Page 36 of Broken Silence
“Come on. I’ll message Jasper and let him know we’ll catch up with them later,” he said, making us both stand up. He took my hand and weaved us through a crowd of people dancing and I think a couple arguing. I couldn’t see Kerry, Ben, or my brother, but I’d text Jasper when I was outside.
“Just how crappy is this café, then? I’m not going to get food poisoning, am I?” I asked as we stepped into the cool air outside the bar. It’d turnedcoldsince we arrived. Warm days and freezing nights. I’d forgotten just how much the temperature dropped in the spring. Back in Australia, the warmth held out better than here.
“That depends.”
I raised a brow, slightly distracted as I sent Jasper a quick message. “On?”
“Whether you’re eating anything or not.”
“Okay, that will be a not.”
“Good choice. The chips are the safest thing if you do decide to.”
Cole held the chipped red door open, and I walked inside. He wasn’t joking; it was crappy. Wow. The patchy magnolia paint had started peeling off the walls, and the white blinds were turning a light yellow.
The smell of grease and burnt meat curled inside my nostrils.
Four rows of dated metal tables and chairs stretched from one side of the room to the other. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to sit down.
But as run down as it looked, it did appear clean. No dust on the random framed prints of boats and meadows.
“Want a hot chocolate?” Cole asked, leading me to a table in the corner.
Most tables were empty. Only a few people were dotted around, sipping tea and coffee from chipped mugs. A few drunks slumped over tables, shovelling cheesy chips into their mouths, desperately trying to soak up some of the alcohol.
Try crying on your ex in a bar because you’re about to face your dad in court. That really sobered you. My buzz was long gone.
“Should my mouth touch anything in here?” I asked him. I had no problem with going somewhere cheap and cheerful, but I at least wanted to drink from a clean cup.
“I’ve been here before, and it’s not done me any harm.”
Sceptically, I arched my brow. “Are you certain?”
Cole shook his head, smirking, and pointed to the chair. “Sit down and behave.”
I did as he said and watched him walk to the counter to order from a man with a terribly stained apron that must’ve been white once.
A minute later, he returned to the table and sat opposite me. His face turned serious, and I knew the messing around and teasing had stopped for now. He tapped his fingertips on the metal table, over a pair of initials scratched into it. JF hearted TK.
“So… talk to me. How are youreallyfeeling about it all?” he asked, clearing his throat.
“I’m honestly unsure. Everything’s a little hazy. One minute, I really want to give evidence in person, and the next, I just want to run away. I’ve gone back and forth so much, I’m dizzy.”
“You don’t have to, you know? I’m sure they’ll let you do it by video or whatever here.”
“They probably would, but then I wouldn’t face them.”
“You reallywantto?” he asked.
“Yes. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted them to see that I’m not scared.” Though I was. “I don’t expect anyone to understand, but I want to watch as they’re taken away to prison—hopefully, for the rest of their lives.”
Cole looked on, wordless. Seconds stretched out, and I wasn’t sure how long they were going to be met with silence.
“What?” I whispered, unable to stand it any longer.
“You’re amazing, Oakley.”
“See? That’s what you shouldsay to the ladies,” I joked, hoping it would lighten the mood.
