"I know," she replied, taking the envelope and stuffing it back into her bag. "My lawyer told me the same thing, since I was the victim of the assault. But he also said that of the women that James has done this to, I'm the only survivor. My testimony could potentially put him away for longer than he might get without testimony. The prosecution is going for life."
Heath looked at her carefully. "And what do you think about that?" he asked her neutrally.
Drew sighed. What, indeed? "I don't want to do this," she admitted quietly. "I don't want to sit in a courtroom with him, in the same room as him, where he can look at me and think about me and remember what he did to me." She bit her lip. "But then I think about those women, the ones who didn't get up and walk away, and I feel like I have to do it for them, and their families and their friends." She paused again, staring at a spot on his desk. "I would have wanted the same thing done for me."
Heath nodded slowly. "I think you're brave enough to handle that," he said.
Drew scoffed. "You joking?" she demanded. "Where have you been the last month?"
Heath shrugged. "I saw you get attacked in this very same gym, and then come back shortly after that anyway," he said. "I've seen you battle through your anxiety issues, face down a crowd of drunken assholes and walk through them even though you were scared. I've seen you take your own well-being into your own hands, with coming to the gym, taking up boxing. You live by yourself, you take care of yourself, and you're still working toward your dreams." Heath lifted his eyebrows at her. "That takes balls, in my opinion. You might be struggling emotionally, but you've picked yourself back up. Try to think of this trial as one last 'fuck you, you didn't break me'."
"But maybe he did," Drew replied.
Heath shook his head. "No way," he said firmly. "I see you," he added. "I don't know you well, but I know balls when I see them."
The statement was so funny, sounded so wrong to both their ears, that they burst out laughing. As Drew quieted down, she weighed his words and flushed under his praise.
"We'll see," she said. "I've still got a little while to decide." Heath nodded. Drew folded her lips inward, studying him, casting about for a new subject. "I don't think I told you," she began, almost shyly. "But, I'm quitting Cliff's. This is my last weekend working there."
Heath's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, really?" he asked. "I thought you need all thirty million of your jobs."
Drew chuckled. "I'm getting closer to my goal," she said proudly. "And to be honest, three jobs are just too much. I like my 'me' time and it feels like I never get any. And I hate working nights, and weekend nights at that, and downtown. It has to go."
"Well, good," he said. "If you're happy, I'm happy."
She glanced at her watch. She had enough time to get home and squeeze in an hour nap before she had to start getting ready for her shift.
"Well, I better be going," she said lightly.
He rose with her. "Thanks for the food," he said. "You did not need to do that. I appreciate it."
She smiled and lifted a shoulder. "Anytime," she replied. "Like I said, I feel like I sort of owed you."
He held up a hand, waving her off. "Stop with that shit," he said, but gave her a half-smile to take the sting out of his words. "You don't owe me anything." He opened his office door and walked with her through the gym. Several women instantly had disappointed and jealous looks on their faces at the sight of them together, Drew noted.
"Looks like your fan club isn't happy to see you with me," she commented as they passed through the gym.
Heath shrugged, staring straight ahead. "Not worried about them," he replied. He pushed open the front door and a cool, misty blast of air hit them. "You taking the bus home?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "I need to get in a nap before work. I'm exhausted."
"Must have been all that snoring last night," Heath teased gently, and Drew whirled to look at him.
"Excuse me?" she demanded. "I don't snore."
"Right, of course," Heath said. "My mistake. Of course you don't. That must have been Rocky."
"Rocky does snore," Drew insisted. "So, yeah. It probably was."
Heath smirked and nodded. "Sure. Blame the cat."
Drew sputtered and shoved his shoulder. "I do not snore!" she said. She smiled. "Jerk."
He smiled back, a rare, real smile, and it made Drew bold enough to step forward and wrap her arms around his torso. It was still new, still felt somewhat alien, but at the same time, it was so nice and it was getting easier. Plus, he was warm, and solid, and smelled amazingly. She felt his arms slip around her and reveled in the way he slowly gathered her into himself, his arms tightening around her in such a way that made her feel safe and secure.