“Can I borrow your plane?”
An hour later,I’m packed and walking out my front door, locking it before walking down my front steps to Mimi’s house.
In the span of the hour, we were able to secure Christian’s plane, confirm the details and time of the hearing tomorrow afternoon, along with the name of the parole board members and the judge overseeing the proceeding that’s making the final decision.
Judge Morrow is known for his unconventional methods and ridiculously mild punishment for criminals who deserve much more than the lenient sentencing he gives them. He’s as corrupt as they come, and I’ve learned that Nathan has managed to make friends in all the right places.
Nathan’s attorney, who happens to be his brother-in-law, runs in the same circles as Judge Morrow, and neither have anything guiding their moral compasses. Judge Morrow's influence on the Governor's parole board members was yet another shock to discover how deep their pockets go.
It reminds me of my father’s connections, how the wrong people who knew the right ones could get away with practically anything.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the entire directory of government officials in their so-called justice system deserves a visit from me and my team after Nathan is dealt with.
But that’s for another time.
Mimi woke up about half an hour ago, a little earlier than shenormally does, but I wasn’t ready to come back over without having everything in place.
I need to tell her about Nathan and give her the choice of what she would like to do, but want to assure her that I have every detail covered, and I wasn’t coming back over here until that was done.
Flipping the latch on the door of her side yard fence, I push it open and walk down the opening between our houses. She’s already made it to the backyard for her yoga session and it took all my willpower to continue to pack my bags instead of taking in my customary morning view.
Rounding the corner, the fountain that sits in the middle of her backyard is running, creating a river flow soundtrack behind the light curtain of mist that hangs heavily in the yard.
Mimi’s mat is splayed out at the edge of her cement patio, right before it reaches the grass. Her toned arms hold her body in a perfectly aligned plank pose and the lines of her athletic body are on full display. Wet cotton balls form in my mouth as I follow the outline of her black lace underwear and pink sports bra.
Breath fog floats away from her lips as she lowers herself to her mat, shifting on the tops of her toes and arches upward, before pressing back onto the balls of her feet.
Watching her from my window is like a personal performance that only I got the pleasure of witnessing. Seeing her flow close up in finite detail is majestic and it’s just for me, well…not that I’ve given her a choice. I’ve invaded her personal space since the day I moved in. But she knows about it, and I smirk at the knowledge that I know she likes it just as much as I do.
“That is new.” She turns her head to see what I’m referring to and I tilt my chin up at the pink and black criss-cross sports bra she’s currently teasing me with.
“You would know.” She’s breathless as her knees and forehead come to mat and she relaxes into a pose, hiding her smile.
Yes, I would.
“How did you sleep? I ask.
She takes in a deep breath, releasing it with a content sigh. “So good.” She shifts her gaze to me, smiling. “Thanks to you.”
I don’t know that I’ve ever blushed in my life. But here I am, sitting in a plastic patio chair with my favorite girl while she stretches in her underwear, cheeks burning.
Fuck, I’m a goner.
I smile back, unable to avoid it. “Good.”
Her gaze shifts to my overnight bag that I placed to the chair next to me and she urgently sits up. Her smile drops as her eyes bounce between me and the bag.
“What’s going on?” Her brows pinch together as she stabs me with a look that could demolish a building.
Glancing down at my bag, I realize my mistake. I should have left it at the front so she didn’t feel the need to put up her defenses. I know how deep her abandonment issues run, but she’ll never have to worry about that. Ever.
Leaning forward, I look her dead in the eye.
“You never have to have that look on your face again because I’m not going anywhere, not unless you’re the one to tell me to leave. And if you do, I’ll tear my heart out and leave it here with you before I go. I want you, all of you, for as long as you’ll have me.”
She bites her lip to smother her grin, and that’s exactly what I wanted to see.
I steal a moment to take her in again, because Nathan and everything surrounding him is going to consume the next twenty-four hours once I tell her. She might know, although I don’t think she does, but her decision will affect us and what happens.
