Page 82 of Adoring Delaney

“Not even a little bit. Cried all the way home. Dad just put her to bed and he was headed that way himself when we were getting off the phone.”

I hated that. Much like my mom, Lily was crushed. Lenox didn’t look much better and Ethan had taken it harder than I’d thought. Though he was a Lenox man—therefore I should’ve expected his reaction.

“I’m sorry, honey,” I whispered.

“So am I. But my dad will see her through. I hope you know mom’s gonna hover for a while. You know how she gets. She’s gonna stick close until she can ascertain you’re all right.”

“I know. My mom’s doing the same.”

“You sure you’re okay with my mom and yours telling the rest of the family?”

That was something we’d discussed. I didn’t want to keep telling the story but everyone needed to know. It may’ve been the chickenshit thing to do but the one thing I knew was everyone would understand.

“Yeah, after I tell my sisters. I texted Quinn and the twins and asked them over tomorrow for lunch.”

“You need me to be here?”

That was pure Carter, he’d leave work and come home and sit by my side when I talked to my sisters if I needed him to.

“No. I’ll be okay.”

“You sure? I know how hard it is for you to talk about it.”

“It was. But I’m finding it a little easier. It helps knowing that others will remember her, too.”

“If you change your mind, call me. I’ll come home.”

“I know you will. Thank you.”

“Speaking of my sisters.” I started but paused when he pulled his shirt over his head. “We need to talk about Quinn.”

“Laney—”

“Don’t interrupt me,” I snapped. “I should be pissed you pulled that stunt sending her in to do your bidding. But…”

He was down to his boxers and coming toward the bed and I had to get this out of the way.

“But what?” he prompted.

“I’m gonna preface this by saying, you still might not be right.”

Carter’s face changed and his eyes narrowed. “What happened?”

“Nothing really. I’m sure I’m overthinking this because you’ve put crazy thoughts in my head, but Natalie was acting a little weird.”

“Weird how?”

Carter’s voice had taken on a hard edge full of worry and I rushed to explain. “Maybe not weird, but she was being really nosy. It went beyond normal questions. At least I thought so. I know some people lack social grace and don’t understand when they’re prying but something felt off.”

“What was she asking?”

“A lot of questions about Parkside. She even asked if the high school had fitted the front entrance with metal detectors and call boxes. When she noticed I was uncomfortable she told me she was curious because she’d seen on the news how most schools were locked down. And she asked a lot of questions about you. Where you lived, specifically if you lived with me, and she asked what you did for a living.”

“What’d you tell her?”

“That we live together and you are a security consultant and expert.”

“Good.” He smiled, pleased with my answer. “What about the school?”

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