Married To Baseball

Olivia Taylor.

Jailyn~

Pacing the room I'd met the Taylors in, I ignore Christian's watchful eye as I run through every possible scenario that could happen here. Deliberation only started about thirty minutes ago, and my head has been racing the entire time. Jessica and Christian are the only two in the room with me; the Taylors left to get something to eat shortly after we were dismissed, and my family did the same once I told them I needed a little time to think. Christian and Jessica were the only ones left who were allowed in our private room.

I'm not sure how much time passes before I finally stop pacing to ask the question I've been asking myself this whole time, "Am I fucking crazy?" both Jessica and Christian give me a look as if asking to elaborate, "Like I can't wrap my head around how it feels like things went almost too well for us."

Neither of them answers right away, letting me continue talking it out out loud, "Like I know I can have a little bit of an ego from time to time, but did it not feel like Michael really didn't have a leg to stand on?"

Jessica nods, "I've only interacted with him a couple of times before, but he usually seems more prepared than he did the last couple of days." That doesn't help me at all as to the why of it all.

"They offered a plea deal, didn't they?" I ask, knowing the answer is yes, "Why wouldn't he have pushed the shitbag to take it?"

"Just based on how poorly the defence was structured, I'd imagine he did," Jessica replies, "Nick probably refused it. He's been pretty openly arrogant this whole time, I would assume he had that during the plea."

"He's always been an arrogant fucking prick," I confirm, "Even so as much as I hate to admit it, he's not totally stupid. He had to have known he's not likely to get off clean here, especially not once Olivia's case starts next week."

"I don't know Jai," Jessica states.

"He had some angle in going through all of this," I state. Even though I wouldn't put it past him, I don't think it was just to fuck with me. He cares too much about himself to completely tank his reputation, what little of that he had. Maybe that's it. . . "That muther fucking bitch," I say probably louder than I should, "He fucking knew either way he was going to jail, why not make it a fucking spectical by taking it to trial and getting it televised. Just my name being attached alone made it a high-profile case. That fucking weasel has always wanted to be famous, I somehow thought a little higher of him than to go to this extent."

"You think he did all of this, just for a little name recognition?" Christian asks.

"No," I state, shaking my head, "As soon as my name was attached, any shot of him taking a plea went out the window. Knowing what Jessica has on him for Olivia's case, he's fucking stupid for not taking the plea. Once my name was attached, he knew the case would get attention more than just Oh, this loser killed his girlfriend."

Jessica raises her brows a moment, "I guess it makes sense. Clearly, he thinks highly of himself, and he was about as dumb as a person could be when it comes to killing someone and trying to get away with it. The only time I think I've seen anyone with this much evidence stacked against them not even try to negotiate a plea was during the Waukesha Parade trial."

"That guy was just plain batshit though," I point out. "I was already going to feel shitty enough if he gets jail time out of this, now that he's sensationalizing it because of me?"

"JJ," Christian starts, a small sigh accompanying it. "I know how your head works, but you can't think like that. It doesn't help or change anything, and who knows what would have happened back then? For all you know, he'd have gotten off anyway or only gotten a couple of years."