One Heart (One Kiss Book 2)

13. Forgiveness

Drew

I enter the kitchen where I know my mother would be. I find her sitting at the table with Richard. They are holding hands on top of the table.

I clear my throat to announce my presence. When my mother glances my way, I notice that her eyes are red. Was she crying? Why?

"Sorry to interrupt." I do not know what else to say. They just stare at me so I continue the only way I know how. "I just came to apologize for what I said to you." I address my mother. "You didn't deserve that. I'm sorry to both of you. I didn't realize how happy you both are together."

My mother gives me a slight smile. "Thank you. I forgive you...only if you promise to come to the wedding."

I give her my best honest smile. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

My mother stands up and walks toward me to give me the tightest hug ever. "You need to buy a tux."

I stiffen and look at her in shock and she lets go of me. "You must be fucking with me, right?"

She doesn't look like she is fucking with me. Her face is dead serious.

"No way. I am not wearing a tux." I refuse to wear a fucking tux.

"You can wear a simple suit then," my mother offers.

"Fine," I agree. I hate formal wear but I am willing to wear such clothing for my mother's sake. "There's something else I wanted to tell you."

She looks concerned. "What is it?"

"Alone," I add.

"That's my cue to leave," Richard says as he stands up.

I thank him before he leaves the kitchen.

"Let's sit." Once we're settled, I continue. "I made a mistake in college. I went to a party and I had a few drinks." She listens to me without interrupting and I appreciate it. "A girl drugged me and took me to a bedroom. I lost consciousness so I don't really know what happened between us. Afterwards I was told she tends to drug guys to sleep with them and she blackmails them so they don't report her."

"Does Haley know?"

"Yes, I told her this morning."

"Is this girl the reason you and Haley weren't speaking to each other?"

I nod without saying anything.

"So why are you telling me this now? Do you want to report her?"

"I already did. We are going to court on Monday. Can you come?"

"I need to inform my boss but I will do everything I can to come with you." She takes my hand and squeezes it in hers.

---

Today is the day. I am very nervous. I have never been this nervous in my life. I feel sweat under my arms. I hope I do not smell.

"Do I smell?" I ask Haley who is sitting next to me in the backseat of my mother's car.

She sniffs. "Yes."

Great, I think to myself.

She adds, "You have a strong smell of cologne." She is messing with me. She knows I am anxious and she is trying to ease my tension. I love this girl so much. "Lighten up. Everything will be fine." She cannot know that for sure. "Ashley hired the best lawyer for you."

"I did," my mother jumps in. "Andrew is awesome at his job. He has been doing this for over ten years. He's a pro."

I nod slowly, still uncertain, and blow out a huge breath.

"We're here," my mother announces as she pull into a parking space.

Haley takes my hand and smiles at me. "Ready to get this over with?"

"Not really." I admit.

"Let's crush this." She has enough energy for the both of us. She pulls me out of the car with her and I have no choice but to follow her.

When we arrive at the entrance of the court, my mother goes to look for Andrew. Haley and I come across Jessica Porter. I recognize her platinum blond hair.

"Can I talk to you before we start?" Jessica asks as soon as she notices my presence.

I shake my head and Haley voices my thoughts. "I don't think so."

"Please." She begs. "It will only take a minute."

I change my mind. "Your minute starts now."

She looks at Haley then back at me.

"She stays," I tell Jessica, referring to Haley. There is no way I will leave Haley's side to speak to this slut.

"Fine," Jessica spits out. "Nothing really happened between us."

What now? What is she going on about? "What do you mean? You drugged me and took off my clothes." I remind her just in case she forgot. I was drugged but I still remember a few things.

"Yes but nothing else happened after you lost consciousness. I just wanted people to think something happened between us."

I do not understand. "Why would you want that?"

"I just want people to see me. I was invisible for a long time. When I came to college, I hooked up with someone and suddenly everyone saw me. I wanted more of that so I started drugging guys to make everyone think I was hooking up with them."

"Why drug them? Why not just hook up with them for real?" Haley asks as confused as I am.

"I do not actually want to hook up with anyone. I only do it for popularity."

"Aren't you worried that it might backfire and no guy will ever want to date you?" Haley asks trying to understand.

"No." She shrugs.

"Can you prove that nothing happened between us?" I ask.

Jessica pulls out something from her purse and hands it to me. It is a pendrive.

"There's a video of what happened," she explains. "Please drop the charges, for both our sakes. I know you were drinking alcohol under age. Everyone was."

She is right.