Rape?

The officer named Bruce shoves Ashley down in the car before turning back to me, but the blonde haired man takes over.

“There are several other charges, too. We’ll have to book her and then she’ll have her court date, which will be appointed at a later time. At this time, I’d advise you to call her lawyer then come down to the station with us to receive full details. Other than that, there’s nothing you can do,” he shrugs.

My head is spinning. I barely manage to process his words. Rape? In a matter of minutes, our celebration had turned into a nightmare.

“Okay,” I choke out. “Can I talk with her at least before you go?”

I plead with my eyes and give him my best puppy dog pout, knowing that he would be the more likely of the two to fold.

“I—I shouldn’t…”

Lip quiver.

“Fine, but you have to hurry up,” he mumbles.

I move past the man to fling the door open, hugging her as soon as I climb into the backseat.

“Ash, baby, it’s okay. I’m going to get you out, all right? Just give me some time,” I whisper, just barely loud enough for her to hear. Bruce grunts in the front seat but is preoccupied with talking on the police radio.

She gives me a grateful smile, doing her best to embrace me without the use of her arms.

“Are those cuffs too tight?” I worriedly ask, concern apparent in my voice. I look behind her and see the cold metal pinching her delicate skin. “They should loosen them. I’m going to tell them to loosen them. It isn’t right. It just isn’t right,” I ramble.

“It’s okay,” she assures me, “I’ll be fine.”

I’m not convinced.

“You do know that I didn’t rape anybody, right?” she bluntly asks.

“What? I know that!” then in a softer voice, “I think they mean,” I give a small motion between the two of us.

She let’s out a long ‘oh’. “Shit.”

“Don’t say anything. These pigs will look for anything that could even elude to you being guilty.”

She let’s out a small chuckle, seemingly unfazed by the whole situation. Surprisingly, I’m the one doing all the crying. She looks quite composed.