window. I peeked through the window as the police swarmed the place. Brian's Navigator followed.
Bryce looked up at me in the window, pain in his eyes that he tried to hide. Brian stood there, a shit-eating grin plastered across his face as they shoved Bryce down into the police car, his hands cuffed behind his back. I wanted Brian dead. I hated him. I turned to the cross and apologized in my mind.
***
The police questioned me as Dad stood there, dumbfounded. He cried and it hurt — not in a good way — but I wouldn't apologize for who I was, what I wanted.
"She has Stockholm Syndrome, look at her. She's in shock."
"Daddy, I'm as sane as I've ever been. I couldn't tell you this before, but it's true. It's how I've been since I can remember."
"He brainwashed her." Dad pleaded with the officers but they said there was nothing they could do.
I walked from the room to the court clerk's window, and pulled out my checkbook.
Bryce was still being held on assault charges for beating the fuck out of Brian. I was the only witness and told police that Bryce had done nothing. It was the one thing I truly felt bad about, but Brian deserved it and I wanted my man free. I started to write a check for his bail when the door buzzed and Bryce stood in the frame, smiling at me. Dad started to rush Bryce, but the police restrained him.
"You devil! You are a dead man!"
Bryce stared at the floor. I could tell he didn't like the conflict. He didn't want to take me from my family, but it's what I wanted. It's what he wanted. I knew it. Being apart would be agony. Brian and his family rushed in through the doors.
"What the fuck is that monster doing? Why isn't he cuffed?" Brian stood there, both eyes black, a splint covering his nose. I giggled.
"I-I'm sorry. There is nothing we can do. There is no evidence he did this to you," said the sheriff.
"This is the fucking evidence, you keystone cop motherfucker!" Brian motioned to his face.
"It's going to be tough to win re-election without our backing," Brian's father said.
"Look, his alibi is solid. He was with Esther the whole time. She says Brian made this all up. There is nothing I can do."
Bryce took my hand, his fingers intertwined with mine, and we walked past all of them.
"You'll pay for this shit, you animal!"
Bryce stared into Brian's dad's eyes and he cowered in fear.
Bryce turned and faced me in front of all of them. "I love you. I want to be with you. It's up to you."
Tears streamed down Dad's face and Brian's family seethed with anger. I looked at Dad. "I-I'm sorry, I love him."
Dad's face softened the tiniest bit.
"I don't want to lose you, Dad. Please, just let me be happy." I pleaded and begged.
Dad's fists clenched at his sides. He stared at Bryce, and then back at me. He looked like he was afraid of losing me. "Okay—" He nodded and looked up at Bryce again. "Okay. Please take care of my baby." He looked back at me, the tears in his eyes ripping me up inside. "Please, just don't disappear."
Bryce held out his hand to Dad and Dad took it. "I promise, sir."
I ran and hugged Dad and he squeezed me back. "I love you. No matter what."
"I love you too, Daddy."
Bryce took my hand and we walked out the door of the station to his bike. He handed me a helmet and I climbed on and stared back at Dad. When Bryce turned the key and I gripped his ribs, everything felt right with the world. It was where I belonged. It was everything I'd ever wanted.
I waved to Dad and blew him a kiss. When he turned I shot Brian's family the finger and felt Bryce's ribs bounce as he chuckled.
Bryce turned his wrist and we blasted down the road until my small town disappeared behind us.
SIX MONTHS LATER
I stared down at the small diamond on my left ring finger and my heart fluttered. Bryce and I had immediately gone to the courthouse in the nearest city after we'd left and got married. I insisted on it. I didn't want to have wild, crazy sex and it be a sin any longer. I was
Jan (ILT) J. C.; Gerardi Greenburg