Page 130 of Axe-identally Married
Burying my face in her hair, I inhaled deeply. “Thank you. For believing in me.”
She turned toward me, cupping my face. “I’m not the only one. You think you’re alone, Cole, but you’re not. We will fight this.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I’m your wife,” she whispered, and I swore my heart seized up in my chest. “I’ll never stop fighting for you.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Cole
Iwas sent to shower and nap while Willa bossed people around. I’d progressed from the brain fog stage to the vomiting stage of recovery and had spent most of the day with my head in the toilet. That FBI agent, Portnoy, who’d been at Jude’s house had stopped by briefly. He was a complete asshole. Smart, though, and Parker seemed satisfied with the questions he’d asked me. I wasn’t sure how helpful I was with the way my thoughts had blurred, but at this point, I had nothing to lose.
The rage boiling up inside me—not just for me, but for all the kids who’d lost their hockey arena last night—didn’t help.
The ice rink was more than just an ugly building from the ’70s. For decades, it had been a home for so many kids like me who needed an outlet, who needed a place where they could find themselves.
Whether I was headed to jail or not, my primary concern was the Lovewell kids who’d lost that special place. I doubted Arthur had the money to fix it, and I’d be surprised if he had an insurance policy hefty enough to do much good.
My chest tightened painfully with guilt. Yes, I’d been drugged, but the damage had been done, and regardless of who the mastermind behind it was, I was responsible for it. I couldn’t imagine the rumors that had been flying around town. I’d worked so hard to earn the respect of my community over the last year, but I was the son of Mitch Hebert, so it had probably been a waste of my time from the start.
Whatever happened, I’d deal with it. Right now, I was too tired to even think. So I lay in my lonely bed and closed my eyes.
I’d just drifted off when a clatter outside had my eyes flying open. I remained prone, too tired to move, and after a moment, let my lids lower again.
“Cole.”
I looked to the doorway, where Willa was standing. Even blurry, she looked like a beautiful angel.
“Cole, get up.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I think you need to see this for yourself.”
Groaning, I hauled myself to sitting, and when I stumbled to my feet, I stretched, smacking my hands on the ceiling beam above me.
Willa shuffled in and embraced me. “Come,” she said, pulling back and grabbing my hands.
I staggered out behind her, letting her lead me to the front door. She stepped into her boots and motioned for me to do the same. Leaning against the wall, I slid one foot in. She helped adjust it, then we repeated the move with the other boot.
When I straightened, she pulled open the door, revealing a crowd of people. On the wraparound porch, and in the driveway, there were people everywhere outside our little cottage.
“What’s going on?”
She looked around, her lips tipping up. “I made some calls.”
I stepped outside, instantly finding my team.
“Coach,” they squealed. The girls were dressed in their jerseys, wearing the knitted hats I’d made them, holding hockey sticks.
“We’re here to defend you,” Goldie Gagnon declared.
The other girls nodded, their faces serious. Some of their parents were sipping coffee and chatting on the porch.
There was no stopping the grin that spread across my face.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” This from Olivia. “We know you’d never hurt the rink.”
