Broken Silence (Silence, #2)(68)

“Okay. I’ll go,” I agreed. If that’s all I could do now then I would. “When you see him tell him…” Tell him what? “Tell him I love him.”

“I will. You know he loves you too, don’t you?” Jenna rubbed my arm, and I nodded.

“I’ll take you back,” Jasper said, and turned to Jenna and David, “Call when you know anything?”

Jenna nodded. “Of course we will.”

“Come on,” Jasper whispered, wrapping his arm around me. “Walk quickly to the car and don’t stop to talk. Let me handle the questions, okay?” I nodded. David smiled as we passed him, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile back.

As soon as the door opened the deafening noise returned. It was only a few minutes ago we had told people we were going back inside to wait, and now we were leaving. I was all over the place.

“Just walk, Oakley,” Jasper instructed. He held his hand up as he ushered me to the car. “There hasn’t been any news, but we will let you know as soon as there is. Now, I’d appreciate if you let me get my sister home. Thanks.” He spoke so confidently and calmly, so unlike Jasper.

He practically pushed me into the car, and ran to the driver’s side.

“You should be Prime Minister,” I smiled at him.

He grinned and shut his door, already starting the car. “I should.”

We drove in silence until we were almost back at Ali’s house. “He’ll be okay, won’t he?” I asked, desperately needing reassurance.

“He will.”

Jasper’s sudden cry of complaint pulled me out of my thoughts. The crowd outside our house had easily doubled since we’d left. The drive was barely visible.

“Let’s just run for it,” I said.

“Good plan,” Jasper agreed as he carefully drove the car through the parting crowd. He got out first and ran to my side. My hands were shaking as I got out. It was all so surreal. Jasper bundled me under his arm and propelled me through the door.

“Any news?” Mia questioned, stumbling over her words.

No news. Unable to hold it in, I started crying. It was like I’d opened the floodgate again and everything came pouring out. Jasper picked me up like I was a little child, but I didn’t even care. I curled up in his arms and cried until my throat was sore.

Later, I laid on the sofa staring at a pin hole in the ceiling left from the Christmas decorations. I had returned to my zombie state of numbness.

“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.”