Page 103 of Her Ex-Husband's Brother

“I’m calling a car now.”

The nurse nods. “I’ll have security escort you through the west discharge exit.”

Jake will have a shitfit later, but as far as I’m concerned, Jake can eat shit.

My phone pings when a driver accepts the ride, and I move the pickup pin to the hospital’s west entrance.

Jake has his own key fob for the car.

He can drive himself home.

As soon as the security guard leads us around the corner, August whispers, “What are you doing with him?”

“Not now. I’ll tell you in the car.”

He nods.

We both walk quietly but quickly behind the guard as he escorts us through the building.

I chose the rideshare with the shortest wait, and luckily, it’s already there by the time we reach the other exit.

I thank the security guard and pull open the back door for August.

He slides inside.

I follow him, close the door, and pull out my phone to text Jake.

[LENNON: theyd only release if I escort him by taxi. I’ll be home in an hour]

It feels like I’m reporting in to a parent.

Which is super messed up because it’s my husband. At least for as long as it takes in order to get August in the clear.

My phone starts beeping with texts coming back in, but I switch the button on the side of the phone to silence and turn to August, sliding my hand into his.

“Are you okay?”

“Did you just text him? What’s going on, Lennon?”

I squeeze his hand and press the outside of my thigh to the outside of his, glad he’s in front of me where I can see he’s safe. “First tell me if you’re okay,” I press.

He shudders a little, glancing back at the hospital. “You know. Just looking my worst fear in the eye.”

“Oh my god. Babe.” I feel bad the second the word slips off my tongue. Because it’s a false promise. So is holding his hand. He’s not mybaberight now.

I might be a lot of things but a liar isn’t one of them.

And I still need Jake to keep his word and not testify against this man in custody hearings.

My eyes close and I unflex my fingers, pulling my hand back into my lap.

“What’s wrong? Lennon. Tell me what’s going on.”

“I made a deal.” I put space between us on the back seat so I can look August in the face, even as I hate losing the physical contact. “With Jake. He’s not going to press charges for assault?—”

“I didn’t push him through that window,” August says earnestly. “I didn’t. And I only ran because I just freaked out, knowing how it would look. How Jake wouldmakeit look?—”

“I know,” I cut him off, if only because I need him to understand and we don’t have a lot of time. I don’t put it past Jake to be following us to the RV park right now, intent on staging another scene and calling the cops again.