Page 76 of Second Draft

“Did he…” A muscle in Carter’s jaw bunches. “I need to know if he hurt you?”

“He didn’t mean to.” My words are slurred, each one an effort to say.

“Did he hit you?”

“No.”

Carter breathes out a heavy breath and nods.

“I’m so tired.”

“Rest.” He presses his against my forehead.

“Don’t leave.” My eyes shut, and I feel myself being pulled back into the warmth of sleep.

“I won’t leave either of you. I promise.”

Chapter 29

Carter

“How is she?” Travis hovers by the hospital room door, his grief-stricken gaze resting on Layla.

I grind my back teeth and take a steadying breath, the baby in my arms the only thing stopping me from lashing out at my brother.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“I know.” He winces and looks down at the floor. “I just wanted to check on her. On...” His gaze drops to the bundle in my arms and his eyes widen slightly. “He’s…small.”

“Babies are,” I grunt, holding Joshua closer, every possessive instinct stirring inside me.

“I know. I’ve just never seen one so new.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Did she name him?”

“Joshua.”

“After Dad?” His brows draw up.

I nod.

“That’s good. He would have liked that.”

Layla stirs, but she doesn’t wake.

“What did the police say?” I ask, watching him suspiciously. I hate that it’s come to this between us, but I don’t know how things will ever be different now.

Travis shifts from one foot to the other nervously.

“They took my statement. The paramedics called them when they saw my hand. They wanted to know if I…hit her. I’m not sure if they believed me. I think they’re going to want to talk to Layla when she’s awake.”

“She told me that you didn’t hit her.”

Relief floods his face, like he wasn’t sure what she’d say. “The police want me to stay in town for a couple days.”

I narrow my gaze on him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll just go back to the house to get my stuff. I’ll be gone before she’s ready to go home.”

I don’t say anything, just watch him, feeling the chasm that’s between us. Maybe it’s always been there, or maybe I put it there. I just know that I barely know the man standing in front of me.

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