it, so Joel and I are working on it together.

Ted is not getting a life sentence, I'm sure, but he's not walking free today. They're not dropping the charges. Ted will do time and eventually find himself on parole. Meanwhile, he can learn to knit scarves and read some books or whatever else they do in prison.

Vivian has the attempted murder charges, the hit and runs, driving without a valid state license, and the list goes on. She's going to be in for the long haul. If they can find information about the bribery with the medical study Tom mentioned, the case will continue to drag on for her.

Mark is different. I'm hoping everything adds up to the next century for him, even though he's surrounded by his entire legal team. Joel and the boys on the prosecution team have been digging shit up daily and the more they find, the more charges they're holding against him. Joel thinks Mark will end up with a federal investigation pretty soon.

Who the hell knows? It's legal shit I don't really get and don't care to understand unless they're saying "guilty" and how long the assholes are not walking free in the world. My life is football and my little family, not navigating the legal system. A federal investigation would be interesting, and he'd be in court for years, probably.

I don't think an FBI agent has ever been to this little town, if that's what Joel means by federal investigation. I couldn't see that happening.

Kat fled the country when her parents were arrested. I'm sure she'll turn up soon enough. She didn't break any laws as far as I know. But if her trust fund is still working, it'll run out soon enough and she'll need more money.

"I understand you wish to make a statement?"

Allie squeezes my hand nervously in my lap. Charity is on her other side, biting down on her nails while Ted's parents sit on the far side. Charity and Ted's mom has been in tears over everything. She's mostly just disappointed in her son. Ted's father is also upset, just staring ahead, probably wondering where he went wrong. He did nothing wrong, from what Allie and Charity have said about their home life. Their daughter turned out eccentric, but Charity has a big heart and is a good person. She's proof enough that they did nothing wrong.

Ted is escorted to the witness stand beside the judge and I can't help but picture some pink power suit marching in the court yelling "Objection!" dramatically because Allie wanted to watch a court movie last night to prepare herself for today.

Legally Blonde, as it were.

Ted takes a seat, and I stretch an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to me. She keeps her hands on my thigh and leans against my shoulder. Ted sounds like a robot when he opens his mouth.

"I want to apologize to my parents. Mom, Dad, I'm sorry that I disappointed you with my actions. My heart was in the wrong place and I know what I've done was wrong. I will work on myself with this time I'm given."

Allie's palms feel warm through my pants. Her focus on Ted is intense. Not because of a connection, I know that. Not something that would make me insecure. She's lost a lifelong friend and one she thought was going to marry. She held a high opinion of the guy and turns out he didn't care about her or Jadon the way she thought.

It's a heartbreaking disappointment on her end and I understand her for it.

"Hey," I whisper against her ear. I didn't realize we were in for a long ass list of apologies Ted is making known today. She slowly tears her gaze away from him and up to me. Her usually bright green eyes look lifeless. "Let's play a game."

Allie frowns. "We're in court," she whispers.

"No one can hear us. Let's set a date. For the wedding."

Allie blinks. "Can it wait? We're in a trial thingy."

"This isn't a trial. He's claiming guilty. We already know what's going to happen to him."

Allie opens and slams her mouth shut. She takes a few breaths, glances up at the court while Ted drones about an apology to his sister. When she looks back at me, she's clearly thinking about it. "Two years. Let's do it in two years."

Oh, fuck no. "Next weekend," I counter.

Her eyes nearly pop out of her head. "Have you—"

"Shhh!" A woman in the row in front of us turns with an evil glare, like we're doing something wrong. The wrongdoer is up front, avoiding the inevitable walk to a cell.

"Sorry." Allie cringes when we're shushed. I bite my cheeks to hold back a laugh. It's October now, and if she wanted an October wedding in two years, Jadon would be six, nearly seven. I think that's about six years too late for this shit.

"Have you lost your mind, Lucas?" She lowers her voice. "Next year then."

I use her moment of frustration to slide a finger into her bra through the side of her top. Excuse me, "blouse" as she corrected me this morning. She's wearing pants and I don't think I could get away with anything that technical in here with Charity beside her. Allie's skin is soft and warm and when she realizes it, she opens her mouth to gasp and I cover it quickly so no one hears.

We're covered, and no one is paying attention to us, anyway.

I make it down to her nipple and pinch it, rolling it around in my fingers while she squirms in her seat.

"Lucas," she hisses, but doesn't stop me.

In her ear I whisper, "Pick a date, Allie. Let's get our life going and fix all this."

"You just want me to have your last name, like some sort of claim. It's not about the actual marriage part to you."

That's a lie, and she knows it. "If you like your last name, keep it. Just marry me already." That's all she's wanted, and lucky for me, Ted dragged his feet with it.

"Why the rush? I need to finish school."

"Being married won't mess it up."

"It will because you'll claim spouses are required to do things when I need to study."

Once her nipple is peaked, I move her hand over my dick. Fuck, why did I make us come to this again? Maybe we can sneak out of here.

The court goes on and Ted's lawyers yammer about some shit. Technical crap. I just wanted to see him in handcuffs and taken away.

"Allie, I won't force you into anything, okay? And you know I support you finishing school." That's why she's only doing school now. It's not like we're talking about another kid. She shut that idea down almost instantly.

She purses her lips, and her eyes slowly close while I graze her nipple and down her tit. She breathes heavily and presses her chest up just a little before she rips my hand out of her shirt. The move shocks me enough that I almost say something out loud and risk disturbing the woman in front of us who just needs to hear what's going on.

"I was thinking, actually," she says. The way she says it sounds dangerously upbeat.

"What?" As I embrace the danger of whatever curveball she's going to throw my way, she pats her hand over my dick like she's petting it. Okay, maybe not so dangerous.

"We should hold off on sex until the wedding. It would make it that much—"

"No. Now pick a date." Is she high? Wait. What is it called? Abstaining? She sleeps next to me in my own damn shirts and has the audacity to have a perfectly grabbable ass that I love to hold when I'm inside her.

"I don't see what's so bad about waiting, Lucas. It would make it that much sweeter."

Abstain. She's nuts. It must be in the air around Ted that's making her lose her senses. We sit for another five minutes while Ted reads his apology to Allie. She gives him her full attention once he finds her in the crowd.

"And I would also like to apologize to Allie."

Great.

"I'm so sorry, Allie, and I know you won't forgive me now or maybe even ten years from now. But I let this idea take over and I shouldn't have. I'm not asking for your forgiveness because I don't deserve it, but I regret my actions with you and with..." Ted looks at me and swallows. "Your son."

Ted watches her like he's waiting for her to say something, but she doesn't move. The proceeding finishes a few minutes later and I've already zoned out, thinking about why she's pushing the wedding back like this.

"Lucas, I'm ready to leave."

"Come on," I say, "let's go."

We sneak out the back of the room before everyone leaves, and take a back exit out of the building. It's midmorning still, and Jadon is at daycare. "You want to take a walk?"

Allie nods and stays quiet for the next two blocks. The small downtown we have isn't too busy. Everyone is at the courthouse right now, so we're basically walking through a ghost town.

"Are you going to miss him, Allie? Like a friend?"

"Yeah," she says. She scratches her head and stares at the ground in front of us. "Is it wrong to wish that he made better choices? Maybe even get another chance? Because he just threw his life away, Lucas. It's not even about me, but that he could have been whatever he wanted and he chose wrong."

"Some people make stupid choices," I say. Allie releases my hand and hugs my middle from the side, and I hold on to her as tight as I can. "Life is not about money or power, and that was a lesson for those three assholes. And I know you lost a friend, but he was careless with you and our son. Don't forget that."

"I'm not, Lucas. I just looked at him today and saw the boy I always looked up to and played games with when I went to their house. He had superhero posters on his walls and liked soccer. He was never a bad guy."

"I understand, Allie. It's hard to accept."

She blows out a breath, and we're hit with a gentle breeze. "I just need time to adjust. Anyway, you wanted to talk about setting a date." Allie pinches my side as we walk past the closed shops.

"Tomorrow," I say.

She giggles while we walk. "After graduation, Lucas. I don't want to plan a wedding while writing a term paper."

"Okay, but you also mentioned not having sex, and that's kind of a long time."

She looks up at me and I realize we're both about to make a deal I'm going to hate.

I'm going to lose this fight before it starts. "What about oral, at least?"

"No, Lucas, come on."

Fuck me, really? "I'll lose my damn mind, Allie."

She rolls her eyes. "That's all you think about. Your penis."

"I think about your pussy more, actually, and what the hell I can do for you."

She stops and thinks for a moment. Maybe she's coming to her senses. A small smile and an instant gleam in her eyes and suddenly I'm less confident in myself. The blood is draining from my face. I just know it.

"You know I've agreed to marry you, Lucas." She holds on to the next part of whatever is going on in her brain and I desperately need to know what it is, yet I'm too afraid to find out. "You and I love one another, and I know you wouldn't do anything stupid to screw this up."

"Just get it out, Allie. What is it?"

"We have our first event for New Year, so let's get married after that, okay? Graduation and the start of my new business with my best friend. It seems like a good start."

"I like that." We keep walking down the road and there's a calmness between us. This should have been the start, and we're finally here.

"What if I just use my hands on you, then?"