“Uh uh.” I shook my head. We had agreed not to do this. “Later, please. I just want to relax with you for a while.”
“Alright. Come here.” He held his arm out, and I snuggled against his side. “You care what we watch?”
“Nope.”
He flicked the TV on with the remote and found a movie. I closed my eyes and hugged him tight. I didn’t care about the film. I just wanted to be close to Cole. “I love you,” I murmured into his chest.
I felt his smile against my hair. “I love you too.”
“Oakley?” I frowned and opened my eyes. “Hey, sleepy,” Cole said, smiling down at me.
Sitting up, I stretched out like a cat. “Sorry.” I looked up and saw Cole’s parentss and Mia were home. Embarrassing!
“Hey,” I said, smiling sheepishly.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Jenna replied.
“Where’s Leona?” The house was too quiet, and there was no way I would be able to sleep if she was around.
“I dropped her off at Chris’ earlier. It’s his night,” Mia explained. I knew she hated sharing Leona with Chris, but she did it because Leona loved her dad.
“Your mum called a little while ago. You should at least text her and let her know you’re okay. I think she’s worrying,” Cole said, handing me my mobile.
I took it from him and started a new text to Jasper’s phone since Mum’s was still in Australia. “Thanks.” I knew she worried, too much sometimes.
‘I’m fine Mum. Spending the day with Cole and will see you tomorrow morning. You okay?’
I didn’t want to elaborate much more than that and get into a full conversation in case it turned to tomorrow.
Mum replied a few minutes later. ‘OK honey. We’re fine, Jasper driving me crazy. Have a nice night and we’ll talk tomorrow. Love you.’
Cole and I ate with his family and then went upstairs for an early night. Our shopping bags were beside his bed. I had no idea when he brought them up, probably when I was sleeping on the sofa.
He closed the door and walked towards me. Something changed between us. It was like a surge of electricity. Neither of us said a word as we collided. His mouth was on mine, kissing me. We were a tangle of lips and tongues.
I woke up in Cole’s arms again and managed to smile. Even on the day I’d been dreading for so long, he still managed to make me feel happy. He was already awake, and by the dark half circles under his eyes he must have been for a while.
“You didn’t sleep well,” I said, stroking underneath his eye.
“Not really,” he whispered, pressing his lips to my forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Sick and nervous. I just want it to be over already.”
“You’ll be fine though, and I’ll be right there the whole time.”
That was half the problem. Having to spill every single detail in front of the people I loved the most was awful. I didn’t want them to know what I had gone through.
I kissed him and slipped out of bed, wrapping my robe around me. “I know you will be. Thank you.”
Without another word, I went into the bathroom to get ready. I looked into the mirror and sighed. You can do this, Oakley. I wished they could make him do a lie detector so none of us would have to talk up about anything.
Mum, Jasper, Ali, and Lizzie sat on the sofa in Cole’s lounge when I got downstairs. How long had they been there? They all looked up at me with the same forced smile.
“How are you holding up?” Mum asked.
“Okay. You?”
She nodded. “Okay. Nan and Grandad are meeting us there. They said to say hello and good luck.” I smiled, not knowing what to say to that.
I wasn’t sure if Dad’s parents would be there or not. I understood if they didn’t come. No one wanted to hear what a monster their own child had turned out to be. It wasn’t my grandparents fault though. It was all Dad.
Ali stood up and hugged me. “My beautiful, brave niece. I’m so proud of you,” she whispered in my ear.
“Thanks, Ali,” I whispered back.
“Are we ready to go?” Jenna asked.
Numbness. That was all I felt as we parked outside court. Absolute numbness. It was as if it was happening to someone else. I looked at the front doors and was shocked to see so many reporters outside. It looked like something I had seen on TV when a celebrity was on trial.
My heart started beating too fast, and my lungs felt as if they were being crushed. “We’re going in at the side. Linda arranged it so you won’t have to face that,” Mum said, nodding at the large crowd.
I swallowed. “Okay.”
Mum, Cole, and Jasper got out of the car, and I opened my door. I felt rooted to the spot. I wanted to lock the car and hide in the foot well until it was over.
Jasper knelt down. “Are you ready, Oakley?” He held out his hand. You can do it. Just take your brother’s hand. He won’t let you fall.
Reaching out, I placed my hand in his and stepped out of the car.
“I’m ready.”