Chapter 35
CARTER
We returned to the group afterward. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I liked to see her like this: carefree and happy. For weeks she’d seemed to be carrying a weight on her shoulders, and I was glad that was over today.
Val was successful. Many would like to take her down. I’d stand between her and anyone who tried—they’d see exactly how ruthless I could be. They wouldn’t get past me.
She loved me. I had no idea what I’d done to deserve this—to deserve her.
Everyone was chatting animatedly as Val and I sat down. She looked furtively around the table, as if trying to gauge if anyone had noticed our absence.
Jace grinned, catching on immediately. “Don’t worry, sis. We all saw you disappear around that corner. Will and I were betting on how long it would take you to come back. He actually thought you wouldn’t come back at all.”
Will groaned. Jace winked at his sister. “But I had a little more faith in you. I knew you wouldn’t ditch us.”
“Of course not.” Val’s cheeks went pink. She was adorable.
Hailey cocked a brow at Will and Jace. “You two are taking hazing to a whole new level.”
“We learned from the masters,” Jace volleyed back.
Landon cleared his throat from a few seats away. “Jace, I’m changing my mind about letting you give that speech.”
“Way to have faith in me.”
Val blinked. “A speech?”
Jace stood, taking a glass of champagne.
The chatter around the table died down. “I know Landon is the speech master in the family, but I want to say a few words. We’re all proud of you, Val, and we’ll always have your back, no matter what.
I hope you know that, but it’s worth repeating.
We’re all happy things worked out today.
A big thanks to Carter for stepping up to the plate and looking after Val. To Val and Carter.”
Val’s smile was a little wobbly as we all clinked glasses. I squeezed her hand under the table.
While we dug into our dinner, Hailey captured Val’s attention.
“We’re making plans for a girls’ evening out right now. We haven’t had one in a long time,” said Hailey.
“I know. Things have just been a bit crazy.”
“Well, I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Val nodded, then said, “Okay. Carter, can you pull up the calendar app on my phone, please? My hands are sticky from the wings.”
I took her cell phone from the table, pulling up her electronic calendar.
Something wasn’t right. Most of the events in the afternoon were crossed off.
I swiped back to the previous weeks and saw most of her afternoon activities had a red line over them.
Did past events automatically cross off?
No, that wasn’t it, because all the past events that were in the mornings still looked normal.
We still hadn’t found someone to spend the afternoons with Peyton and April, which meant Val and I were alternating working afternoons from home. I’d insisted that I could work from home every afternoon, or April could watch Peyton on her own until we found someone, but Val wouldn’t hear of it.
I’d been so lost in my hectic schedule that I hadn’t realized she’d canceled so much.
“This evening here is free,” Val commented.
Hailey clapped her hands, asking the rest of the girls at the table, and then declaring it a done deal. April was giving me the evil eye because she’d wanted to ask Val to let her tag along on girls’ nights out, but I told her she could only ask after she turned eighteen.
I hadn’t wanted to bring up the issue of her canceled events while we were celebrating, but on our way to the car, I did address it.
“Val, I had a look at your calendar. You didn’t tell me that you’d canceled so many of your afternoon meetings and events for weeks.”
“Of course I did. I told you I’d make time.”
“Yes, but you don’t have to stop doing the things you enjoy.”
“I’ll just reschedule them.”
She brushed off the whole issue, but I didn’t feel as if anything was resolved.