Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
LAW
I made the mistake of telling Chad that Carlie was getting home a day earlier than me. At least I’ve held off passing along her number until I hear from her. They didn’t get into Houston until almost eight a.m. Even if the kids were perfect on the plane, she’s definitely still sleeping. It’s only ten now. So I send her a quick text that hopefully doesn’t disturb her.
Law
Chad wants an interview today if possible. Text me when you wake up and if it’s okay to pass along your number.
I add some laughing emojis so she knows I’m not pressuring her.
I’m in the air before she answers. She uses some laughing emojis of her own.
Carlie
I understand his impatience. Go ahead and give him my number.
I text Chad her number, and less than five minutes later I get a single laughing emoji from Carlie. Chad, of course, wasted no time.
I can’t deny that I have selfish motives here. With Chad’s job and the unpredictability of when he gets called in, I’m pretty sure he’ll want Carlie living with them, probably in his guesthouse in the back. That means I could end up with her as my neighbor, and even though her job as Chad’s nanny might get intense, I can make excuses to see her often. The time I got to spend with her in Maui makes me crave more. I do want her to open up about why she’s taking her time with us, but her thanking me for letting her go slow made my night. Even Ivy was asking what my grin was about when I got back to our suite.
I have missed calls from my mom when I land, and that’s when I remember that I didn’t call her last night after Ivy and I got back. I had gone for a walk after we got back from the tour to make the call, knowing the beach would be calming. I never know what conversations with my mom will hold. Then I ran into Carlie and the McCombs kids and all thoughts of calling my mom flew out of my head.
My mom will have to wait even now, though. Ivy took a Let’s Ride home, so I’m “alone” in a private car, but I don’t want to have a conversation with my mom with a driver listening in.
I do call her the minute I step through my front door. Waiting any longer is only going to upset her more.
“Hello, son. Is everything okay?” Her tone is light, but false concern says everything about how she feels about me ghosting her last night.
I bite back a sigh, already wishing I’d ghosted her for a few more hours. “Everything is fine. You know how vacations can go. I was with friends last night and didn’t have an opportunity to call, and the time change makes it tricky.”
“Of course.” But her voice is tight.
I wait. Whatever she wants, she’ll have to come straight to it. I just don’t have the energy to dance around conversationally with my mom, and thoughts of relaxing have me feeling impatient even only a few minutes into the conversation. Despite the fact that my flight wasn’t a red-eye like Carlie’s, traveling all day still has me wiped. I’m going to relax in my hot tub with the new book I started on the plane. Ivy would certainly make fun of me if she knew, asking if I’d gotten out candles or something.
“There are pictures of you in some tabloids.”
I can’t help that a laugh escapes. That’s what was so pressing? “There are pictures of me in tabloids pretty regularly.”
“There’s a woman,” she says shortly.
Carlie’s been caught in pictures with me, probably, and I realize that I didn’t even think about that. Since my trade to the Pumas, people seem more invested in my social life. I’ve lived most of my life under a spotlight, first with my dad in politics and then my mom. This new scrutiny doesn’t bother me, but it might bother Carlie.
“Ivy?” I ask anyway. I’ve instructed my publicist to stop acknowledging when reporters even ask questions about our relationship. I may understand why people always think it’s more, but I’m done answering questions about something I’ve clarified over and over.
Mom lets out an exasperated sigh. “Would I be calling you over pictures with Ivy?” At least one person believes we’re just friends.
“Then I assume they are pictures of me with Carlie Gallagher.”
“Yes. I’ve discovered some concerning things about her. This is not the type of woman you should be associating with, Lawson.” If anyone ever needs evidence as to why I don’t like being called by my full name, they just need to hear my mom say it once and they’ll understand. It holds all the tone that being called by a pretentious name does, with a layer of I expect far better of you . Maybe even in some snotty, refined Southern accent.
“Mom, please stay out of my social life. And I disagree. Carlie’s exactly the type of woman I’d like to associate with. Kind, thoughtful, great with kids …” Just like any other mother, Mom wants grandkids, so I’ll use that to my advantage as often as I can.
“The girlfriend of a drug dealer,” she snaps.
I reel back, even though we’re on the phone. The first thing that comes to mind is how Carlie told me she had a stupid ex that made her irrationally cautious. The next is the way she froze up when Ivy asked for embarrassing stories, and how Jett told me Carlie’s story was more serious than most people’s.
I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. My time with her recently has earned her that. She’s everything I just told my mom and more. “That’s not what it looks like.”
My mom takes a beat. “Then you knew.”
“I know enough.” That’s not exactly a lie. She told me about having an ex that made her distrusting. I trust that eventually she’ll tell me the rest. We just haven’t had a chance to talk more about it.
“Lawson.” This time my mom takes a conciliatory tone. She’s handling me. “This doesn’t look good. Perhaps she is a very sweet woman, but?—”
“This is none of your business.” I make my tone final. “I’m not a politician, and I don’t need to worry how this looks. If it’s a problem for you, I’m sure your staff will find a way to spin it for your good.”
“Lawson—”
“Mom, it’s been a long day, and I’ve made myself clear. Have a good night.” I hang up before she can protest more.
I drag a hand down my face. Carlie would have told me if we’d had more time alone together in Maui. I’m sure of it. I figured she had baggage from an ex, and I want to give her opportunities to tell me on her own.
So I push aside the doubts my mom’s words created and take a deep breath. I channel the way I handled it on the phone with my mom—I’m sure Carlie will explain everything. Hopefully soon.