Page 86 of Butterfly

“Don’t be sorry. I wasn’t sure you’d want me there today. I tried to be inconspicuous.”

Ollie narrowed his eyes. “You showed up at my appeal in your police uniform?”

Rory snorted; Ollie did too, until he broke down, catching his face in his hands.

Maybe he should’ve been mortified, crying his eyes out in front of Rory, but once he’d started, he couldn’t stop. He’d been holding it in at the restaurant, forcing fake laughs and smiles. He couldn’t even remember what Leo had asked him, just knew he’d agreed to everything, everythingexceptmoving into Maggie and Asher’s converted garage.

It was too far from Hollybrook.

Too far from Teddy.

Rory rubbed a comforting hand up and down his back.

It didn’t help.

“Here,” Rory said, reaching over to open the glove compartment. “Tissues.”

Ollie took one. “I didn’t want to get out.”

“I got that vibe from your outburst in the courtroom.”

“I didn’t think I would, not really, and when he said three years, I was so relieved. I thought I was going back.” He wiped his face. “I mean…I still could if I break my conditions.”

“I wouldn’t advise it.”

“Why not?”

“You know how quickly they fill cells in Hollybrook. If you get sent back, there’s no guarantee it’ll be to the same wing. I gave my address to Seinfeld.”

“Why?”

“They need to forward your belongings.” He glanced at the footwell. “I assumed you were still wearing clothes and hadn’t become a naturist, but I wasn’t one hundred per cent when I saw your bag.”

Ollie glanced down at the bag between his knees. “These were more important.”

“Stories?”

“Stories of Teddy’s life before Hollybrook.”

Rory frowned. “I didn’t know Teddy could write.”

“He can’t. He pointed out the words for me to write. He’s not the animal everyone thinks he is.”

Ollie studied the complicated expression on Rory’s face.

“Along with your other belongings,” Rory began, “they’ll send someone round to talk through the conditions of your suspended sentence. It’s usually community service and a curfew, that kind of thing.”

Ollie nodded. He bit his lip. “So…how have you been?”

“How have I been?”

“It’s been over a year.”

Rory sighed. “Things are good now, but when I first got out…” He shook his head. “Do you remember the art class where I attacked Pauly?”

“How could I forget? You hulked out in front of me.”

“Do you remember why?”

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