Page 90 of Backup Plan

“Do you want me there?” I ask. “It’s okay to be honest. I won’t be offended if you tell me to fuck off.”

She laughs. “I wouldn’t say that, but I think the judge might…well, judge me differently if I have someone with me.”

I nod. “I get it.”

“Are you going to go to your dad’s trial at all?”

I shrug. “Maybe at some point. I mean, I have to since I was subpoenaed.”

“You were?”

I nod. “We all were. All seven of us. And they gave us a tight window since Archer has a game, but they want us all there on July thirteenth. I assume that’s still when they want us there since Madden just said it keeps getting delayed.”

“Jeez. How are you feeling about all that? I mean, you’re offering to go to a pretrial hearing with me, but…” She trails off, but her meaning is clear.

I’m offering to go to her pretrial and not my own father’s actual trial.

“Madden’s there, so I’m letting him navigate it.” My tone is more clipped than I mean for it to be.

She nods and drops it, but I can’t help thinking how she’s right—just not in the way she’s thinking.

Somehow over the last few weeks, she’s become the most important person in my life. I want to be there for her more than I do for my own father. She’s become my family.

And I’m not quite sure what to do about that.

CHAPTER 28: Penny Calloway

Shacking Up

My hands are shaking as I walk into the courthouse.

I’m the girl who never got detention, who never got yelled at, who followed all the rules to the letter.

This feels like getting called into the principal’s office when you didn’t do anything wrong but feel like you’re going to be accused of wrongdoing anyway, only times about a million.

I spot my lawyer, Kelly Pierce, talking to who I assume is Alexander Voss, a devilishly handsome man in a suit. Kelly looks like she’s both in awe of and wants to sleep with her co-counsel. I don’t blame her.

I get closer, and Kelly says something to Alexander. He steps forward.

“Ms. Wade, Alexander Voss.” He stretches out a hand, and I shake it.

“Nice to meet you,” I say.

“Let’s get this settled,” he says, and his take-charge attitude feels like something I sorely needed to beat my ex at his own game.

Brent shows up with his lawyer a few moments later, and someone finds us in the hallway and takes us back to the judge’s chambers.

“Good morning,” the judge says. He’s an older man with gray hair and glasses, and he sits behind his desk. He looks like a regular person back there in a suit rather than a judge in his robes. “Why isn’t this settled yet?” he begins.

Brent opens his mouth to speak, and his lawyer nudges him as Alexander jumps in first.

“Your Honor, my client just wants this to be over. We are prepared to settle the remaining issues today with the court’s guidance.”

The judge nods and glances over at Brent’s lawyer.

“The remaining issues aren’t as small as Mr. Voss is indicating,” he argues. “In fact, the issues of financial responsibility and custody aren’t yet settled, which I’m sure you will agree are rather large issues at stake.”

I glance at Alexander. When Liam and I were prepping yesterday, I told Alexander I’m considering moving out of Chicago, and he brings it up.