Lily

"Today is a lovely day. Don't you think so, Ms. Livingston?"

She looks up from her phone as people walk by. "Lily, you do realize in less than ten minutes you have to speak about a man who kidnapped and nearly sexually assaulted you, right?"

"Yes, I know. I'm fully prepared to speak about it. Which brings me back to my opening question; isn't today a lovely day?"

She frowns. "How do you figure? I guarantee there's been far better days than this."

"I'm tired of keeping quiet. I'm tired of being manipulated, gaslighted, and treated without the respect I deserve. I love everyone on this Earth deeply, but I think it's time that Lily Hernandez stops being used as everyone's personal punchin' bag. And today I finally get to do that." I face her with a smile. "So I think today is one to remember, don't you?"

She stares at me for a moment before smiling. "Yes. Yes, I do."

My smile grows wider as I think of Theo. "Oh, I just know Muffin will be so proud of me."

"Who's Muffin?"

I blush. "The man I'm going to marry someday, Charlotte. There are many labels for Theo Acquire. My boyfriend. My hero. The love of my life. Grumpy Gary. Mr. Boss. Lady pleaser. And so many others I think we'd sit here for a while, honey."

Her facial expression becomes serious at the mention of him. "Your boyfriend is facing serious accusations. Attempted murder and kidnapping, Lily."

Rage quickly appears inside of me. The only time I've gotten this angry was when Mama talked down about Diddy. But now, I've heard these wild accusations about Theo, and I get heated instantly every time.

"My Muffin has done no such thing and if one more person tells me that, I think I'm just going to flip a table!"

"Lily, I k-'"

"He simply protected me. If he hadn't shown up and did what he did, that man would have raped and killed me and wouldn't think twice about it. I don't believe violence is the answer at any time, but if someone puts my Muffin in prison for somethin' he didn't do, the bat-electric-cord combo will be making an appearance today." I make sure she is staring into my eyes before continuing. "You'll make sure he doesn't go right, Charlotte?"

"I'll do everything in my power, Lily." She stuffs her phone in her purse and stands up straight. I follow her actions as many people crowd in the courtroom. "Come on. You've got a story to tell."

I shove my hands in my dress pocket and gulp as I follow behind her in the courtroom. I glance around, trying to adjust. There aren't many people. No jury, someone shouting or arguing like what I see on television. Some business people in the back stare at me. The judge glances at me, the prosecutor, everyone but the one I want stares at me. I look around further but see no sign of him.

I take a seat at a table across from the prosecutor as Ms. Livingston walks out of the courtroom, her heels clicking against the tile ground loudly. A security guard appears in front of everyone.

"All rise." He says. Everyone stands up except the judge. "Department one of the superior court is now in session. Judge Mayland is presiding. Please be seated."

I sit down with everyone else. Judge Mayland runs a hand over her face as she leans forward. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the people of New York versus Theo Acquire, are both sides ready?"

One of the security guards asks me to move to a seat in the back, and I do so. Ms. Livingston appears after Judge Mayland says this. On the side of her, three police officers and a man I can't see yet in between them. As they come closer, my heart breaks when I finally see who it is. Cuffs sit on Theo's arms as he sits down. He wears an orange jumpsuit. A medium stubble has grown and his hair has gotten a bit longer. A small cut rests on his bottom lip and cheek, but other than that he looks like hasn't been touched at all. I gulp and try to hold in the tears that were trying to escape. I needed to keep it together for him.

Ms. Livingston and the prosecutor stand behind their tables. Folders, binders, files spread across both of them. They turn to Judge Mayland and smile in sync. "Ready, your Honor." They both reply.

Judge Mayland nods tiredly. "Good. Let's make this quick, shall we?"

"Your Honor, the defendant has been charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. The evidence will show that the defendant was proved as the last person seen with the victim and pictures taken of the man he also tried to murder." The prosecutor states, and my blood boils.

Charlotte stands straighter. "Your Honor, under the law, my client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. You will find no real evidence against my client. You will come to the truth: that Theo Acquire was simply defending himself and the victim as any other person would have done in the situation."

Judge Mayland orders the prosecutor to order her first witness and she displays pictures taken of the damage done to the man that tried to rape me. Once that is done, she calls me up and I follow orders. I take a seat at the witness stand and tell them my name. Theo's head lifts from the floor, and I swear my heart stops when his eyes meet mine. They somehow lighten and he stares at me with a small smile as I try to keep the tears from falling.

I look away before I can do so. Out of the corner of my eye, I see his eyes never leave me. The prosecutor questions me regarding what Theo did to the man and, after countless times of saying I was barely conscious enough to see it, she stops.

Ms. Livingston and the prosecutor go back and forth in front of Judge Mayland. After around thirty minutes, she makes me tell the Judge what happened. My hands shake, lips quiver slightly, and fear begins to enter my body at having to remember everything. I glance at Theo and he rubs the top of his jumpsuit. That makes me glance down at my shirt and when I touch my necklace, he repeats his actions. I finally understand what he is doing and turn away. I rub my necklace the same way he did his jumpsuit. It calms me down as always.

I love him so much.

I exhale a deep breath before speaking. "Two weeks ago, two days after my birthday, I was kidnapped by my mother. My boyfriend, the defendant, had just dropped me off at my interview. I don't know how or why, but my mother knew I was there. After he drove away, just as I was about to walk into building, I was hit in the head with something I can't quite remember. A bag was thrown over my face and the next thing I knew, I was on a mattress inside of a house I had never been to before."

"Go on, dear." Judge Mayland encourages, and I nod.

"A man stood in front of me. The same man my mother had visited throughout the years calling him her 'friend.' Now I'm not dumb. I tried to escape a couple times. He caught me, told Mama and well she beat me."

Ms. Livingston steps forward. "How long has this gone on, Ms. Hernandez?"

"My mother has been mentally abusing me since I was six years old. The physical abuse started about three years ago." I respond and see Theo smile at me from the corner of my eye.

Ms. Livingston continues to ask more questions, and I tell her everything. All of it. Everything I've kept bottled up for years that I thought I would never gather the want nor courage to do. And this time I don't give mama an excuse or benefit of the doubt. I tell them the truth and nothin' but the truth.

Ms. Livingston and the Prosecutor go back and forth again, stating words I don't think I've ever heard in my life and paperwork. After ten minutes, Judge Mayland speaks.

"Ladies, enough. I've heard more than enough." She faces the prosecutor. "There has been no evidence presented to me to prove the defendant has committed any of your accusations, Ms. Perez. The man you claim he tried to murder sits perfectly fine in prison as we speak and the witness just stated her mother kidnapped her."

"But, Your Hon-"

"The only action the defendant committed was self-defense. All charges against the defendant have been dropped. He is suspended from work for twelve days and will have to pay a two-thousand dollar fine for misdemeanor," She hits the gavel. "Court is adjourned."

I go over the words she has just said and when I realize Theo isn't going to prison, my eyes widen and I rush off of the witness stand. Before I have time to look at Theo, he is gone with the police officers he came with. I turn to Charlotte with a frown. "But he's not going to prison. Why is he leaving again?"

She smiles and places her hands on my shoulder. "Calm down. He has to go through a bunch of legal stuff first. That should only take about two days. Then he'll be home and you guys can forget about all of this, all right?"

I don't think I'll be able to forget any of this, unfortunately.

She collects everything from the table and wraps her arm around my shoulder. "We won, Lily. Where's that cheerful smile you're always wearing? The man who kidnapped and nearly assaulted you is in prison. The woman who has abused you for years is in prison. Trust me, they won't be getting out anytime soon. Smile!"

A smile forms on my face slowly as she leads me out of the courtroom. I hug her tightly when we reach the hallway. "Thank you. You're an amazing woman, Charlotte. I couldn't ask for a better aunt and friend."

She pats my back. "You're more than welcome, Lily. Tell your father to start calling me, will you? I'm his sister, not grandma. I should at least get a phone call twice a day, you know?"

"Will do!"

For the next two days, I am practically hopping around like a little bunny. I go to Diana and Dante's place and tell them the good news. Val, Audrey and Diddy go to their house as well and we all celebrate. I ended up falling asleep there. The next day, Diana takes me to the interview I never got to go to, and she never leaves my side the whole time. We go back to their place and I end up falling asleep again. I don't wake up until three in the afternoon and when I realize Theo is coming home today, I immediately rush home.

I take a deep breath before I unlock the door. I open it and see all the lights are on. My favorite cherry air freshener hits my nose immediately. "Theo?" I whisper-shout, stepping inside.

Within an instant, Theo comes flying down the hall and before I can take my next blink, he is lifting me in his arms and pressing kisses all over me. I giggle. "Hi, Muffin!" I say, wrapping my legs around his waist to keep from falling.

He shuts the door behind me and backs me up against it. I gasp when he begins sucking and kissing my neck as his hands run down my body. He holds my head in his hands and my body immediately warms up to him. Then finally, his lips meet mine. Harshly at first, as if he has been starved of it. Dominant. Eager. Possessive. Then he slowly calms down. The kiss turns into one of softness and he pecks my lips one last time before pulling away.

I breathe heavily, my face red and chest heaving rapidly. "I missed you." He says huskily and my insides tingle.

I laugh nervously as he continues to stare at me like he wants to murder me. "I see! I missed you too, Muffin!" I reply and touch his clean-shaven face. He must have shaven before I arrived.

Muffin presses his forehead against mine. "And I'm proud of you, Lily. So fucking proud."

I smile widely. "Thank you. It was you who made me want to. I feel like a boss, you know!"

He glances at my lips with the same murderous expression. I kiss his nose. "Muffin, smile. You're worrying me."

He kisses my cheek before setting me down to the ground. Muffin faces me and I breathe a sigh of relief when he finally reveals that heart-stopping smile. His smile lines and shiny white teeth appearing. "Don't be. I'm more than fine." He says, walking in the kitchen.

I follow behind. "What's wrong?"

My eyes water at the thought forming in my head. Am I too much? Does he not want to be with me anymore? Have I pushed him away? Oh my goodness gracious, I have.

He chuckles. "Lily, I've met your father, been arrested and put in county jail all in the span of three weeks. It's going to be a while before either of us completely returns to normal." He starts the coffee pot as I take a seat on one of the chair stools. "Not to mention I missed you like crazy and I want to fuck you restlessly on the counte-"

He turns around with a smirk, but it quickly falls when he sees my expression. "Baby, what's wrong? Talk to me."

I grip the hem of my shirt. "You don't want to be with me anymore, do you, Muffin? If you don't, it's quite all right, I get it. I've got drama nearly every day, I can never seem to stop runnin' my mouth. I don't know how to stay out of trouble and my own mama doesn't even love me anymore. So, if you've decided I'm just not what you want anymore, I underst-"

"Lily." He walks to me and stands in front of me. "Listen to the words I'm about to say very clearly."

"All right."

"I want to fuckin' marry you. I want you to have my children. I want to go to the beach and watch the fuckin' waves with you. I want to do every fucking corny couple activity with you and I want to die with you. Are we clear?"

"That's a lot of f-bombs, you k-"

He rubs his thumb on my bottom lip. "Are we clear?"

I gulp and nod. "As clear as the school hallways on a Saturday morning, sugar."

He smiles and stands up. "Good. Vivo and I made you a movie."

I laugh and follow him into the living room. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

Muffin sits on the sofa and I lay on him. He rests his hand on my stomach just as he presses a movie with a picture of Vivo and him on it. I didn't even know that was possible. The title reads: For Lily with credits at the bottom: Theo Acquire and Vivo Hernandez Acquire. I smile widely at Muffin adding his last name onto Vivo, and tears sit at the corner of my eyes before it even begins.

He says he got home this morning and wants to surprise me with it before pressing play. We watch the movie and by the time it's done, I am smiling and crying happily. The whole movie is about Muffin training Vivo. They both wear a headband around their heads as they train. One part makes me snort in laughter, which Muffin makes fun of me about. Theo stands in front of Vivo as he runs on his hamster wheel, running with him. At the end of the movie, Vivo goes up against Theo and Vivo beats him.

"I didn't use to be this weird before I met you." Muffin grumbles after I congratulate Vivo on his win.

I laugh and pull him closer. "You also didn't smile before I met you."

"I love you." He replies, fidgeting with his fingers, and I just know he's done something he had no business to do.

"What did you do, Muffin?"

"I broke one of your pink mugs the day everything happened." He says.

I knew it!

I stand up from the sofa with a smile. "You're sleepin' on the sofa tonight, Theo."

He rushes behind me as I enter the bedroom. I giggle as he tackles me to the bed, wrapping his arms around me. "No. Anything but that, Lily. I haven't gotten to hug you like this in what feels like forever."

I play with his hair and shake my head. "Well, we're not doing 'it' so don't even think about it. I don't even think my body can stay awake right now for all of that."

He reaches up and turns the light off. "Fine by me." Muffin lifts the blanket and pulls it over us. He lays his head on my stomach and wraps his arms around me. "As long as you're in my arms, I'll be just fine, baby."